Today’s post comes to you from Cathy Hirano: The Fluffy Futon by Yuichi Kasano / Translated from the Japanese by Cathy Hirano (Gecko Press, 2026) On a warm, sunny day, Grandma spreads her futon out on the porch to air. Along comes a kitty-cat. With a great big yawn, it curls up for a nap, … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Month Focus on Japan: Funny Books that Nurture the Soul
Today's post comes to you from Lisa Wilcut: Shinsuke Yoshitake is a Japanese author/illustrator, philosophical humorist, and beloved cultural icon with an instantly recognizable artistic style. His books have been translated into more than ten languages and have sold more than ten million copies worldwide. His picture books appear regularly on ‘best of’ lists by … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: The Wonderful World of Picture Books by Shinsuke Yoshitake
Today's post comes to you from Jackie Friedman Mighdoll: In working on picture books, I’ve always been taught to focus on the narrative arc, including a problem or challenge, some attempts to solve it, a climax and ultimately a satisfying ending. But reading Japanese picture books shows me there are other ways to make great … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Month: Surreal Worlds in Japanese Picture Books
Today’s post comes to you from Andrew Wong: Some picture books in translation tell stories from other cultures, and others offer new perspectives on familiar topics. Here are some titles on complex issues from Japan that offer insights and inspiration. The World’s Poorest President Speaks Out edited by Yoshimi Kusaba / Translated from the Japanese … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Month Focus on Japan: Four Challenging Picture Books Created with Purpose
Today’s post comes to you from Andria McKnight: There’s something about getting lost in the secret world of animals that captivates children’s imaginations. If you think back on your childhood, I’m sure you can recall a favorite book that had a family of talking rabbits, big fluffy kitties walking around in a town full of … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Month: Whimsical Picture Books from Japan to Explore
Today's post comes to you from Deborah Iwabuchi: When it comes to weather, Japanese children’s books contain lots of it. Today, I present three books on rain that have been translated into English. While each book is structured around a day full of precipitation—pre-rain, rain, and post-rain—the actual stories are completely different. Every Color of … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Month Focus on Japan: Rainy Weather From All Angles
"Deep in the forest sat a little house. The witch who lived in the house was very old. She was so old even her wrinkles were wrinkled. But one day she went for a walk and never returned.” So starts The Little House That Needed a Witch, a whimsically charming picture book for readers age … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: The Little House That Needed a Witch
First published in Singapore in 2021, the picture book Marvellous Mammals is now available worldwide and a valuable resource for learning about the geography and wildlife of Southeast Asia. Each letter in English corresponds to the name of a mammal that lives in the region (though the author is helped by the fact that the mammals go … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: Marvellous Mammals
On the Move: Things in Motion on Earth and Beyond (2025) / Куди і звідки (2020), written & illustrated by Romana Romanyshyn & Andriy Lesiv, translated from Ukrainian by Oksana Lushchevska, is a visual non-fiction delight for readers of all ages, exploring the concept of motion for humans, animals, vehicles, wind, water, as well as … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: On the Move
A multi-layered picture book story about peace that can be appreciated by readers of all ages is today's very welcome offering. What if one opponent in a duel simply keeps walking away? And in walking, step after step in a straight line, without turning around, begins to forget about the origin of the conflict as … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: The Duel: a story about peace
Global Literature in Libraries Initiative 