Just as Chirri and Chirra perceive nature as beautiful art in this scene, the whole story is packed with exciting, magical imagery that will keep any young reader on their toes and ready to embrace their next rainy day. Upon drinking tea in ‘Café Umbrella,’ the two characters admire painting-covered walls, only to realise the paintings are actually framed windows to the imagery of rain falling outside. David Boyd fruitfully translates Japanese author Kaya Doi’s fantastical story of two children’s adventure out and about via bicycle in the seventh volume of the ‘Chirri & Chirra’ series, Chirri & Chirra, The Rainy Day. “Dring-dring, dring-dring! It’s already starting to rain.” For Chirri and Chirra, taking a raincheck on any magical excursions for the day is unthinkable they celebrate a rainy day, complete with cafés only open on days when it rains, rain that falls upside-down, and balloon-sized gummy gumdrops. What child wouldn't love that?! I recommend this one to anyone looking for entertaining new picture-books with a gentle but engrossing story and beautiful artwork.Country of Origin: Japan Chirri & Chirra: The Rainy Day by Kaya Doi
There is a feeling here, facilitated by both text and image, of stepping into another world - a happy, refreshingly green, reassuringly safe world, with plenty of good things to eat, and amiable animals to befriend. Kudos to Brooklyn-based Enchanted Lion Books for having it translated! The illustrations here are just lovely, whether depicting the eponymous heroines in a wider forest scene, or just focusing on particular objects, such as the treats the girls obtain at the establishments they visit. Author/artist Kaya Doi is apparently quite well known in her native country, but this marks her debut (as far as I know) in English.
So too is their night, as they check into the forest hotel and enjoy a nighttime concert, singing along with the other guests.Īn absolute delight of a book, Chirri & Chirra features exactly the kind of gentle, matter-of-factly fantastic adventure that I have come to associate with Japanese picture-books. From the fox who waits upon them at the forest cafe, to the raccoon who serves them at the forest bakery, the two girls' day is spent surrounded by woodland creatures. Everywhere they go, every establishment they visit, is staffed and patronized by animals. Chirri and Chirra set off on their bicycles for a day of enchanted adventures in the green forest in this charming Japanese picture-book.
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