Suki's Kimono

Patricia Morley is professor emerita of English and Canadian Studies at
Concordia University. She is the author of several books, including The
Mountain Is Moving: Japanese Women’s Lives, Kurlek and Margaret
Laurence: The Long Journey Home.

This delightful tale from British Columbia brings two cultures together
with humour and sensitivity.

Suki’s Japanese grandmother, her “oba-chan” (long “a” on
“oba”), has given her a blue kimono. First she wears it to a street
festival, where there is Japanese food, and many women and children are
dancing in cotton kimonos. Then, despite the ridicule of her sisters,
she insists on wearing it and her wooden clogs on her first day at
school. Her classmates scoff at her. But, encouraged by a wise and
sensitive teacher, Suki demonstrates to them the dancing she has seen at
the festival. They are impressed.

Suki’s Kimono is Chieri Uegaki’s first published work, and it was a
finalist in The Writers’ Union of Canada Writing for Children
Competition.

Stéphane Jorisch’s energetic and emotionally sensitive watercolour
illustrations add depth to the story of a little girl’s first day at
school in a culturally mixed community, capturing her spirit and
dignity. Highly recommended.