That was a horrible earthquake, wasn’t it? I’m sure so many of you are very scared right now.
But please, don’t worry. Grown ups are working together as hard as they can to make things better. It may take a while, but eventually, everything is going to be safe and comfortable again, I promise.
If you feel even the tiniest bit afraid or lonely, try to think about your favorite story…
So begins Japanese children’s author Noriko Kudoh’s Message of Hope to the children of Japan who have been caught up in the earthquake and tsunami that caused such devastation ten days ago. It was translated into English by Sako Ikegami of the SCBWI Tokyo Translation listserv, which focuses on translation of Japanese children’s literature; and you can read the whole message over at the wonderful Here and There in Japan.
It’s a very moving, thought-provoking letter and I urge you all to read it…