The Complete Story of Sadako Sasaki and the Thousand Paper Cranes
by Sue DiCicco and Masahiro Sasaki (Sadako's brother)
Age Range: 9-12 years old
Paperback, 148 pages
Publisher: Tuttle
Middle grade readers will love this story about a worldwide call for peace. Author Sue DiCicco and Sadako's older brother Masahiro tell her life story for the first time in English. Sadako Sasaki was only two years old when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan during the end of WWII. Because of all the radiation from the bomb, Sadako developed leukemia at age 12 and was given one year to live from the doctors.
It was while she was in the hospital, Sadako was given a string of paper cranes. She loved them and her father told her the symbol of the crane in Japanese folklore. The meaning was that her friends wished her to get better soon. Sadako's father told her about the old take that if you fold a thousand paper cranes, your wish will come true. Cranes also represent good fortune and longevity as the crane is a "bird of happines". (True in Japan, Chinese and Korean cultures.) Sadako reached her goal of a thousand cranes but unfortunately, the cancer got worse and she passed away.
Today the origami cranes and Sadako are a symbol of worldwide peace and of hope and healing during challenging times. There is a statue of Sadako in the Hiroshima Peace Park as well as in the Seattle Peace Park.
My 11 year old daughter and I came across this lovely paper shop in Paris earlier in January called Adeline Klam. We bought a few paper kits -- paper flowers and the origami ones including the cranes. We started to practice folding them a few days ago for my daughter's spring break. Now that we know all the meaning behind the cranes, the project has such a deeper meaning for us. You can see more photos of the origami in my Instagram post.
I'm so glad my daughter and I were able to read this book together, especially one so important for history. This new English version is a must read with the true story of Sadako Sasaki as told by her older brother.
Shop The Complete Story of Sadako Sasaki and the Thousand Paper Cranes on Amazon
Review book provided by Tutle Publishing
