Global Giveaway: Tree of Cranes -Closed

Thanks so much for participating! I was really excited to hold my first giveaway.

The winner is...


Aik!!!

I will be contacting you now for your address. Hope you (or your brother!) love this as much as I do.
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I am in the Christmas mood, and inspired by Katie's Book Blog, I have decided to hold a giveaway of a brand new copy of my favourite Christmas book. This is my first giveaway so be kind please.

My favourite Christmas book of all time is Tree of Cranes by Allen Say. (CAN, JP, US)


This is a story of a little boy who catches a cold after disobeying his mother. He thinks she is angry at him and that's why she is being distant. But really she just needs time to prepare for the first Christmas he's ever experienced.

Say's writing and illustrations are perfectly matched. He is able to bring out deep emotions in the reader with a subtleness few writers can match. Say's detailed illustrations plop you right into Showa Japan, and the depth sticks in your mind for a long time after you've finished reading.

The Christmas that this mother creates for her child, with handmade decorations and only one gift and a strange-looking tree, is one of the most precious and magical ever. You don't need lots of presents and fancy decorations to make Christmas, you need love.

It's hard not to feel empathetic towards this little boy for being, well, a little boy. You can feel that he is hurt when his mother is being secretive. But I feel so much for that mother. Away from her homeland, she is trying to recreate her childhood customs for her son, and I think she suceeds. I hope to do the same for my kids.

This is a picture book, but is suitable for age 4 to adult.


Do you want to win a copy of The Tree of Cranes?
Here are the rules:

This is an international giveaway, open to those who live in any country to which Japan Post can deliver.

This giveaway closes at midnight on Dec. 1, Japan Time (10am Dec. 1, EST) so that I can send it before Christmas.

To enter, comment below with your email address so I can contact you. You do not need to have a Blogger account to do this.
For a second entry, you can join this page using Google Friend Connector (look left), or already be a GFC friend. You need a Google/Blogger account to do this. Please comment a second time for this entry.

The winner will be chosen on Dec. 1 using Random.org. After I contact the winner s/he has 3 days to reply with their address or I will choose the next winner.