⭐️ Kirkus Starred Review
Kirkus Review Best Books of 2018
Written and Illustrated by Katie Yamasaki
Holiday House, 2018
“Yamasaki uses deceptively simple, carefully chosen language for the brief blocks of text on each page. The rest of the story is told through her paintings, which are defined by bright brush strokes of color. The overall effect is a quiet story that captures all those small cherished moments in childhood.”
Read the full Kirkus Review here.
Purchase here.
Behind the Scenes
I was very happy to turn in the finished art for “When the Cousins Came” at the end of 2016. This is a story about two sets of cousins who spend the weekend together. They are from different parts of the country (one urban, one rural), and have different racial mixes, and spend the weekend learning about themselves and one another through playing just a little bit outside of their comfort zones. This story was inspired by the (mis)adventures I had with my cousins growing up. Between my mother’s side and my father’s side, we had about 25 first cousins of all different mixes and backgrounds! Many of my happiest childhood moments were the wild adventures we created when we were together.
And here are some fun cousin pictures, just so you have an idea of what I’m talking about!
