This sweet and gentle picture book celebrates summer in Japan, as one
little girl shares her love for bugs with her cousin who is visiting
from America.
Two young cousins who are separated by language, continent and culture
meet for the first time when Jill's family travels from America to Japan
to stay with Natsumi's family during the summer holidays. Natsumi's
nervousness about meeting her cousin from across the sea quickly
disappears when she discovers that her cousin is a lot like her: they
both love summertime's hot sandy beaches, cool refreshing watermelon,
festivals and fireworks. Then Jill asks Natsumi about the strange
buzzing sound that comes from the nearby trees, and Natsumi is nervous
once again. What if Jill is frightened of Natsumi's cherished cicadas,
the insects that sing the music of summertime?
This is a tender, evocative story that celebrates the special pleasures
of summertime and of reunions with faraway family and friends.