NEW PUBLICATIONS 2018

FUKUINKAN SHOTEN PUBLISHERS From“LITTLE CHICK” Illustrations ⓒ Akiko Hayashi 2013 PICTURE BOOKS hardcover LITTLE CHICK WHICH FLOWER DO YOU LIKE BEST? A JUMPING BEETLE by Kiyoshi Soya by Mariko Ishige by Junko Masuda illustrated by Akiko Hayashi illustrated by Katsuji Wakisaka Wearing a solid dark shiny coat of armor with a Little Chick is set out for a walk…but at this Big and brilliant red flower, sleek and slender huge horn, the appearance of beetles seem quite hour? It is going to be dark shortly. Soon the air white flower, lovely little yellow flowers.... Each peculiar to us and take our breath away. This becomes thick. He pulls a fallen leaf over himself spread is bright with vividly colored flowers jumping beetle is no exception. The humorous and falls asleep. Before dawn, he feels so warm illustrated by K. Wakisaka. So explore this look of it seems even wonderful when it hops on and comfortable only to notice that Mommy “flower garden” with bouncing rhythm of the one foot, then takes a big step and finally jumps Hen has come to find him! Delicate hues in the text by M. Ishige. No need to choose just one up into the air! drawings suggest Little Chick’s sentiment favorite flower; all the wonderful flowers are 10 months and up / 21×20cm / 20 pages / ¥800.- enhancing the whole story. yours to enjoy! ISBN 978-4-8340-8329-3 10 months and up / 21×20cm / 20 pages / ¥800.- 10 months and up / 21×20cm / 20 pages / ¥800.- ISBN 978-4-8340-8314-9 ISBN 978-4-8340-8322-4

DROOLY BABY LET’S TAKE A BATH WITH GOOD MORNING STARSHINE by Sachi Kokaze QUACK-QUACK by Kyong-Mi Park illustrated by Kenji Oikawa by Kaori Katsuya illustrated by Morikazu Kumagai Babies’ laughter is drooly laughter. Babies’ cry is Quack-Quack, a rubber toy duck is invited for a The morning sun sends down a glowing shine, the drooly cry. Babies in general are drooly, but don’t you bath. The tub is nice and warm but Quack- green leaves of the trees murmur in the breeze, a think that babbling babies’ drool is like the bubbles of Quack does not like to go under water. It pops huge carpenter bee lets out a dangerous buzz and their words? The text depicts the emotions of a baby up if you make it, you see? Plenty of bubbles a cat snoozes lazily in the corridor... These are the with joyous repetition and unique onomatopoeia, and wrap around it to cleanse and then a splash to scenes the artist M. Kumagai actually saw when simple but dynamic illustrations are expressive rinse off. The finish is a fluffy towel. The book he observed the nature in his garden. Bold lines enough for babies to enjoy. Babies would love this conveys how nice and relaxing a bath can be. drawn on wood board are graceful and matched book so much that they wet it with their drool! 10 months and up /21×20 cm /20 pages / ¥800.- up with selected lyrical words. 10 months and up /21×20 cm /20 pages / ¥800.- ISBN 978-4-8340-8349-1 10 months and up / 21×20cm / 20 pages / ¥800.- ISBN 978-4-8340-8350-7 ISBN 978-4-8340-8347-7

A BOOK OF SHAPE — Round, Triangle, Square — by Ichio Otsuka Can you see shapes in the room? --A round clock ticking on the wall, crispy crackers are square and ears of kitten are triangle! Turn colorful pages and find shapes in familiar things. A three book box of shapes: a fun- filled entrance into the world of shapes for toddlers! 12 months and up /19×19cm /36 pages per title / ¥2,700.- ISBN 978-4-8340-4353-2

A DAY OF BEAN’S FAMILY OCTOPUS’ SCHOOL MAGICAL MYSTERY TUNNELS by Satoshi Kako by Satoshi Kako by Ken Katayama Written with light rhythmical verse, this is a Let’s go and peek into the Octopus’ school. They A train starts its trip with a load of children. It charming story of the Bean family’s day. Every are drawing pictures today. Let’s draw something comes to the first tunnel and a pitch black inch of the page can be enjoyed, for the in red; tomato, apple, red flower… Let’s draw moment hits them. When they come out, illustrations are marvelous. And if you are something in blue; fish, bird, blue ribbon… though, the children were all changed into observant enough, you can spot a clock on each What about something black? Enjoy the day at snowmen! The second tunnel, and again, into page telling the time for every scene. the Octopus’ school, depicted in this wonderful Dharma dolls. It turns out to be a strange ride, 2 years and up / 22×21cm / 24 pages / ¥900.- picture book by Satoshi Kako. as each time they passed through a tunnel the ISBN 978-4-8340-8300-2 2 years and up / 22×21cm / 24 pages / ¥900.- children were turned into something different. ISBN 978-4-8340-8301-9 2 years and up / 22×21cm / 24 pages / ¥900.- ISBN 978-4-8340-8312-5 2 hardcover PICTURE BOOKS UNCLE TROUBLE LET’S VISIT FETE RING THE BELL ON NEW YEAR’S EVE by Maki Sasaki by Toyoko Igarashi by Narisa Togo Uncle Trouble wrote a letter. When he went out to It’s the night of Fete. All over the grounds It’s New Year’s Eve. Instead of going to bed, I put post it, Uncle Trouble stepped on a ball and fell of the shrine, small stands open and sell on warm clothes; Dad and I are going to ring the down the stairs. Uncle Trouble walked under a foods and various goods! Let’s wander huge temple bell… Experience the special night balcony and a large mat fell onto him... Wherever around and look into each stand. With through young boy’s eyes; the engraving he goes, troubles follow him and whatever he does, only one line at the opening page, illustrations are printed in black and white and troubles await him. What can ever make him smile? powerful illustrations are eloquent enough yet convey the colors of childhood memories. Repetition of ridiculous troubles is sure to tickle to convey the fun and excitement of the 4 years and up / 28×23cm / 32 pages / ¥1,200.- young readers along with unique illustrations. Fete! ISBN 978-4-8340-8369-9 4 years and up / 27×20cm / 32 pages / ¥900.- 3 years and up / 20×27cm / 32 pages / ¥900.- ISBN 978-4-8340-8324-8 ISBN 978-4-8340-0519-6

THE ADVENTURES OF WHICH IS THE TRUE MOTHER? CAT PIRIKA’S BOOTS A LEEK- BOY, ASATARO (10) by Kincho Takarai by Aya Sato by Kazuyoshi Iino illustrated by Yuki Sasameya “This is for your birthday.” Inside the package Snow is whirling along the Tokaido Roadway In the city of Edo, there lived a wealthy merchant, from her uncle, Pirika found a beautiful boot and Asataro, the leek-boy is nearing Kyoto with his wife, his ex-wife and her pretty little girl. Now, shaped cookie. Pirika and friends admire the his friends, Komomo and Nikichi. They abruptly which wife is “better” as the girl’s mother? Enjoy cookie, but of course it’s irresistible. With her run into Priest Koshi-An who starts a Zen the story of the famous judge and his kindness. beautiful cookie already gone, can they enjoy dialogue with them. Inspired by the priest’s The second book based on Japanese traditional anything good for her birthday? Enjoy the words, they head for the big city. After rescuing storytelling with unique narrative and expressive heartwarming story with cute illustrations! merchants from the Kaburagumi villains, Asataro illustrations! 4 years and up / 28×23 cm / 32 pages / ¥1,300.- ISBN 978-4-8340-8352-1 decides to return to his hometown in Chichibu. 8 years and up / 22×17cm / 40 pages / ¥1,100.- ISBN 978-4-8340-8341-5 4 years and up / 27×22cm / 32 pages / ¥1,200.- ISBN 978-4-8340-8316-3

