Search results for ""author kazue takahashi""

When a boy receives an invitation in the mail from Kuma-Kuma Chan, a friendly bear who lives far away, he travels by train, bus, and finally on foot to reach Kuma-Kuma Chan's home. Kuma-Kuma Chan welcomes him and serves tea. Even though the two don't have a lot to talk about, just by spending time together, sharing the day's activities, they bond and create a friendship and enjoy each other's company. This heartwarming tale once again immerses children of all ages, in Kuma-Kuma Chan's peaceful, simple world.

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In the third book in the Kuma-Kuma Chan series, the title character flies off to a south sea isle where he lies in the sun and drifts into a lazy snooze. He climbs to the summit of a mountain and views the sunrise while drinking a cup of hot chocolate. Instead of physically setting out for one place or another, Kuma-Kuma travels freely all over the world—inside his head. Once again, Kuma-Kuma Chan charms as he exemplifies the joy of a simple, peaceful life. With its spare text and delightful illustrations, this small-format picture book invites readers to explore their own imaginations and create their own travels.

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This lovingly rendered, meditative book on friendship is sure to find a permanent place on the bedside table With sparse text and a deceptively simple, beautiful design, author/illustrator Kazue Takahashi brings to life the world of Kuma-Kuma Chan, which loosely translates from the Japanese as "cute little bear." Making its first appearance in English, this charming book for preschoolers and readers of all ages poses the question, "How might my friend, a solitary bear, choose to spend his days?" The soft, almost dreamlike illustrations are accompanied by single sentences, making it easy for emerging readers to follow along. Daily chores and seasonal activities become infused with special meaning when they are performed by this adorable creature. Kuma-Kuma Chan goes about his days in contented solitude, engaged in activities such as eating breakfast, gazing at clouds, listening to the rain, writing letters, and wondering where to go with his new bag. At night he watches the sky darken and brushes his teeth before bed. He gardens in the spring, trims his hair in summer, composes a love song in the fall, and seeks a warm, sunny spot on the floor in the winter. Children and adults alike will take delight in repeating aloud the name of their new, steadfast storybook friend and look forward to spending more time in his imagined world.

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A whimsical story about an unusual friendship, and one girl's discovery of the joy that letter writing can bring. While spending a vacation with her grandparents, Mayu, a Japanese first-grader, finds a mysterious mailbox in the forest near their house. She writes a letter and leaves it in the box. The next day she is surprised to find a letter addressed to her. She responds and a friendship develops between the two letter writers. But who could this mysterious friend be? Mayu discovers who he is, and discovers the joys of writing and receiving letters. And when the time comes to go back home, she and her forest friend find an unexpected way to exchange letters and to continue their friendship. Illustrated in the whimsical style that won Kazue Takahashi accolades for her Kuma-Kuma Chan books, The Mailbox in the Forest offers a delightful look into the everyday life of a Japanese girl - with a little magic added! AGES: 4 to 8 AUTHOR: Kyoko Hara was born in Tokyo and graduated from Wako University with a degree in art. In 1978 she won the Kodansha Children's Literature Prize in the KFS Contest. Among her many titles are Haru ni aeta yo (We Met Spring)and Kuma no Bear to chiisana Tatan (Kuma the Bear and Tiny Tatan) series. When she was a child, she wanted to become a fashion designer and did not like writing at all. Kazue Takahashi made her debut as a picture-book author with acclaimed Kuma-Kuma Chan, The Little Bear in 2001. Her picture books include Risu denwa (The Squirrel Telephone System) and Ne, ohanashi kikasete (Read Me a Story, with Kyoko Hara). Takahashi's illustrations embody kawaii - the quality of being cute and adorable, which is prominent in Japanese popular culture.

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