Press photos by Nate JastrzemskiThe Bethlehem Cherry Blossom Festival and Lehigh Valley Book Festival Day made for a beautiful dual event at the Bethlehem Area Public Library March 28. Though the book festival was held at libraries Valley-wide, hundreds came for annual reflection of Japanese culture at the Tondabayashi Garden. Above: Traditional drummers of Iroha Taiko, a drumming group from Lyons, entertains a crowd of about 400, filling the clear afternoon air with staccato beats from Japan.

Jo Sieger and Matthew Weinsteiger, drummers with Iroha Taiko, take a break to enjoy their audience. “This is the biggest Cherry Blossom festival we play at,” said Weinsteiger. “This is a great turnout.”

Among a number of local authors, Phoenix Ward of Philadelphia introduces visitors to the first book of his fantasy series, “Sins of the Fire,” which he says is about failure and forgiveness. The second young adult adventure book, “Purgatorio,” is now out.

Reading resident and author Laurel Radzieski, owner of Eat More Poems, displays her new book, “Leaf Manifesto,” described as “a guide to treehood for anyone interested in being a tree, being a woman, or being alive.” Radzieski’s also has more physical experiments with poetry, scored on wood and words on labeled blocks.