(2) K-3 Illustrated by Komako Sakai. Young viewers may wonder why the cover art shows a bear and a bird, not a wildcat. On the title page, however, we see the bird lying on its back, and the first spread tells us that Bear's best friend, Bird, has died. Heartbroken, Bear fashions a small box for his friend, filling it with flower petals. All the forest animals tell him he needs to forget about Bird, but one day Bear meets a wildcat, the first animal to understand his grief. The wildcat plays his violin, and Bear is flooded with memories of his friend; afterward, Bear finally feels ready to bury Bird. "We'll always be friends, my little bird and I." This quiet, gently told story about death and friendship is well matched with soothing illustrations. Muted oval-shaped vignettes of various sizes feature black backgrounds, while the dusty lilac of the textural backgrounds signals tranquility. The only other color appears when Bear is remembering his friend: from then on, the judicious use of sky blue in the art feels like a sign of hope and understanding. In likely a nod to "Puss in Boots," the boot-clad wildcat here nicely epitomizes folklore's "animal as helper." This Japanese import (originally published in 2008) by Yumoto (The Friends, rev. 11/96) and illustrator Sakai (Emily's Balloon, rev. 7/06; Hannah's Night, rev. 7/14) will be a welcome addition to books about grieving.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2023

(2) PS Illustrated by Komako Sakai. A girl and her brother return to a park to retrieve her jump rope and discover a group of foxes trying to use it but failing. The girl kindly offers to help and then lets the foxes keep the rope, fulfilling one fox's wish. In mostly grays, greens, and yellows, the art excels at capturing preschoolers' body language. Smiling, hopping foxes embody the story's gentle light-heartedness.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2017

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Komako Sakai. Hina is reluctant to adopt a sickly stray kitten. But when it seems the kitten has gotten outside, Hina remembers once being lost herself; empathizing with "how the kitten must feel," she vows to find and befriend it. Impressionistic illustrations in a pastel palette portray Hina's anxiety honestly and support the happy ending with vignettes expressing her growing devotion to her pet.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(2) PS Translated by Yuki Kaneko. Illustrated by Komako Sakai. A toddler persists in trying to connect with others in her low-to-the-ground world. She approaches a butterfly, but it flutters away; two snoozing cats vamoose. Despite her repeated pleas ("Wait! Wait!"), the little girl can't catch up--but her father swoops her onto his shoulders for an adventure. Minimalist double-page-spread illustrations capture the characteristics of a curious young child.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2013

(2) PS Translated by Yuki Kaneko. Illustrated by Komako Sakai. A child, Yu, follows a butterfly into the meadow. Yu's (literal) immersion into the natural world is communicated through simple, experiential first-person text--"The wind blows, rustling the leaves. Swishh"--and expressionistic acrylic and oil-pencil illustrations in a palette of soft greens, browns, and blues. With her fascination with nature and her first steps into independence, Yu is a relatable, believable preschooler.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2011