TEENY-TINY — from English Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs — THE BOGEY-BEAST — An Old English Folktale — Japanese text by Teiji Seta by Teiji Seta Illustrated by Yasuo Segawa illustrated by Yoshizo Wada Celebrating the centenary of Teiji Seta’s birthday, this teeny-tiny picture book was taken Once upon a time, there lived an old woman. She was poor but happily content with herself. from English fairy tales by J. Jacobs. A teeny-tiny old woman who visited a graveyard One day, she found an old pot… full of gold! How lucky she was! Open the book, enjoy the brought back a bone she found there to brew in her soup. But this was just the beginning unique narrative and expressive illustrations, and find out what really made her happy! of this wee bit scary story! Enjoy the humorous rhythm of the words. 4 years and up / 27×20cm / 32 pages / ¥900.- ISBN 978-4-8340-8302-6 3 years and up / 13×11cm / 56 pages / ¥1,000.- ISBN 978-4-8340-8311-8

AKARAN OWLS IN THE DARK by Shigeo Nishimura by Yosuke Inoue The title of this book, AKARAN is a coined word and an equivalent to “A to Z” in English. “A” Tranquil yet dynamic ink paintings enhanced by words written in prose take us readers to is the first and “N” is the last character in the Japanese phonetic alphabets. Each page focuses another world. The variety of owls, cicadas and dragonflies stand out even in the dark. This on one character with illustrations beginning with it. Those words themselves are printed, too. posthumous work by the late nonsense picture book author might be no less he himself than Matching the illustrations with the words should be fun! just one of his works; unconventional, innovative, indulgent and liberal. 5 years and up / 27×19cm / 64 pages / ¥1,400.- 4 years and up / 37×27cm / 32 pages / ¥1,700.- ISBN 978-4-8340-8323-1 ISBN 978-4-8340-8343-9

3 PICTURE BOOKS hardcover THE MONSTER OF NEKOMAGADAKE A TALE OF THE TIGER WHICH LIVES — A Sri Lankan Folktale — — The Legends of Fukushima — IN MOUNT KUMGANG THE MAGIC SILVER TREE by Yoko Yaoita — Korean Folktale — by Sybil Wettasinghe & illustrated by Takao Saito by Kwon Jeong-saeng Japanese text by Kyoko Matsuoka Masako Ichikawa There lives a monster in the mountain…. illustrated by Jeong Seung-gak Once upon a time, a King of three sons ordered a A mysterious stray boy turns out to be a Japanese text by Niji Kamiya search for a magic silver tree that emerged in his powerful god…. People’s gratitude for Ever since the boy made up his mind to dream. The one who successfully found it would be nature and awe toward wilderness turned hunt the tiger and avenge his father’s his successor, he announced. The brothers set out into legends and have been passed down death, he trained himself to grow strong. together but two drop out giving in to temptation. in Fukushima. Enjoy this beautiful book One day he finally left for the Mount The wisest of the three, the youngest son achieves narrated in a dialect, along with expressive Kumgang in search of the tiger… A well- the quest. Let’s find out how. illustrations. known Korean folktale is now made into 5 years and up / 27×20cm / 56 pages / ¥1,400.- ISBN 978-4-8340-8287-6 5 years and up / 26×26cm / 56 pages / ¥2,000.- a beautiful book with powerful narrative ISBN 978-4-8340-8327-9 and artistic illustrations! 5 years and up / 29×30cm / 52 pages / ¥2,600.- ISBN 978-4-8340-8337-8

WHAT’S LIFE? HOW COME WE CALL RICE “GOHAN,” by Shuntaro Tanikawa GRANDMA? OUR SECRET PLACE illustrated by Yoshiro Okamoto by Kyong-Mi Park WITH A BLUE TOP What is life? What is it to be alive now? Life is to photographs by Risaku Suzuki by Yuko Takao be thirsty. To be alive is to find the sunbeams Dinner is ready. Grandma calls and removes the lid Secret base at a secret place… brilliant, to remember a certain song, to sneeze… to reveal shining white rice beautifully steaming. what a thrill! Little field mouse and to read this book. The words of world famous How come we call rice “gohan?” Where do they brothers are visiting their poet S. Tanikawa met lively illustrations by Y. come from? The poems by K-M. Park and artistic grandma in a mountain. Today Okamoto, and together they are made into a photos by R. Suzuki are combined to create an they are trying to find their own wonderful book, asking the overwhelming question amazing book about “gohan.” about life. × secret place. Open this beautiful 5 years and up / 22 16cm / 80 pages / ¥1,600.- blue book and you are in your 8 years and up / 26×20cm / 44 pages / ¥1,300.- ISBN 978-4-8340-8368-2 ISBN 978-4-8340-8326-2 own secret place; cute text and lovely illustrations await you! 4 years and up / 31×20cm / 40 OWLS’ NEST IN A WOODEN PAIL A HARD BUSINESS TRIP pages / ¥1,400.- by Nobuaki Hirano — Papa Works in the HELL Vol.2 — ISBN 978-4-8340-8339-2 illustrated by Hiroshi Abe by Yoko Tomiyasu A couple of owls would come to a local illustrated by Taeko Ohshima forest every spring. The hollow in a cherry I’m going on a business trip to Izumo, was just perfect for starting a family. It was where various gods gather for the annual warm and safe. After one very harsh and conference. We demons work there as long winter, that cherry had fallen down! security staff... Enjoy the second book of Disappointed they had to find an alternative. the Hell Company; funny, ridiculous, The male owl spotted a wooden pail hanging dynamic, rhythmical and a little scary. outside and their child-rearing in it started. Everything children love is all in one book! × 4 years and up / 25 24cm /48 pages / ¥1,400.- 5 years and up / 26×27cm / 36 pages / ¥1,400.- ISBN 978-4-8340-8340-8 ISBN 978-4-8340-8366-8

PAPAGENO AND PAPAGENA TODAY IS THE DAY FOR PARTY by Eiko Konishi by Tomomi Hikatsu “Pa-pa-pa duet” is one of the loveliest and Today, Kunekune-san is invited to the 7th most enjoyable songs in Mozart’s opera The anniversary of Shima-san’s Stripe Magic Flute. Now you have a picture book Boutique. She got up early and baked as lovely and enjoyable as the famous duet. special bread, but unexpected troubles Join young Papageno, in search of his await her on her way to the party! Enjoy bride-to-be, and explore through the the 3rd book of Kunekune-san series and

beautiful book! be hungry for variety of freshly baked 「ほんとだ！」 × チュウも ぐーんと 5 years and up / 26 24cm / 40 pages / ¥1,500.- bread! のびをして いいました。 ISBN 978-4-8340-8372-9 × 「うわあ！」 「ここを ひみつきちにしよう！」 みあげると あおい そらが 4 years and up / 26 26cm / 40 pages / ¥1,400.- 「わーい！ あおいやねの ひみつきちだ！」 ISBN 978-4-8340-8330-9 ぽっかり みえました。 19 「あおい やねが あるみたい！」 19

18 17/03/07 15:20

1608894_チュウとチイのひみつきち_本文_再_0307.indd 19 17/03/07 15:20 18

4 1608894_チュウとチイのひみつきち_本文_再_0307.indd 18 paperback / 20×19 cm / 22 pages / 4-color print / ¥389.- Ages 10 months-2 PICTURE BOOKS MUNCH MUNCH PLAYING ANIMALS LET’S GO ON A WALK by Akemi Nakano by Yukihisa Tokuda by Kaoru Arakawa illustrated by Taeko Ohshima illustrated by Kenji Oikawa illustrated by Ayako Yamauchi Lunch time! Our little friends sit together at the This is a picture book filled with playful animals Putting his shoes on, an ever so jolly little boy table. “Ami, aaahn, open big!” Munch, munch, with onomatopoeic descriptions. An elephant who has just started walking is headed for a munch, and gulp! “Good, now your turn Yuu, uses its trunk to splash water, a couple of bears walk. On the road, on the grass and on the open big!” A picture book about eating, play sumo thumping on the ring, three piglets pebbles, he feels the different textures. Even if encourages children to chew their food well with turn somersaults rolling about and four monkeys he falls down, he simply tells himself that that’s onomatopoeic words. Let’s see the happy faces display their handstands. The animals count up all right. Beautiful illustrations send out the of the little ones. to ten with rhythmical sounds and movements. unwritten message; Happy, happy! The colorful illustrations enhance the story.

