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Watashitachino Boshi
(Your Hat and Mine)
Text by Hoko Takadono
Ill. by Iku Dekune
Tokyo: Froebel-kan Co., Ltd. 2005
176 pp: 210 x 160 mm
ISBN : 978-4-577-03125-4
Ages : 10+
Friendship, Family, Mystery
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When for a while, Saki and her family moved into a big old building, the girl discovers a hat left behind in a wardrobe. Inside the house with its winding corridors, long flights of stairs, and strange doors, Saki meets weird people, such as the girl Iku, who wears the same hat as her. They become friends and set off on many adventures together. Through their identical hats the two girls learn about the past, the relationship between Iku’s grandmother and her old friend, and their connection to the other inhabitants of the house. The author relates this tale in such a mysterious and gripping style that readers will turn each page expectantly until finally all the riddles are solved. The novel’s slightly fantastic atmosphere is underlined by Iku Dekune’s magical illustrations.
Born in 1955 in Hakodate, Hoko Takadono graduated from Tokyo Women’s University. Her recent work, Otomodasani Narima Sho (Lets B Frenzz, 2005) was granted the first JBBY Award and will be nominated for IBBY Hounour List of 2008. She won Robo no Ishi Literary Award for the children’s books, Henteko Mori ni Ikouyo (Let’s go to the Funny Forest, 1995) and Itazura Obasan (Mischievous Old Ladies, 1995). Another children’s book, Juichigatsu no Tobira (The Door of November, 1999) won the Sankei Award for Children's Books & Publications. Her other works are picture books, Mah-chan no Nagai Kami (Mah’s Long Hair, 1995), Tsuntsuku Sensei series, (Mr. Tsuntsuku series, 1998-) and children’s book, Shinshi to Obake-Shi (A Gentleman and Mr. Ghost, 2001), and more. |
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