Susan Lendroth, illustrated by Kathryn Otoshi,
Maneki Neko: The Tale of the Beckoning Cat
Shen’s Books, 2010.
Ages 4-8
The story behind the now ubiquitous good-luck symbol of a white beckoning cat, or Maneki Neko, is well known in its native Japan, and Susan Lendroth’s retelling accompanied by Kathryn Otoshi’s atmospheric illustrations is a welcome addition to the versions of the story available in English.
A poor monk welcomes a little white cat into his simple monastery. He shares what he has with her, naming her Tama, which we learn in a glossary at the end means “round, like a ball, coin etc.” Time passes until one day there is a storm with “Buckets and barrels and rivers of water”. Tama’s attempts to wash are ineffectual in the driving rain, but when a passing samurai spots her from his shelter under a pine tree, Tama appears to be beckoning him towards the shrine. Curious, the samurai moves closer. Then, just as he reaches the gate, a flash of lightening strikes the pine tree, setting it alight: the Beckoning Cat has saved his life. In gratitude, the samurai rewards the monk, transforming the simple monastery to Gotokuji Temple, as it is known today. The monk shares his good fortune with the villagers, and Tama lives out her days growing plumper under their admiring eyes.
Lendroth’s writing has a poetic turn of phrase that makes this a very satisfying readaloud. After setting the scene of Tama and the monk’s tranquil day-to-day life, the pace quickens, heightening the dramatic effect of the storm. Both Lendroth and Otoshi clearly love cats and both the narrative and the illustrations show keen observation of and empathy with feline habits. Otoshi intersperses vigorous images following the action of the story with almost meditative depictions of the shrine and its surroundings that evoke silhouettes viewed through Japanese rice paper shoji screens – even, wittily, when the monk had the “shoji screens opened wide to the night air.” Pinks and blues predominate, and shadows and reflections intensify the contrast between the solidly depicted protagonists and their collage-like backdrops.
With its subtheme of the importance of sharing good fortune, as well as seeking it through buying one of the “thousands of cats waving on thousands of shop counters” around the world, Maneki Neko is a particularly appealing retelling of the legend, relevant to young readers everywhere.
Marjorie Coughlan
August 2011
By Phoebe Vreeland with Amanda Lynch, The Children’s Book Review
Published: December 12, 2010
“Trudy Ludwig is an award-winning author who specializes in writing children’s books that explore the colorful and sometimes confusing world of children’s social interactions. She has received rave reviews nationwide from educators, experts, organizations, and parents for her passion and compassion in addressing relational aggression—the use of relationships to manipulate and hurt others.” ~ www.trudyludwig.com
TCBR: What inspired you to write about bullying?
Trudy Ludwig: When my daughter was emotionally bullied nine years ago by some of her peers in elementary school, I tried to find age-appropriate books in libraries and on the Internet to help teach her about relational aggression (the use of relationships to manipulate and hurt others) and how to deal with it. I even contacted leading experts and organizations for their suggestions. I learned that there weren’t enough resources available, so I decided to write children’s books to help fill this resource gap.
TCBR: Katie, the bully of your first book My Secret Bully, is the protagonist of your latest book Confessions of a Former Bully. Can you speak about why you chose this perspective?
TL: In my author visits at schools around the US, I had many children ask me, “What ever happened to Katie in My Secret Bully? Did she and Monica become friends again?” They also wanted to know if Katie ever got help to change her bullying ways. Their queries got me thinking about writing a book from the unique perspective of a former bully. So when I started to conceptualize Confessions of a Former Bully, it just seemed natural for me to have Katie pick up where she left off in My Secret Bully. My intent for this story was to show readers how Katie’s behaviors—both positive and negative—had a direct impact on her and others. I also wanted Katie to share the important lessons she learned about bullying and what it means to be a decent friend.
TCBR: What made you use the format of a diary for this last book?
TL: There’s something thrilling and intriguing about being allowed access to someone else’s personal diary, don’t you think? I remember, as a child, being tempted to read my big sister’s diary—not that I did, mind you, as she made sure it was securely locked at all times. I felt that the diary format, supplemented with Katie’s drawings and doodles, would be the perfect way for the reader to get inside the head of Katie and track her character growth as she gets help from Mrs. Petrowski, the school counselor.