WAKEY WAKEY, RISE AND COME ON, MY DEAR! THE RED BUS SHINE by Pesca Nekono by Yuichi Kasano by Junko Masuda A mother hippopotamus and a baby hippopotamus A red bus is running with three piglets on board. Rise and shine they say, describing that fresh open their big mouths together. A mother swan Honk, honk it goes merrily. A motorbike feeling you get first thing in the morning waking and her youngsters swim in the water together. appears with a cool looking rider. Honk, honk up. This is a picture book about five different Three other mother animals and their babies they run next to each other. Then it’s a cab with animals that are first sleeping peacefully. Turn spend time together. It is as if the mother is a handsome passenger. Honk, honk they run the pages and you see them looking at you with calling out, “Come on my dear ones.” All babies together. And then a big blue truck comes along. their big wide eyes. Bold colors and lines give like to be together with their moms, don’t they? Honk, honk they accompany each other. And the reader that fresh feeling! finally it’s their stop.

PIPPI THE LITTLE BIRD WHO IS BEHIND WE ARE FRIENDS ! by Yuko Tamura THE CURTAINS? by Sayaka Nomura Pippi the little bird is ever so charming. It by Tamami Sawaguchi A white mushroom head meets a small brown stretches and sings and then shows a healthy illustrated by Kaya Doi comb. They fit amazingly well and utter, “We are appetite. It picks its nose and cleans its tail. Then There’s somebody behind the curtains. Listen to friends.” An ocher Pac-man meets a mottled suddenly it flutters its wings and is flying! After their voices. Who’s behind the curtains? Then the grey lump. Pac-man gently opens its mouth and coming down, it yawns and before you know it, curtains get blown up gently with the wind and says, “We are friends.” Enjoy watching two it’s asleep. The colorful Pippi was made with “Boo, it’s a kitty cat!” The favorite peekaboo-style abstract forms snuggly fitting each other. And at craftsmanship using methods of appliqués and book introduces a pair of sparrows, a frog, a the end there’s even more! embroidery. dragonfly and a squirrel to young children.

LET’S COOK WITH A FRYING PAN! by Azumimushi Shall we cook something with a frying pan? CRACK! Gently drop one egg into it and we get an egg sunnyside up. Then a sausage. Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle…the sound along with the grilled aroma is something! And what is this creamy batter? Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle…and we get a favorite dish of all! It’s cooking with a frying pan for a complete breakfast.

KABAN-BAN, THE MAGICAL BAG by Genichiro Ozaki & Yukina Ozaki Kanban-ban is a little blue bag with two grey felt arms. BANG BANG BANGTY BANG! It GOOD NIGHT, EVERYONE makes some funny sounds. Then, out comes by Chihiro Ishizu various items; round shapes, triangular shapes and even water drops! Enjoy the colorful fun it illustrated by Komako Sakai creates with rhythm and action. A butterfly fluttering in the air rests itself on a clover flower, a pair of kittens meowing curl up against each other to nap and look at little Haruko with an angelic sleeping face……life and items in action go to rest in the following pages. The peaceful and serene atmosphere in the elaborate oil illustrations render a perfect “good-night book”. 5 PICTURE BOOKS paperback / 21 × 20 cm / 24 pages / 4-color print / ¥389.- Ages 2-4 A DOG GOES SHOPPING ON WELCOME TO MY FLUFFY SHEEP A SNOWY DAY THE MAGIC HOUSE! by Yoko Ikenoya by Etsuko Onodera by Fujio Tsuchiya Maachan’s family kept two sheep. Chakachaka illustrated by Hiroko Kanno I hope the readers remember this magician. Oh, was named so because it sounded like that when . Grandma asked her dog, Kuro to run some did I hear “which” magician? This is a sequel to it walked around Mary had some curled locks errands for her. He set out with a purse in a “Magic” which came out 18 years ago. That on its forehead. Maachan adored the fluffy basket to the butcher’s, the tofu shop and the magician is back again chanting his spell, “Andora warmth and dampness inside the sheep’s coat. greengrocer’s. Having gotten all of the items, Indora Undora” shifting a small box, guessing That’s what kept them warm during the cold Kuro headed home. It began to snow but that the suit of a face-down card and so on. The cut winter. Once spring came they sheared that coat. didn’t bother him. So what kind of yummy did work in the illustrations enhance the plot. What did they do with it? Grandma make with the shopping? ICHI-KUN’S PARADE WHEN I’M RIDING VEGETABLES GROW BIGGER by Masami Kosaka MY BICYCLE... by Natsuko Gonmori illustrated by Kowshiro Hata by Daisuke Ota Let’s observe some typical summer vegetables. A “I’m the Captain! I’m at the head. Follow me A boy sets out on his bicycle to meet his cucumber appears with a tiny yellow flower. all.” Wearing a captain’s cap, Ichi-kun sang and elephant friend living on the lake. A cat and a “May you grow big and ripe!” A gentle voice marched. He paused in the fields wondering dog and even a mouse join on their own bikes. encourages it and a full ripe cucumber has which way to go when a hare suggested the way. So the whole gang pedal merrily and then pump grown. The process of eggplants, peppers and Next with the hare at the head wearing the cap, their pedals uphill to glide downhill together. watermelons growing are sketched lively in the parade proceeded. It grew with a swan and a The elephant is waiting for them at the lake to detail with an exquisite touch and beautiful bear joining and finally reached…? give them a ride on his big water-bicycle! colors.

THE TRAMCAR THE GARDENERS THE HANDS OF MY FAMILY by Yusaku Nosaka by Naoki Katahira by Setsuko Tonomura The red tramcar approached central town. It ran illustrated by Satomi Mizuuchi Our hands are quite amazing tools. Hand through the hustle and bustle of the busy streets Our gardeners come to work in our garden. The written, handmade and hand to hand, stopping at tram stops to load and unload its short guy with a towel on his hip throws a big expressions using “hand” add a sense of “time passengers. If someone just missed him and smile at me. He’s the master gardener. The tall and sentiment” to words. An array of different signaled waving, the tramcar would stop briefly one is his apprentice. They start trimming the hands are highlighted in this book with a washi to let him on which was one of its specialties. trees swiftly and adeptly using appropriate tools. papercut art method. Can you see the various And finally it reached its destination, the port. Look at their cool movements and the textures and colors? Whose pair of hands will immaculate results! A wonderful picture book you be reminded of? illustrated with exquisite embroidery work. MY FAVORITE SHOES by Atsuko Nishimura Momo has a pair of favorite shoes. They close with Velcro tape so Momo can manage them by herself. She wears them everywhere. One day when Momo joined story-telling time at the library they got missing. Did they go home on their own? Or were they playing hide-and-seek with her? With a bit of anxiety Momo searches for her favorite shoes.

