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Yokota West Elementary may have been our quickest school stop, but it was packed and lively! The principal and I, both Minnesotans, graduated from St. Cloud State University. This is mostly significant only if you’re also from Minnesota. We have a thing about our state. We would never say we were from the midwest. Cheryl Johnson, the librarian, was already on our good side when she arranged our pick-up complete with goody bags for each of us. After a night at their base lodging, we were whisked away to a yummy breakfast with kids in Cheryl’s library. The colorful halls, walls, and delightful library at YWES are filled with student work. The staff and students were as positive and energetic as the artwork. Same for their singing — they picked up my songs like they already knew them. Yokota West is obviously a school that cares about the arts. After our half-day of presentations, the literacy teacher said, “You’re the best author visit we ever had!” (exuberance all around…) Then off we went to a lunch that still gets Kaj excited. A sushi-go-round type place where you pull dishes off a revolving line that circles around the booths. Kaj continued to be Mr. Adventure in the food department. He doesn’t like sushi, but he grabbed everything else. Unfortunately, my camera battery didn’t arrive in time, but I promise to get pictures up here when they’re sent to me. I can only imagine the one she took with all piles of empty plates displayed before us. We wobbled out, and Cheryl drove us to Tokyo for a couple days of sightseeing on our own.

Thanks, Cheryl and Yokota kids!