Chirri & Chirra, In the Tall Grass (Chirri & Chirra, 2)

Product Description

In their second adventure to reach the US market, Chirri & Chirra become very small, and so are able to explore the magical world hidden away in a mound 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.
Born in Tokyo, Japan, Kaya Doi graduated with a degree in design from Tokyo Zokei University. She got her start in picture books by attending the Atosaki Juku Workshop, held at a Tokyo bookshop specializing in children’s books. Since then she has created many books featuring her delicate color-pencil drawings. She lives in Chiba Prefecture and maintains a strong interest in environmental and animal welfare issues.

From School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2—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. “Dring-dring, dring-dring!” goes the bicycles, and magically the twins become tiny. They follow a bee to eat a delicious honey cake, flower chafers to drink juice made of “yumberry fruit and raspberry pulp,” a lizard to eat fluorite candies, and finally fireflies back to their own house. 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 illustratons. 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. VERDICT A highly recommended purchase for any size collection where readers will delight in the whimsical nostalgic artwork.—Eva Thaler-Sroussi, Glencoe Public Library, IL

Review

“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

Review

A Kirkus Reviews Best Picture Book of 2017 ★”Utterly charming.”―
STARRED REVIEW, Kirkus Reviews
“…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
“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, School Engagement Specialist, Avid Bookshop
“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 chil