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Summary
Summary
In the Meadownbsp; is our first book in our Being in the World series, a collection of nature books from Japan. Each book will focus on what it feels like to be in a particular place. In this book, a little girl experiences what it's like to be alone in a field where the grass is as tall as she is and there are many insects and sounds. The book ends on a peaceful note, with mommy and daughter together.
Yukiko Kato is a famous Japanese novelist.
Komako Sakai is well known for Emily's Balloon and The Snow Day , both of which received starred reviews and an enthusiastic reception.
Author Notes
Yukiko Kato: Yukiko Kato was born in 1936 in Sapporo, Japan. A famous novelist, she has been the recipient of many awards. Alive to the natural world, Kato has loved nature, wild animals and insects since she was a child. While her passion is writing, she also loves studying animals and plants. She is a member of the Wild Bird Society of Japan.
Komako Sakai: Komako Sakai was born in Hyogo, Japan, in 1966. After graduating from Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, Sakai worked at a kimono textile design company. She is currently one of the most popular author/illustrators in Japan. Her books Emily's Balloon and The Snow Day have been published in the US and were received with starred reviews and much acclaim.
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
PreS-In this quiet book with little action, Yu-chan enjoys a day with her family exploring a meadow. She steps close enough to admire a butterfly, but it flits away, leaving the youngster ready to pursue the other creatures in this habitat. Soon she is surrounded by tall grasses that tickle her legs. While Kato uses few words, they are well chosen and express the wonders of nature. Onomatopoetic sounds, such as "Boing!" "Swish, swish," or "scrunch," as well as descriptive sentences ("the meadow sways like the waves of the sea"), will be like music to a young child's ears as they paint a picture of what Yu-chan is experiencing. Sakai's almost impressionistic acrylic paint and oil-pencil illustrations complement the story. Even the endpapers extend the lushness of the greenery in the text. While this book is supplemental for most libraries, there are those children who will appreciate the luscious language and simple sensations.-Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
A young child follows an orange butterfly into the meadow while the rest of her family enjoys the pleasures of the river's edge. Yu's (literal) immersion into the natural world is communicated through a simple, experiential first-person text -- "The wind blows, rustling the leaves. Swishh. The meadow sways like the waves of the sea. My tummy sinks into the wave. My shoulders sink in too" -- and expressionistic acrylic and oil-pencil illustrations in a palette of soft greens, browns, and blues. The orange of the butterfly stands out against this sea of green, as does the white of Yu's dress and, significantly, sunhat. As Yu ventures further into the meadow, the grasses now as tall as she is, she loses sight of the butterfly and realizes that she is lost. She closes her eyes ("Where am I?") and opens them to find her mother smiling at her. Yu is amazed that her mother knew where to find her, but the reader is not: we've seen Yu's white hat bobbing just above the meadow grasses, and, despite Yu's sense of having embarked on a huge journey, she hasn't actually gone very far. With her fascination with nature and her first steps into independence and back again, Yu is a relatable, believable preschooler; and illustrator Sakai (Emily's Balloon, rev. 7/06) once again eloquently captures the facial expressions and postures of the very young. martha v. parravano (c) Copyright 2011. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
A memorable day at the river with the whole family.A little girl named Yu-Chan, barely older than a toddler, narrates the adventure with beautifully childlike ingenuousness. Spotting a bright orange butterfly perched on a stone, she tries to touch it, but of course it flies away. While Mommy unpacks the family's supplies on the beach and Daddy and Yu-Chan's brother wade in the shallow water, she follows the butterfly through a meadow of tall green grass and plants, the leaves on the ground tickling her ankles. The greenery is so tall that only Yu-Chan's white hat is visible above it. The wind blows, rustling the leaves, and the meadow sways like the waves of the sea. A grasshopper jumps onto her arm but doesn't stay long; he boings away. Yu-Chan has been away for what feels like a long time; she hears a cacophony of sounds, but they all seem very far away. Suddenly she's afraid and starts to cry; it's the perfect time for Mommy to appear. They walk back to the river, hand in hand. Sakai uses acrylic paints and oil pencils to create softly lyrical illustrations that surpass the appropriately minimal text in beauty and elegance.This immersive experience is the first in a proposed series of nature books; a welcome addition. (Picture book. 3-6)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Originally published in Japan, this first installment in a new picture-book series, Being in the World, features a young girl who discovers the thrilling excitement of nature through a close-up adventure. The simple, sensory words and subtle, textured artwork in acrylic paints and oil pencils convey the girl's excitement about small discoveries. At the river with her family, she is thrilled to see a butterfly perching on a stone and notices its beautiful orange wings with tiny black dots. When she tries to touch the butterfly, it flutters away, and she follows it through the meadow. The flowers and leaves smell like toothpaste, minty and sweet ; the wind rustles the leaves; the grass tickles her legs and reaches into her sandals; and a grasshopper jumps on her arm. Suddenly, she is lost and alone ( Where am I? ), but then Mother finds her, and they return home together. From the butterfly to the blade of grass, the girl's experience of the wonder around her is universal.--Rochman, Haze. Copyright 2010 Booklist