Chirri & Chirra, In the Tall Grass
Chirri & Chirra, In the Tall Grass
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Written and illustrated by Kaya Doi
Translated from Japanese by Yuki Kaneko
A Kirkus Reviews Best Picture Book of 2017
Featured in New York Magazine's 2024 Holiday Gift Guide: Best Books to Gift to Little Kids
Chirri and Chirra go on an imaginative adventure where they discover the small overlooked mysteries of the natural world. In their second adventure Chirri and Chirra become very small, and explore the magical world hidden away in a grove of tall grass. Filled with friendly, industrious bees and equally inventive bugs, this is a book that brings the lovely particularity of life in Japan—marked by food and nature—to young readers here.
ISBN: 978-1-59270-225-1
9.25" (W) x 6.5" (H) • 40 pages • HCJ
AWARDS AND REVIEWS
A Kirkus Reviews Best Picture Book of 2017
Featured in New York Magazine's 2024 Holiday Gift Guide: Best Books to Gift to Little Kids
★ "Utterly charming." —STARRED REVIEW, Kirkus Reviews
“Take a fantastical voyage through a luscious green meadow with rosy-red cheeked Chirri and Chirra. In this second book about the twins, the girls are yet again only distinguishable because one has blue buttons on her dress and the other has red. It is in these tiny details that Doi excels. The use of color pencils to masterfully guide readers on a leisurely paced tour is reminiscent of days gone by. […] Doi creates an enchanted world that harkens back to a quieter time. There is never any sense of danger or anxiety, either in the artwork or in the spare poetic text. Through pacing and a soft-focus lens, pale cream-colored pages in a small rectangular format, and the bleed over onto the next page, Doi sets the tone of a gentle read. Nature is celebrated in a bucolic setting. In this dollhouse come to life, children will enjoy picking hidden surprises out from the illustrations. This book is best enjoyed one-on-one, so readers can luxuriate in the artistic nuances. Careful observers will notice that the endpapers serve as a map for the twins' journey. […] A highly recommended purchase for any size collection where readers will delight in the whimsical nostalgic artwork.” —Eva Thaler-Sroussi, Glencoe Public Library, School Library Journal
"This second installment of Chirri and Chirra’s tiny adventures is just as magical and gentle as the first! Scrumptious, sweet, and full of warmth, Chirri & Chirra, In the Tall Grass will make readers want to dive right into the book to nibble on honey sponge cakes and sip on freshly squeezed mixed-leaf juice alongside the diminutive duo. Dring-dring! Here comes my favorite summery picture book!" —Hannah DeCamp, Children’s Buyer, Avid Bookshop (Athens, GA)
"...Doi’s gauzy images revel in the details described. It’s a delicious vision of the rewards of curiosity, exploration, and having the freedom to chase adventures wherever they lead." —Publishers Weekly
"Doi’s books are completely unique. The two characters react to nature and the foods offered them with wonder and curiosity. There is no fear here, just adventure and joy." —Tasha Saecker, Waking Brain Cells
“A beautifully rendered portrayal of the magic of childhood.” —Miranda Rosbach, My Bookbloom
"Chirri & Chirra is an utterly charming series of children’s picture books...low on the angst scale and high on the charm meter. Doi is known for her softly styled drawings on rich creamy paper. She creates the illustrations in these books with colored pencils, pastels, and crayons, crafting them to give an old-world feel, a time of innocence and simplicity. The exquisite art radiates joy and has a dreamy quality to it that reflects how children imagine their ideal world to be. These delightful books are a welcome escape for young children from their anxieties." —International Examiner
"It’s simple, and the colored-pencil illustrations are very charming — the best imaginative treats." —Illustrator Sarah Jacoby, for New York Magazine’s The Strategist
"I love a book that is just so clearly written to access the world inside a child’s mind... It’s an adventure to nowhere and everywhere and is so visually enchanting." —Comedy writer and bestselling author Bess Kalb, for New York Magazine’s The Strategist
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