STAYING AT HOME WITH ANIMALS by Shoichi Nejime illustrated by Nana Furiya A VARIETY OF INSECTS Mom went out and I was in charge of by Kenichi Hirono watching the house. That’s when “they” came dancing out! The young monkeys slipped A variety of insects are displayed following a simple grouping down from the ceiling starting shoe shining, method; according to the way they look. A group of striped a sloth cuddled up between the beddings and insets, a group of dotted ones, insects with long tactile organs, the penguins cooled themselves off at the insects with horns and then some with sickles. Other insects fridge. Animals come one after another to do that are round like buttons and insects with patterns like crazy things in the house. A hilarious fantasy eyeballs! And much much more! Enjoy the wonders of insects! world unfolds with the boy’s imagination. 6 paperback / 19 × 26 cm / 28 or 32 pages / 4-color print / ¥389.- Ages 4-5 PICTURE BOOKS A HUNTER WITH A DOG AKO’S UTENSILS REVISIT HER SPRING HAS COME TO — An Old Chinese Folktale — by Keiko Hamada THE LEOPARD FROG by Natsuko Makino While Ako was asked to house-sit while her Mom by Sachi Kokaze illustrated by Maki Sasaki went out for an errand, she heard a voice calling from illustrated by Mao Yamaguchi An old hunter would go hunting and always come back outside. The longing tone calling out her name sounded The Leopard Frog thought he had hibernated enough with some game. He never carried a rifle but took a lit- somewhat familiar. Ako timidly opened the door to and it was time to get back to the ground. So he was tle dog with him which he cared of with sesame oil. It find weird visitors! A fantasy story meeting one’s old shocked to see the fields covered with snow. He turned was a mystery to all. One day he was asked for help to belongings and rejoicing one’s own growth. his heels and tried to sleep again in vain. Now he was get rid of some pesty tigers. Let’s find out how he did too scared to end his hibernation and even warned his it! fellow mates. Soon everybody was gone and…

GRANDMA’S CAKE THE KITTEN IN A FLOUR SHOP LET’S GO FIND A SPECIAL TREAT by Tetsuta Watanabe by Etsuko Enomoto by Taeko Otsuka illustrated by Shinbo Minami illustrated by Chiki Kikuchi illustrated by Mari Oono Granny baked a huge cake and asked Grand- Here kitty kitty, whose kitten is this? The kit- A duck set out to find a special treat when she bumped pa to save half for her. Grandpa nodded and ten from a flour shop loves to play with flour into a goat. Then a pig and a cow joined the crowd. had half of his share. John, the dog came and chase the mice. Playing tag escalates Something fluffy, sweet, round and delicious, that was about and saw the cake, too, but Grandpa told when the kitten knocks a pail of water over. what they were looking for. They reached town and him to save half for Granny. One after anoth- With flour and water, it gets sticky all over. visited some shops but the treat was nowhere to be er someone spotted the cake and followed the The mice approach the sticky monster and found. Will they manage to find it? instructions to save half. Could Granny get a become the same. Now the Madam of the bite? shop notices them and… FLYING ROUND THE HOUSE NICE WEATHER FOR A FIELD LET’S GO ON THE LONDON BUS by Norio Nakamura by Yuki Nakano by Natsko Seki A tiny aircraft is ready for takeoff. The runway is on a illustrated by Fumika Inoue A boy goes on a ride with his Dad on the red bookshelf. The co-pilot calls out to the pilot and up Tomo visited her grandparents during the summer. It double-decker London bus. They are lucky they go! They fly over a table and then between some was her first time to step into a real field. It was filled enough to get “the special seat”, the very front pencils. A thick cloudlike steam is rising from a kettle with juicy ripe tomatoes, cucumbers so fresh with seat on the upper deck. The view from this which they carefully fly through. The everyday scenery prickles on their surfaces and full-sized pumpkins. seat is absolutely amazing. You can see what’s around the house looks different through a microscopic Tomo helped the harvesting. A gust of wind whirled happening on the streets, wave to others and world. up and big drops started to pour down. Tomo learned view the famous sights, too. about the blessed rain the fields needed.

SHEPHERD AND RABBIT — A Latvian Folktale — by Risako Uchida illustrated by Koji Suzuki A shepherd ran into the woods after a rabbit which escaped him. He met a wolf and asked him for help but in vain. Then he met a wooden club and asked again with no luck. The fire, river and cow after that were also the same. But finally a bear agreed to help and… Suddenly the story starts rolling, gaining pace towards the amazing ending. SO THEY MEET by Akane Otsuki A wire work man discovers a lump of sugar and utters, “Oh”. Playing with the sugar cubes, he bumps into another wire work man playing with color pencils. So MAGICAL STAMP MAN they meet. Then a tape measure, a wooden bowl, by Maho Tonouchi bubble-wrap and more appear as a background for two We have a small chest like this with used stamps inside. One day after a small men meeting. This is a sequel to the original popular clatter, a man jumped out of one drawer. The magical stamp man, he was! He picture book, “HE MEETS”. went about our garden and beyond casting the used stamps. They turned into butterflies, windows and even a rainbow! Fantastic collage works with used stamps take us to another world. 7 PICTURE BOOKS paperback / 19 × 26 cm / 32 pages / 4-color print / ¥389.- Ages 5-6 OGRE’S MAGICAL PESTLE THE MAGICAL HIRAGANA WORLD DJINNS — An Old Japanese Folktale — by Dainippon Type Organization by Etsuko Shindo by Toshio Ozawa & Aiko Kuno Taro and Hanako were chanting a spell; illustrated by Ikuyo Araki illustrated by Tsuyoshi Handa Nandemo Moji Moji, and both of their faces The youngest in the caravan, Siyah was learning to play Taro was enjoying his red-bean-paste rice cake when turned into Hiragana, the basic Japanese the Kemenche, a folk instrument. The Djinns, the evil the last one fell into a hole in the ground. He went phonetic alphabet. “Eureka!” they exclaimed spirits of the desert, loved the tone of the Kemenche after it only to find out that the Master Ogre had eaten and tried it with things around them; a dog, a which protected the caravans crossing the desert. it. The Master loved it and asked how it was made. The cat, the sun and a pine tree. Enjoy the magical Getting lost in a sand storm, Siyah encountered Djinns. other Ogres followed the recipe using a magical pestle. world of hiragana in traditional calligraphy. He reached out for his bow to calm them down. Taro was flabbergasted to see what it did! Elaborate miniatures illustrate the Djinns.

MR. BARBAR THE SONG IN GOBI MIKA’S SPECIAL DRIVE WITH DADDY — It’s a Special Day for Children — by Ichinnorov Ganbaatar by Toshiko Yamaguchi by Eriko Inui Japanese text by Noriko Tsuda illustrated by Ayako Maruyama illustrated by Toshio Nishimura Illustrated by Baasansuren Bolormaa Little Mika’s father ran a liquor-store. She would Mr. Barbar owned a barber shop on the outskirts of the Buyan found a stray baby camel while ranging sometimes come with him to help the deliveries. town. It was a special day for children today. He their own on the Gobi. They took it home. He was Actually Mika loved to go on these errands with welcomed any kind of child, human or not. Some very hungry but still too young to drink milk from her Daddy. Some were first-time deliveries and giggled at the shampoo suds and got a matching cut. a bottle. They tried to couple it with a new mother others were regulars but that wasn’t really important. The sheep brothers asked for different styles and a sloth camel. At first she was unwilling but when Buyan’s What really mattered was that special feeling of for a cut hanging from a tree. Everybody seemed mother started singing in her tender voice and having her father all to herself. The affectionate content! striking the mother camel’s coat… drawings with a presence enhance the story. NAMUCHIN-KAMUCHIN MONSTER PRESCHOOL NEXT DOOR A GIRL MEETS A THUNDER BOY by Gen-ichiro Yagyu by Ruriko Yamazaki by Yoko Mori Four baby vegetables were playing together when illustrated by Ayako Ishiguro Acchan and her father visited the village shrine for the Granny Pumpkin came by. She spoke to the eggplant, Welcome to Monster Preschool, can you find the annual festival. A shower hit them and she got pumpkin, broad bean and chili asking, “Do you guys entrance? It’s right there at the end of the dark corridor separated from him. Taking shelter from the rain, want to get bigger?” They replied in unison “Sure, yes in the corner of that toilet. Would you like to meet Acchan spotted a little boy sobbing. From his attire, we do!”. So Granny Pumpkin chanted the spell, traditional Japanese monsters? This story is about a she realized he was a Thunder Boy. Could she manage “NAMUCHIN-KAMUCHIN” which indeed worked hilarious monster preschool full of them. Meet them to get him back to the skies? A fantasy story set in a except for one problem! Broad bean had grown much with the rhythmical nonsense verses enhanced by traditional festive mood unfolds. too big in proportion. drawings in passé hues.

