It is a great pleasure and honour to announce that The Sakura Medal Middle School Books 2024 winner is Megan Freeman Megan E. Freeman for 'Alone', published by Simon Kids. Congratulations from all the international schools across Japan!

It is a great pleasure and honour to announce that The Sakura Medal High School Books 2024 winner is 'Anatomy: A Love Story' by Dana Schwartz Dana Schwartz - on hiatus, published by Little, Brown and Co. Congratulations from all the international schools across Japan!

It is a great pleasure and honour to announce that The Sakura Medal Chapter Books 2024 winner is Matthew Swanson Matthew Swanson for 'Ben Yokoyama and the Cookie of Doom', published by Random House Children's Books. Congratulations from all the international schools across Japan!

It is a great pleasure and honour to announce that The Sakura Medal 2024 Graphic Novels winner is awarded to Stephen Shaskan Stephen Shaskan he/him for 'Pizza and Taco: Who's the Best?', published by Random House Children's Books. Congratulations from all the international schools across Japan!

It is a great pleasure and honour to announce that The Sakura Medal 2024 Picture Books category is awarded to The Fan Brothers Fan Brothers for 'The Barnabus Project', published by Tundra Books/Quarto Kids. Congratulations from all the international schools across Japan!

Students at NIS and across Japan are concluding the 2024 Sakura Medal program by voting for their favorite nominated books across 8 categories! Today, grades 3 and 4 cast their votes as we wrap up our NIS Reading Challenge on April 22🌸🏆 #NISinspire #reading #books Sakura Medal

Just a gentle reminder to all international schools across Japan, voting for this year's Sakura Medal 2024 finishes at midnight at the end of this month, Tuesday, 30th April. Good luck to all the authors, illustrators and translators! Remember, every vote counts! Have your say!

More fun from our visit this morning with Sakura Medal nominated graphic novelist, Amy Kim Kibuishi. Such a lovely chat about the journey of the Rema Chronicles. Thanks Amy - we loved it! Fukuoka International School

We had a fantastic visit with #author Jenny Sue Kostecki Shaw yesterday that included: story time, Q&A, a look at creating illustrations through collage, and a bit about the writing process. There are a lot of excited story writers running around today! Fukuoka International School Sakura Medal

Book Talking a 2023-2024 Sakura Medal nominated book every day or two. Here is #Evergreen by Matthew Cordell. youtu.be/YykzQSr8CAw

Book Talking a 2023-2024 Sakura Medal nominated book every day or two. Here is The Barnabus Project by the Fan Brothers youtu.be/WmR6wtHR3p8 Where do your pets come from?

Book Talking a 2023-2024 Sakura Medal nominated book every day or two. Here is Treasure in the Lake by Jase youtu.be/qprqxnjBBbA #graphicnovel

Book Talking a 2023-2024 Sakura Medal nominated book every day or two. Here is #Gibberish by Young Vo. An important read about what our new to English readers face every day. youtu.be/uZST34VR0eI

Book Talking a 2023-2024 Sakura Medal nominated book every day or two. Here is Pizza and Taco: Who's the Best by Stephen Shaskan he/him youtu.be/uoM1ifTlAqA

Book Talking a 2023-2024 Sakura Medal nominated book every day or two. Here is Stealing Home by J. Torres & David Namisato youtu.be/D1FsVMuffws

Book Talking a 2023-2024 Sakura Medal nominated book every day or two. Here is The Best of Iggy by Annie Barrows. youtu.be/HOiIQanwCkQ

Book Talking a 2023-2024 Sakura Medal nominated book every day or two. Here is The Rema Chronicles: Realm of the Blue Mist by Amy Kim Kibuishi youtu.be/kmH1w6Kk8fM

Book Talking a 2023-2024 Sakura Medal nominated book every day or two. Here is Avocado Asks by Momoko Abe. youtu.be/emamIye-R-k

Book Talking a 2023-2024 Sakura Medal nominated book every day or two. Here is Sweet and Sour by Debbi Michiko Florence⁷ youtu.be/6xqN_kvPC6Q

Book Talking a 2023-2024 Sakura Medal nominated book every day or two. Here is The Door of No Return by Kwame Alexander youtu.be/tY1Ntc9FCNo