Age: Preschool-2nd grade
Music: Violin
Family: Grandpa, granddaughter
Familiar Experience: Stagefright
Culture: Japanese-American

After Hana signs up for the talent show to play her violin, her brothers laugh at her because she had only just started to learn. Although affected by her brother's reservations, she is soothed by memories of her grandfather who was famous for his violin playing and would play around the house. Uegaki describes Hana's memories in the sweetest but not saccharine way. The text is imaginative and poetic without sailing over the heads of preschoolers or undermining grade schoolers. And the artwork is evocative and perfectly captures the emotions of each part of the story. This is a true treasure of art and writing.