THE BRIDGE BETWEEN THIS LAND AND THAT ISLAND by Masanobu Takashina illustrated by Hironori Nakagawa My father asked me if I would like to join him in a walking event on Sunday. It was going to be a walk “over” the ocean he mentioned. I agreed readily and Mom packed us a lunch. We walked across a long bridge connecting my town and another town on the other side. The scenery and breeze on the bridge was fascinating. DIA DE MUERTOS — Day of the Dead in Mexico — by Michiru Naoe THE GREAT MARATHON illustrated by Toshi Imai by Yutaka Nakagaki “Dia de Muertos” is a traditional autumn festival held

It’s the day for the Great Marathon! Usao and Ka- みんな がんばれ、がんばれ！ in Mexico which means the “Day of the Dead”. People mekichi are good rivals and are both going to enter. receive their ancestors’ spirits on this day. Families get Usao, known as a swift runner, dashes off taking a いろんな ひとが さんかしています。ピエロに コックさん、それに おうさまも はしっていますね。 together to prepare so the whole town is lively with big lead. Kamekichi, on the contrary, keeps his own plenty of skeleton decorations, special breads and pace following. Oh, is Usao feeling weary already? Is he pulling an evil trick? Who music! Angelita and her family dearly remember their will win the race? Enjoy the elaborate depiction of the participants in this marathon! late Grandma and celebrate together. 8 paperback / 20×23 cm / 24 pages / 4-color print / ¥389.- Ages 3-5 NON-FICTION BOOKS STEPPING ON ICE NEEDLES LET’S MAKE UDON NOODLES CAN I GRAB IT? by Rimako Horikawa by Yasumi Kato by Masahito Ohashi Winter mornings are good for taking a Let’s make udon noodles! We need flour, salt illustrated by Ken Katayama walk because you can enjoy stepping on water, and lots of kneading! You can even dance Can I grab it? A boy tries to grab a petal ice needles. The moisture in soil freezes on a well wrapped udon dough. It’s OK if you of cherry flower… it’s difficult but yes he during the night and the ice builds up like can’t cut it into even noodles; try using cookie can. How about a small rainbow in water needles, pushing up soft soil. Enjoy the cutters. Enjoy each step of udon making and be fountain? What’s the difference between variety of ice needles depicted in this book hungry for homemade udon! things he can grab and things he cannot? and you can enjoy freezing mornings! Try guessing if he can grab it, and enjoy the dynamic illustrations!

WELCOME TO MY PALM THE BAMBOO SHOOT GROWS WATERDROPS GLITTERING by Tamami Sawaguchi TALLER AND TALLER ON LEAVES illustrated by Chisato Tashiro by Nobuo Fukuchi by Noriko Ochi Children are ever curious and chasing What’s this brown thing? A bamboo shoot! A boy illustrated by Mitsuki Noguchi after bugs or small lives in parks and checks on the shoot every day to see how tall it The rain went away and left waterdrops. Little streets. But what about bugs being chased? becomes. It’s the height of my navel. Today it’s balls on a leaf glitters. Large balls on a large leaf Don’t scare them. Stay still and open your almost as tall as my height. Enjoy the boy’s glide off. Tiny circlets on top of each point shines palm and welcome them. Rhythm of the observation of a bamboo shoot, depicted in the like tiaras. Along with the fantastic beauty of the text and precise illustrations help you cute and expressive wood-cut-illustrations! illustrations, the book opens your eyes to the make friends with small lives around you! beauty of tiny waterdrops.

SONGS OF CICADAS I HAVE A LITTLE WIND WHEN YOU MEET by Masashi Enju by Ryo Kisaka A BIG TREE illustrated by Haruko Kawashima illustrated by Michiko Samizo by Kana Kusahara Songs of cicadas let us know that summer I have a little wind in me. I can be a wind. I When you find a big tree, go close to it has come. We are quite familiar with their breathe on young leaves, on a butterfly or on and meet it. Say hello, walk around it and songs, but do you know different kinds of spider web, and they feel my wind... Enjoy the make friends with it. Roots are like cicadas have different songs? Let’s walk soft colors of the illustrations and be a wind monster’s feet. Mosses are like carpet…. under the trees of beautifully accurate yourself. A lovely book that brings fresh breeze Simple text and beautiful illustrations illustrations. Various cicadas make a joyful into your heart! invite you to meet the huge tree growing noise and welcome you! tall and mighty.

LET’S TAKE THE FUNICULAR! by Makiko Ishibashi Let’s leave early tomorrow and ride the cable car! After the long stairway, they finally go inside the vehicle, waiting in the middle of yet another stairway! Join the boy’s outing with his father and have fun riding a unique vehicle in this unique book with vividly painted illustrations.

HEY COW, GIVE ME SOME MILK! by Asami Aoki Hello, will you give me some milk? How can I milk you…? A boy visiting a farm tries milking a cow for the first time. A PERFECT DAY FOR TRAVELING Among the dynamic illustrations, enjoy by Narisa Togo the joy and excitement of the boy, feel the It’s a perfect day for traveling, let’s fly across the waters! A warmth of life and fresh milk, and be large pack of bulbul fly into the air. Can they fly safely to the warmed at heart! other shore? Make friends with familiar but often unnoticed grey birds. Also marvel at the “eraser”-cut print illustrations of hundreds of bulbul birds! 9 NON-FICTION BOOKS paperback / 25×23 cm / 28 pages / 4-color print / ¥389.- Ages 5-6 THE DAY WHEN IT SNOWS MONDO GRASS KON AND GON by Tamami Sawaguchi by Etsuko Yamane — The Wonder of the Voicing Mark — illustrated by Toshiyuki Saito Mondo grasses stay green even in winter and it is by Michiyo Orita Let’s go out and have fun in the snow! The book then that they produce blue seeds that look like illustrated by Junko Hayakawa depicts the variety of snow; the first snow of a sapphires. Why are they so noticeable? Find out Voicing mark is a peculiar thing. It’s only a season, fluffy snow before Christmas, powdery more about these beautiful seeds and mondo matter of two strokes but makes a great snow in New Year…. Join the girl in the book grasses in this book. Explanatory text and difference. So let’s see what difference it makes in and enjoy the snowy days, and find out how beautiful and accurate illustrations await you! this book with side-by-side stories; one story is beautiful snow can be. without, and the other is with voicing mark. Enjoy the happy nonsense with cute illustrations!

THE ANT FAMILY POTATO FLOWER CHAFER by Taku Shimada by Maki Arai by Tetsuo Hasegawa illustrated by Kanako Oshima Look, this box is full of potatoes. Look closer, In the spring field, a buzzing insect flew into a Many of us often see ants, our neighbor, busily and there is something growing out of a potato; flower and started eating pollen. This is flower working. Not many of us, however, know what this is a potato shoot. Let’s plant it and see what chafer; let’s follow it and see what it does next, work ants do or how the family grows larger. happens, depicted with the simple text and where it goes to sleep and how it lives throughout Open the book; easy text and accurate detailed illustrations. Then, be hungry for freshly the year. Make friends with this shiny green illustrations let you peek into the life of an ant dug potatoes! insect in this beautiful book with minute family. illustrations!

