My Favorite Japanese Picture Book ~ A Review of "The Family of Fourteen And the Moon" ~You can enjoy an old Japanese custom there!

Hello!

I am Toko.

I am 41 years old, live in Tokyo, Japan, with my husband and my daughter (6 years old).

Today, I introduce one of my favorite Japanese picture books. (Spoiler warning!)

The Family of Fourteen And the Moon by Iwamura Kazuo and translated by Arthur Binard

In Japan, we have a custom called "otsukimi," in which we enjoy the beatiful full moon in September.

We usually offer rice dumplings (or round rice-cakes called in this picture book), autumn harvest, and silver grass to the moon in order to thank the moon for the harvest.

The Family of Fourteen And the Moon depicts this gracious Japanese custom from the point of view from a family of mice (grandparents, dad, mom, and ten children).

I strongly recommend you seeing the beatiful illustration of this book.

Because of the point of view from the mice, everthing looks big ー trees are unbelievably tall, leaves are numberless, and the enormous full moon is celestial and awe-inspiring.

Did you like a tree house when you were a child? (and maybe, even now?) If so, you will be excited to read this book becasue the mice build a moon-viewing platform in the treetop!

You can also enjoy seeing the scenery changing its color by the minute ー the day's bright air, the glowing sunset time, the dusk and the full moon lighting up the dark night. . .

Through this book, readers can learn the meaning of a Japanese custom called "otsukimi" as well as get into the spirit of the beautiful Japanese nature.

Thank you very much for reading, and I will be glad if you are interested in this book!