by Lori Matsukawa (Author), Tammy Yee (Illustrator)
In a little Hawaiian house with a mango tree, Cathy and her babysitter Mrs. Sato spend their afternoons arranging flowers, cooking, and having adventures. When Cathy has to move away, Mrs. Sato comforts her by sharing her own story of immigrating from Japan to Hawaii. Lori Matsukawa's debut children's book tells a heartwarming story of intergenerational friendship, immigration, and bravery. She shows readers how heritage, food, traditions, and stories can help them feel at home wherever they are.
Author Biography
Emmy award winning journalist Lori Matsukawa tells a charming tale based on two real-life women who inspired her during her childhood in Hawaii - her babysitter and her maternal grandmother who was a picture bride. Set in the early 1960s, the story shows how simple cultural activities and a personal revelation by an immigrant woman inspire a young girl to be more than she thought she could be.
Lori, who lives in the Seattle area, graduated from Aiea High School, Phi Beta Kappa from Stanford University and received an MA from the University of Washington. She was Miss Teenage America 1974. She and her husband Larry have a grown son.