THE TRAIN GOES BY WHITE CLOVER LET’S MAKE A MARIONETTE by Yuji Okamoto AND RED CLOVER AND PLAY! A train is about to leave the station. Let’s go and by Tamami Sawaguchi by Yumi Hayashi see where it goes. Spread by spread, you see the illustrated by Sumako Yasui Welcome to the marionette theater! Enjoy our train going by our daily life. Train lovers or not, Clovers can be found almost anywhere. Pick performance, but if you please, you can make a you will surely have fun following the train, some white flowers and weave them into a marionette of your own and play with us! Spread finding various vehicle along the railroad, and necklace. Red clovers are pretty too, but you can’t by spread, you see various marionettes walk, run, guessing where people are going! weave them. Why? Enjoy the closer look into the dance or transform. Find your favorite marionette familiar flowers and their differences, depicted in and try making it! simple but explanatory text and beautiful illustrations. CITY WATER by Ichiro Momoki A fountain in the middle of a street…? There must be a hole in the water pipe! Did you know there are lots of pipes buried in the earth, or behind the walls? Be a curious little boy and follow the journey of water to and from your house!

THE BLUE WHALE by Hidehiro Kato illustrated by Tadaaki Okata LITTLE DROPS OF WATER MAKE Blue whale is the largest animal that ever existed on this earth. Isn’t it amazing that you still can THE MIGHTY OCEAN see such great animals actually living? Open the by Daisuke Ohta book and meet a mother whale with a baby; Little drops of water get together and make a spoonful of explanatory text and powerfully beautiful water. Spoonful of water, if gathered, can make a glass of illustrations help you learn more about this great water. Small-pool-full of water can make a pool for an animal! elephant… Enjoy the repetition and dynamic “nonsense” of happy illustrations! 10 paperback / 25×19 cm / 40 pages / 4-color print / ¥667.- Ages 8 and up NON-FICTION BOOKS LET’S PLAY WITH LINES THE BIRTH OF A SNOW CRYSTAL BUTTERFLIES by Hiromi Sugita — Secret of Its Beautiful Forms — AND THEIR HOSTPLANTS Let’s play with lines! Our world is full of various lines. by Norikazu Maeno by Taeko Okuyama Lines make up each letter or drawings. Lines can illustrated by Toshiyuki Saito Butterflies are beautiful, but their lives are more severe express feelings in illustrations. Lines show where Look, it’s snowing. Look close at snowflakes and than gracious. Follow various kinds of them to find trains run. This playful book about lines, with notice the beautiful hexagonal forms. Why, unlike out which plant they like. Such plant must be very expressive illustrations, will open your eyes to the ordinary ice, does a snowflake have such beautiful delicious to certain butterfly. Explore the beautiful wonder of lines around you! form? Fly high into the clouds and witness the birth labyrinth of butterflies and plants, and be amazed at of snow. The latest scientific discovery in easy the wisdom of wildlife. explanatory text, along with breathtakingly beautiful illustrations! WE ARE CHILDREN OF STARS WILD TULIPS A TALE OF PETROLEUM by Kenta Fujisawa by Akira Maeshima by Naohiko Ohkouchi illustrated by Hirotaka Nakano Can you tell where tulips came from? Open the book illustrated by Akemi Yamafuku We are children of stars. It’s not a metaphor, but we and let’s explore the mountainous area where wild We are surrounded by things made of, or powered by actually are made of stars. How is it possible? Let’s tulips grow. Why tulips have such bright colors? What petroleum. Not many, however, have ever stopped to follow the step by step explanation about us, lives on kind of weather do they prefer? Marvel at the beautiful think what gave petroleum the energy we live on. Let’s earth, the earth itself, and finally about star and photos and you will find tulips in your garden even go back the time to see how petroleum is made. Be universe. Lively illustrations help our understanding! more beautiful! astonished by the facts, and marvel at the powerful and unique illustrations!

MEETING AND MISSING EACH OTHER THE MATHEMATICAL ANT PLANKTON — Wasps and Insects in the Sand Dune of — How Does It Feel to Do Math Like an Ant? — — The Life Drifting in the Sea — Hakoishi, Kyoto — by Masao Morita by Yusuke Yoshino by Tomoji Endo illustrated by Katsuji Wakisaka What is the sea? The author photographer Y. Yoshino’s illustrated by Yoshiro Okamoto I’m an ant. I used to be a human mathematician, but answer would be “where plankton drifts.” Open the What happens if two wasps come close together? Do I’m an ant now. I try to think mathematically, but ants book and meet the mysterious, half transparent lives they meet and greet, or just ignore each other? Let’s don’t understand human mathematics. Their math is drifting in the sea. They are monstrous and beautiful join the prof. Endo’s field work and find out the completely different… An invitation from both at the same time, and surely change your ideas about amazing facts about wasps. Easy explanations and mathematics and philosophy; find a new way of the sea! helpful illustrations invite you into the wonderful viewing the world around us! world of insects! GREAT CORMORANT by Yuzo Nakagawa Great cormorant can be easily found by rivers. They are particularly famous as skilled fisher, but there are many other interesting aspects about this birds. Open the book and make friends with Great cormorant and marvel at the part they play in the eco-system of this earth.

A GIRL IN 1935 AT OSAKA CITY by Natsuko Makino illustrated by Kyo Kamoi Would you like to “time-travel” into the past? Open the book and it will take you to Osaka in 1935. What EXPLORING MARINE ANIMALS’ LIFE UNDER THE SEA a girl at that time have in common with girls by Katsufumi Sato nowadays? Enjoy exploring the city through cute illustrated by Tatsuro Kiuchi illustrations and other materials such as postcards or Would you like to dive into the ocean and swim with seals or penguins? pamphlets. Then, open the book and dive into the beautifully illustrated pages. Thanks to the devoted research by Prof. Sato, we can swim among the wisdom of wild animals and mystery of their lives! 11 NON-FICTION BOOKS hardcover

A LONELY LION THE NAME OF MY LITTLE WEED THE LITTLE FROG by Yoshikazu Natsume by Reiko Nagao IN THE SPRING FIELD A young lion has become independent A little white flower is between tulips; what’s the name by Nobue Kai of his parents. He doesn’t have a of this weed? The curious boy calls his grandpa and A little frog is trying to catch a butterfly. dark thick mane like his father yet grandpa asks questions; does it stand on its own, are the He follows a butterfly to dandelions, bees nor is he tough. But he was on his leaves round or pointed…? Enjoy the conversation and to the field of Chinese milk vetch, but he own and had to hunt for his food. marvel at the embroidered flowers and weeds! can’t catch any food. What’s worse, he He spots a prey, a baby zebra but it 5 years and up / 22×16cm / 40 pages / ¥1,100.- suddenly finds himself facing a snake and wasn’t as easy as he thought. A ISBN 978-4-8340-8319-4 has to run for his life. Let’s go out in the spectacular realism of life in the spring field and explore with a little frog. savanna. Peaceful as the illustrations may be, you 5 years and up / 24×31cm / 32 pages / will see everything is a part of circle of life. ¥1,400.- 3 years and up / 21×24cm / 24 pages / ¥900.- ISBN 978-4-8340-8331-6 ISBN 978-4-8340-8333-0

I LOVE ANIMALS! — Several Things A PEACH TREE AND ME THE WONDER Iriomote Wild Cats Show Us — by Takako Hirono IN THE CABBAGE FIELD by Shigeki Yasuma Wouldn’t it be swell to raise your favorite fruit by Nobue Kai illustrated by Yasuko Okamoto plant at home? The story starts at a nursery In a cabbage patch during spring, we find The author simply loved animals since a young where a boy purchases a young peach tree. It a strange looking thing hanging from the age. On hearing about a new species of a wild cat blooms and he assists its pollination. Several baby back of a cabbage leaf. An ant tries to push in Iriomote Island, he flew there to observe it peaches appear and grow but not all of them it and it perks up. Then a stinkbug comes which led to be his life work. Let’s see how he mature. He experiences the joy and process of by and tries again. It was a pupa. Early the taxed his ingenuity during field work. Detailed waiting for the right timing. following day the pupa opens its back and observation notes and devised lighting methods 5 years and up / 24×22cm / 32 pages / ¥1,200.- out comes a beautiful Small White! Enjoy ISBN 978-4-8340-8328-6 show us a patient accumulation of studies. the world of bugs! 5 years and up / 31×23cm / 32 pages / ¥1,200.- 3 years and up / 21×24cm / 24 pages / ¥900.- ISBN 978-4-8340-8317-0 ISBN 978-4-8340-8332-3

