Write to Me: Letters from Japanese American Children to the Librarian They Left Behind
by Cynthia Grady, author, and Amiko Hirao, illustrator (Charlesbridge, 2018)
January 1, 2026 through March 31, 2026
Madison Park Storybook Trail
Kauffman Park Storybook Trail
When Executive Order 9066 is enacted after the attack at Pearl Harbor, children’s librarian Clara Breed’s young Japanese American patrons are to be sent to internment camps. Before they are moved, Breed asks the children to write her letters and gives them books to take with them. Through the three years of their internment, the children correspond with Miss Breed, sharing their stories and creating a record of their experiences. Using excerpts from children’s letters held at the Japanese American National Museum, author Cynthia Grady and illustrator Amiko Hirao present a difficult subject with honesty and hope.
Visit the Storybook Trails at Madison Park and Kauffman Park and enjoy this beautifully written and illustrated book with young family members and friends.
“A beautiful picture book for sharing and discussing with children”
—Booklist, Stared Review
“A touching tribute to a woman who deserves recognition.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“An affecting introduction to a distressing chapter in U.S. history and a brave librarian who inspired hope.”
—Publisher’s Weekly