{"product_id":"i-am-a-bon-dancer-hardcover","title":"I Am a Bon Dancer - Hardcover","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eBrandi-Ann Uyemura\u003c\/b\u003e (Author), \u003cb\u003eAmy Matsushita-Beal\u003c\/b\u003e (Illustrator)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA Japanese-American girl at the Obon festival is too shy to dance--until her encouraging grandfather reminds her what's being celebrated.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eI thread each arm through my peach sleeves.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eGrandpa Jo ties the bright yellow sash around me.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eI check to make sure the paper flowers in my hair are on just right.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eI am ready for my first Bon dance festival!\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIt's a young Japanese-American girl's first time at the \"Festival of Souls,\" one of the largest Buddhist festivals. It's just like her grandfather described: the smell of corndogs, the glow of hanging paper lanterns, the beat of taiko drums. But Grandpa Jo didn't tell her that everyone else already knew how to dance! \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eSuddenly, the lanterns feel like spotlights. She wish, wish, wishes she could dance, but she can't bring herself to try. . . until Grandpa Jo encourages her to remember the meaning of the Obon Festival--celebrating our family members who have passed on--and to imagine her beloved Grandma Nat dancing along with her. Because she is there, and behind her are her parents, sugar-cane cutters, and behind them are their parents, who came to Hawai'I on ships from Japan. . . \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eMy body moves to the rhythm of the music.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eI am a bon dancer, one in a line of dancing ancestors.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBrandi-Ann Uyemura\u003c\/b\u003e is a fifth-generation Japanese American (gosei) from Oahu, Hawaii. She has a masters in counseling psychology and has written self-help and psychology essays for Mother.ly, Whole Life Times, Spirituality \u0026amp; Health, MindBodyGreen, Yoga Journal, and US News. In 2020, she won a picture book mentorship with Andrea Wang, who helped her develop I Am a Bon Dancer, her debut. Find her at brandi-annuyemura.com. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eAmy Matsushita-Beal\u003c\/b\u003e is a freelance illustrator, designer, and hand-letterer based in Tokyo. They were born and raised in Los Angeles and graduated from Art Center College of Design.\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 32\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.5 x 10.2 x 8.3 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e March 24, 2026\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47024738992317,"sku":"9780823452200","price":25.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0771\/9767\/2637\/files\/2fYO3eUnJG9780823452200.webp?v=1782673752","url":"https:\/\/boundigo.com\/products\/i-am-a-bon-dancer-hardcover","provider":"My Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}