25

24

A TRIP ON A MONORAIL GREAT SHIPS! FREIGHT はこ つ か もつ by Mitsu Mineo こう せき こく もつ SHIPS CARRY ALMOST 鉱石や穀物などの貨物を、そのまま積みこんで運ぶのが、 づ か もつ せん

てつ じょ ばら積み貨物船です。 てっ こう せき せい Have you ever been on a monorail train? It てつ げん りょう ANYTHING! づ か もつ せん

ぱん せん よう せん ばら積み貨物船には、鉄の原料となるはこ鉄鉱せき石たんをうん製鉄所まで か りょく はつ でん しょ よう せん せき たん is an elevated railway system with trains by Ryohei Yanagihara はこ こう せき せん せん よう せん 運ぶ鉱石専用船、石炭を火力発電所に運ぶこく石もつ炭運はこ搬専用船、 うし ぶた suspended from a single rail. It carries や のエサにするとうもろこしなどの を ぶ な 牛 豚 あ かた穀物 運 専用船 Being surrounded by the sea, Japan has か もつ こくもつ てっこうせき 穀物など はこ ふね かる どがあり それぞれの に わせた につくられています 鉄鉱石などはこ ふね people from a terminal station to a 、 貨物 合 型 。 おも 軽いものを運ぶ船は、 been an oceanic state since the old days. 重いものを運ぶ船は、 せんそう ひろ せんそう 船倉が広い neighboring town on the shore. You can Freight shipping still plays a very 船倉がせまい view the towns from above as if you were a important role in logistics today. Natural bird. The rails are built to fit the landscape resources are imported and motor below bending and rolling as needed. vehicles, electronic devices and other During the trip in this book, you can see items are exported by them. Let’s look how monorails operate and experience their into the history of various vessels and charm. each one’s characteristics. Exquisite 4 years and up / 26×24 cm / 28 pages / ¥900.- ISBN 978-4-8340-8348-4 cutout pictures explain them in details. 8 years and up / 26×20cm / 40 pages / ¥1,300.- ISBN 978-4-8340-8370-5

25

24 12 hardcover NON-FICTION BOOKS

BEFORE THE ICE CREAM MELTS — A Suite for Family Halloween — by Kenji Ozawa and Japan-U.S. Council on Spookology What’s special about ice cream? Whatever it is, you have to enjoy it before it melts. Family Halloween is like ice cream. You have to enjoy it while you can. Open the book and have fun among the “spooky” pages; a wonderful creation by multi-talented “spookologists!” 5 years and up / 22×16 cm / 72 pages / ¥1,400.- ISBN 978-4-8340-8353-8

LET’S PLAY WITH LITTLE DARUMA A SPORTS DAY ON THE SALT FARM FIRST-AID FOR CHILDREN — Japanese Children’s Games and Plays — by Masamoto Nasu by Makoto Yamada by Satoshi Kako illustrated by Yoshitaka Tagashira illustrated by Gen-ichiro Yagyu Let’s play games! No, you don’t need toys or game- The long expected Sports Day is held at now We are proud to announce the new edition of software. With a piece of string or a handkerchief, you deserted but once prosperous salt farm, where this book on first aid after 30 years. With the can have lots of fun. A book of traditional children’s factories are to be built before long. Vivid renewal, it is introducing the “moist wound games and plays with beloved Little Daruma; you will episodes of sports day, along with the history healing” method that is now the norm. Children be surprised by how fresh these “old” games seem! of salt farming, are told with lively learn how to handle “wounds” “burns” and even 3 years and up / 21×15cm / 128 pages / ¥1,400.- illustrations. Through this book, you will find more. We can check and see what an ideal first- ISBN 978-4-8340-8305-7 a new “taste” of salt! aid kit is supposed to be equipped with. 8 years and up / 26×27cm / 44 pages / ¥1,500.- 4 years and up / 26×24cm / 28 pages / ¥900.- ISBN 978-4-8340-8320-0 ISBN 978-4-8340-8321-7

LIFE STORY INSIDE US THE WATER TRAVELING ALL OVER WHAT HAPPENED? by Keiko Nakamura THE EARTH by Masahiko Sato and EUPHRATES illustrated by Tatsuhide Matsuoka by Takeo Onishi and Aya Ryusawa A fluffy plump sheep is standing in the first You know you are alive, don’t you? Then, can you illustrated by Ichitaro Soga photograph and then there is a short-coated explain what it is to be alive? What is life? To (partly) It’s raining. Where are these raindrops come from and skinny one. In between these two shots answer this overwhelming question, K. Nakamura where do they go? Water runs down toward lower something must have happened! Eight different unfolds the history of life in easy explanations with places and into the ocean. Water evaporates and forms situations are given, and the reader gets to guess the help of detailed illustrations. Think of “life” inside clouds... Follow the traveling water in this wonderful what did. The following pages will explain the you. It’s the result of more than 3 billion years of book with beautiful illustrations, and realize that, in a process with the missing middle shot. A unique history on earth! sense, we are all connected by water. photographic book to cultivate the inborn 8 years and up / 26×20cm / 40 pages / ¥1,300.- × imagination of children. ISBN 978-4-8340-8325-5 5 years and up / 31 22 cm / 40 pages / ¥1,400.- ISBN 978-4-8340-8351-4 4 years and up / 26×24cm / 28 pages / ¥900.- ISBN 978-4-8340-8336-1 13 “Knock, knock.” “Who’s there?” “I am Takusan no Fushigi.” “Takusan no Fushigi?? Who?” — What do you remember your childhood? “What’s the edge of space like?” “What are dreams?” “Do trees hurt when their branches break?” There must have Many Doors for Curiosity been always many questions in childhood. All of boys and girls have much curiosity around their world. They are natural born researcher, artist and adventurer. There are “Many Doors for Curiosity” before them. Everything knocks their curiosity and provides them sense of wonders. Our series of “Takusan no Fushigi.”, which means TO THE MOON! “A lot of wonders” in English, is helpful for any children’s curiosity to everything. by Toru Matsuoka Over the horizon, the moon looks so large and close to us that we feel we could almost touch it. Actually it’s not so easy to reach the moon. How long would it take if we walked the distance? What if we drove a car? How can we reach the moon; DARWIN AND EARTHWORMS by a airplane, or by a special elevator? Enjoy the explanations and fantastic illustrations and this book will take you to and by Akio Niizuma beyond the moon! illustrated by Hiromi Sugita This book is written by a zoologist who himself is very much 8 years and up / 26 × 20cm / 40 pages / ¥1,300.- attracted to the earnest research attitude of Darwin. In ISBN 978-4-8340-8113-8 order to prove that earthworms contribute so much to create rich soil, and to understand their habit, Darwin conducted experiment for 40 years. The book introduced the work of Darwin with clear and understandable scientific explanation. The humorous illustration also makes this scientific book very approachable. 8 years and up / 26 × 20cm / 40 pages / ¥1,300.- ISBN 978-4-8340-1679-6

OUR TAILS FROM FISH TO MAN by Norihisa Inuzuka illustrated by Hiroko Oshima What do we have in common? Animal students look at each other; eyes, mouth, bones, red blood, tail... “No, I don’t have a tail,” a Koala and a Human boy spoke up. Why are there animals with a tail and those without? What are tails for? Join the animal school and follow their research on tails. Students illustrated with color pencils will welcome you and share their knowledge in step by step details! 8 years and up / 25 × 19cm / 40 pages / ¥667.-

