Written by Fran Nuno
Illustrated by Zuzanna Celej
Published by Cuento de Luz
Mom's Review
Before we even talk about the story, I need to address the paper used in this import: stone paper. The texture of the pages is smooth, heavy, and cool - a real pleasure to hold.
The Vase with the Golden Cracks is a beautiful story of a child of two languages - English and Japanese - who early on finds life's calling and an appreciation for second chances. In a special vase, the narrator's father collects words in each language that have no equivalent in the other language. The father shares these treasures with his child, instilling a love of the written and spoken word early on. One of those words is ikigai, which is one's calling in life. When the child breaks the vase, the father is not angry, but gives it a second life through kintsugi repair, decorating the cracks with gold as he reassembles the vase. As an adult, the narrator reflects that sharing the wisdom of the words in the vase - the vase which had a second chance - offered fulfillment in life. The Vase with the Golden Cracks honors language, love, and second chances.
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