By Jef Aerts
Illustrated by Sanne te Loo
Published on: January 28, 2020

Words fail me in my attempt to provide a review that captures how moving and sweet this story is. Whether you were the friend that had to move away or the friend that stayed when someone else did, the loss is real and difficult. But, Cherry Blossom and Paper Planes shows how distance in miles does not mean distance in heart as we watch Dina and Adin work through their loneliness and grief when Adin’s family moves away.

Rating: 5 stars

Thanks to Edelweiss and Floris Books for the reader copy and opportunity to provide an honest review.

Description:

Adin and Dina are best friends. They live in the beautiful countryside surrounded by cherry trees. Their favorite game is to plant cherry pits around their little village – in the cracks in the sidewalk and in the flowerbeds outside the post office. Then one day Adin and his family move away to the city. Will Adin and Dina’s friendship survive the new distance between them?

In this beautifully lyrical book, one story fractures into two when the friends are parted. But their lives continue to be linked as Adin finds a way to feel connected to his friend – throwing paper planes filled with cherry pits from the balcony of his apartment building.

Held together by their love of cherry blossom and paper planes, Adin and Dina’s roads finally lead back to one another.

Cherry Blossom and Paper Planes is a touching story of true friendship, resilience, belief – and a little bit of magic – illuminated with stunning artwork full of seasonal detail, light and hope.