14 WORDY AND IMAGER IN YUTA HOW MUCH DO INSECTS WEIGH? — Yuta’s Demonstrations for the Rise of his by Akinori Yoshitani Monthly Allowance — Have you ever wondered how much an insect weighs? Annual by Yukichi Amano medical checkups are a norm these days and we are used to illustrated by Akane Otsuki being weighed. Even animals in the zoo are weighed for health Words and images each have their own merits when it comes to care. Insects, however, are too small to be weighed on a regular communication. If both advantages are combined well, one can scale. The author attempts to do this devising an electronical express what they wish quite effectively. Yuta decides to create scale, an ideal gadget for high-precision weighing as it can a poster for a raise on his allowance. Wordy, the words inside weigh from ten thousandth of one gram. Weighing over 1200 himself and Imager, the drawings in his mind stand up to help kinds, he collects remarkable data. him out for his best shot to achieve this. 8 years and up / 19 × 25cm / 40 pages / ¥667.- 8 years and up / 26 × 20cm / 40 pages / ¥1,300.- ISBN 978-4-8340-2136-3

GORILLA DRUMMING — Why Do Gorillas Drum on Their Chests? — by Juichi Yamagiwa illustrated by Chisato Abe Only a hundred years ago or so, gorilla drumming was thought THE PRINCESS’S to be an act of anger. The Europeans, who first discovered EXPLORATION IN A NEST OF gorillas, misunderstood the drumming as a threat or warning. ANTS Stories like King Kong promoted the misconception, too. After by Ayuko Akiyama studying their behaviors, we found One day a curious princess is poking an ants’ out that in fact the drumming was nest with her five other friends when a tiny done for exactly the opposite! hermit emerges from inside. He casts a spell Gorillas drum their chests in order shrinking all six of them and they get the to avoid conflict. Let’s see how. chance to visit the nest of ants. The ecology × of ants is displayed in detail with a unique 8 years and up / 26 20cm / HEIAN style drawing. 40 pages / ¥1,300.- ISBN 978-4-8340-8187-9 8 years and up / 26 × 20cm / 40 pages / ¥1,300.- ISBN 978-4-8340-2233-9

15 STORY BOOKS & REFERENCE BOOKS hardcover

WHEN CHRISTMAS IS APPROACHING A GIRL OF A TOFU SHOP SADAKICHI ! 2 by Rin Saito by Michiko Yoshida by Hirofumi Tanaka illustrated by Takashi Kurihara illustrated by Kei Kobayashi illustrated by Sekaiichi Asakura Even with the festive air it held, Cero simply hated Great are round soy beans, which make square tofu… After that incident of rescuing Master Suibai from Christmas. Mom would be busy at work selling One Sunday afternoon, a girl learns a song from foxes bad company, Tadashi was enchanted with rakugo, a Christmas presents and Dad somehow disappeared and the song turns out to be the key for Dad to make Japanese sit-down comedy alone. He started taking during the season. When he turned ten, Cero really delicious tofu… Enjoy the heart-warming rakugo lessons and meets his future rival Tsutomu questioned his Mom closely about this, only to find story with cute illustrations. Then be hungry for very there. A performance given by the pupils there was out that his Dad was Santa Claus! The secret was good tofu! approaching. Driven into the corner with anxiety, too big to swallow at once, but Cero began to see the Tadashi gets transported through time to the Edo 5 years and up / 22 × 16cm / 88 pages / ¥1,300.- real world around himself. ISBN 978-4-8340-8367-5 period again! A sequel to the first episode, “Sadakichi”. 8 years and up / 21 × 26cm / 56 pages / ¥1,300.- 8 years and up / 20 × 14cm / 304 pages / ¥1,500.- ISBN 978-4-8340-8363-7 ISBN 978-4-8340-8371-2

THE ADVENTURES OF YUHTA THE THE ADVENTURES OF YUHTA THE KAPPA WHAT’S THE STORY OF TODAY… KAPPA (WATERMAN) Vol.1 (WATERMAN) Vol.2 — Folktales from Japan and Other by Atsuo Saito by Atsuo Saito Countries — illustrated by Etsuko Kanaida illustrated by Estuko Kanaida by Teiji Seta Yuhta, the Kappa lived alone at Lake Blessings, Yuhta, the Kappa followed the trail with his companions illustrated by Kyoko Nomiyama an ancient lake in the northern country. He Akane, the granddaughter of the legendary Nine-tailed Fox Tell us a story, children would ask you. encountered a strange fox who told him that he had and Hayate, the Tengu. They get involved in an incident With this book, you will never be without a to start off on a journey to the source of Ryu River. helping others but being spotted, it was their turn to be in tale to tell. Enjoy the collected folktales of Puzzled and not knowing what this journey was trouble. Will they get to their destination? What about their Japan and other countries, in the wonderful about, Yuhta set out with Akane, the fox’s daughter magical power? And moreover, what was the point of this narrative by T. Seta. Grown-ups may find a and a Tengu monster called Hayate. journey? story you loved as a child! × × 10 years and up / 21 17 cm / 408 pages / ¥2,500.- 10 years and up / 21 17cm / 408 pages / ¥2,500.- 3 years and up / 18 × 13cm / 176 pages / ¥1,100.- ISBN 978-4-8340-8334-7 ISBN 978-4-8340-8335-4 ISBN 978-4-8340-8313-2

LIFE BEGINS WITH ATTACHMENT THE DAWN OF BOOKS FOR CHILDREN by Masami Sasaki — The Works of Teiji Seta — illustrated by Yuriko Yamawaki by Takako Arakida Dr. Masami Sasaki worked in the child psychiatry Teiji Seta is a man who contributed so much to the field field for over half a century, studying various cases of children’s books in Japan. He was an author himself, SPIN-OFF STORIES 2 OF seeking the healthy growth of young children’s translated various foreign children’s books into Japanese and KIKI’S DELIVERY SERVICE minds. He sends out messages to people who are in released many reviews on this topic. 2016 was the centenary the position of bringing up young ones. Raising a of Mr. Seta’s birth. To celebrate this year, the author and also by Eiko Kadono child to believe in oneself as well as in others derives Mr. Seta former editor, had decided to compile his marvelous illustrated by Miho Satake Kiki’s Delivery Service series from the unconditional love he/she receives in the works and contributions into a book. early stage of life. wouldn’t be as wonderful if it were 21 × 16cm / 504 pages / ¥3,200.- ISBN 978-4-8340-8315-6 not for the cute black cat. They 19 × 13 cm / 208 pages / ¥900.- ISBN 978-4-8340-8345-3 grew up together and are intimate friends, but there were conflicts as BASE THE CAT TUTOR THE LIFE WITH TWO CHEEKY BOYS siblings, and they made decisions and revisions about “who they are.” by Kazuya Nambu by Makoto Horikawa Enjoy the cute growing up story It’s wonderful to be a parent, but you cannot be always illustrated by Aya Sato from a cute cat’s viewpoint! Base the cat was born in a market but was happy when you have two boys. The author, a cartoonist and accidently taken to the Palace, where the cat a father of two sons, depicts the days with his sons; the days 8 years and up / 21 × 16cm / 160 pages was assigned to be a tutor of the Princess! that never goes as planned. Enjoy the noisy, restless and / ¥1,200.- What lesson can a cat give to a Princess? – To happy life with two boys. ISBN 978-4-8340-8338-5 be curious! A fantastic book by a veterinary to 20 × 15cm / 144 pages / ¥900.- / softcover warm and tickle your heart. ISBN 978-4-8340-8342-2 5 years and up / 22 × 19cm / 112 pages / ¥1,700.- ISBN 978-4-8340-8318-7

FUKUINKAN SHOTEN PUBLISHERS, INC. Rights & Permissions Dept. Tel. +81 3 3942 2055 Fax +81 3 3942 2067 16 6-6-3, Honkomagome, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8686, Japan [email protected] http://www.fukuinkan.com/