My recommended Japanese Picture Book! The Review of "Everyone Poops" by Taro Gomi

Thank you for visiting my blog! 

Hello!

My English version nickname in this blog is "Toko of Tokyo." 

I derived "Toko" from the heroine "遠子" of my favorite Japanese novel Hakucyo Iden (『白鳥異伝』or Mirror Sword and Shadow Prince) by Noriko Ogiwara (荻原規子）.  

I was really absorbed in reading Hakucyo Iden when I was in my teens and since then this novel has been one of my favorite books ever.    It is a thrilling epic fantasy based on Japanese ancient mythology, and I love the pure and brave heroine Toko.  

First, let me introduce myself. 

Now I am 40 years old and live in Tokyo, Japan, with my husband and daughter. (She is 4 years old now.  Her nickname in this blog is "Mille.")  Previously, I taught English at junior high school, high school and university, but now I am a full-time homemaker.  

I like reading books & comic books, watching dramas & movies, listening to music, and cooking etc. 

In this blog,  I would like to introduce my recommended Japanese and English books (mainly, picture books) to readers who are not familiar with Japanese language.  

This time, I review Everyone Poops by Taro Gomi. 

Spoilers ahead, so if you mind, please read the book first for yourself! 

EVERYONE POOPS(H) [ TARO GOMI ] 価格：2692円（税込、送料無料) (2022/7/15時点) 楽天で購入

This book was first published in Japan in 1977 and has been read by  a lot of Japanese children over generations. 

In this book, different animals (including human beings) make different kinds of poop in different ways at different places.  

This book tells readers both the diversity of animals and the universal common point among animals as well.  

The last sentence of this book is "All living things eat, so" (p25) "Everyone Poops" (p27). 

This sentence is very impressive, isn't it?   It makes my heart warm because it makes me feel that, transcending various kinds of differences, all the animals living on Earth are in solidarity by the common point that we all poop. 

The illustration by Taro Gomi, who is one of the leading authors of Japanese children books,  is unique and very appealing to children. 

Both my daughter Mille's and my favorite page is where a one-hump camel and a two-hump camel appear, which never fails to make us grin. 

Enjoy this book just as children in Japan have enjoyed it over generations!