By Phoebe Vreeland, The Children’s Book Review
Published: November 6, 2010
Maneki Neko: The Tale of the Beckoning Cat
by Susan Lendroth (Author), Kathryn Otoshi (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Shen’s Books (July 19, 2010)
Source: Publisher
The ceramic statue of Maneki Neko, that plump white and black cat with one raised paw, is a well known symbol of luck and prosperity in Japanese culture. Susan Lendroth’s picture book Maneki Neko tells a tale of the origin of this lucky charm. In beautifully descriptive prose seasoned with a handful of familiar Japanese words, Lendroth takes us to another time and culture.
Kathryn Otoshi’s exquisite illustrations depict feudal Japan and a tiny hilltop monastery where a poor monk takes in a scrawny cat. The two survive on companionship and alms from the village below. One night during a terrible storm, the cat’s beckoning paw guides a samurai to the safety of the monastery and saves his life. In gratitude, the noble samurai transforms the monastery into a well endowed temple. The cat fattens, the tale travels, and a legend is born. Even the villagers benefit as they craft and sell ceramic charms to welcome good fortune.
Otoshi’s beautifully hued drawings are evocative of Japanese wood block prints. Her choice of color to establish a time, a season and place is perfect. Shades of magenta and lavender bring across the serenity of the temple. The lively village scenes are painted in vibrant tints and the violence of the tempest is colored in deep indigos and grays.
Maneki Neko is published by Shen’s Books, a publishing house with a focus on books that celebrate diversity and promote tolerance while introducing children to the cultures of Asia.
Not a cat lover? Check out Lendroth’s other recently released book Calico Dorsey, Mail Dog of the Mining Camps illustrated by the talented Adam Gustavson. Don’t miss Kathryn Otoshi’s deceptively simple award-winning book One—her fine talent has been noted. If you’re already a fan, you’ll be pleased to know Zero has just been released.
Add this book to your collection: Maneki Neko: The Tale of the Beckoning Cat
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By:
Inderjit Deogun,
on 11/2/2010
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What am I reading now? Zorgamazoo by Robert Paul Weston
On Thursday, October 7th, 2010, Julie Bosman published an article for the The New York Times entitled ”Picture Books No Longer a Staple for Children.” Bosman illustrated that the decline in picture book sales is the result of numerous factors, most prevalent of which is the overwhelming pressure felt by parents.
Let me begin by saying that I completely understand where parents are coming from. The desire of parents to see their children succeed is admirable. However, I urge parents not to give up on picture books.
Yes, Bosman is correct in describing this aspect of children’s literature as being comprised of “lavish illustrations, cheerful colors and large print wrapped in a glossy jacket.” When you think picture books this is what comes to mind. But there’s so much more.
Authors find a way to impart the most invaluable of lessons in a mere thirty-two pages. They are challenging the traditional approach to picture books and, in doing so, they are fuelling the imagination. Now, if reading level is your primary concern, find comfort in knowing that picture books cover the whole spectrum. On one end, there are the text-light books such as One by Kathryn Otoshi. Here’s an excerpt:
Blue is a quiet color.
Red is a hot head.
Red likes to pick on Blue.
Then, there are the text-medium like Mirror Mirror: A Book of Reversible Verse by Marilyn Singer. Inside this is what you’ll find:
In my hood,
skipping through the wood,
carrying a basket,
picking berries to eat -
juicy and sweet
what a treat!
But a girl
mustn’t dawdle.
After all, Grandma’s waiting.
On the opposite end, there are the text-heavy books such as Stanley’s Wild Ride by Linda Bailey. Here’s a look inside:
Stanley felt like a million dog biscuits. He ran three whole blocks without stopping! to see his best friend, Alice. When Alice saw Stanley running loose, she got very excited. “Just dig a hole,” said Stanley in dog talk. “It’s easy.” Alice tried, but the dirt was too hard. “There must be a way,” said Stanley. Alice poked at her fence and prodded. Finally she found a loose board that was exactly the size of a dog. “Run for it!” barked Stanley, and they did.
There’s something that fits the needs of every child and parent. So before you close the book on picture books take one more look. You may find exactly what you’ve been looking for.
Yesterday I had the pleasure of getting my hands on a copy of this year’s picture book winner of the E.B. White Read Aloud Award, given by the Association of Booksellers for Children. One, by Kathryn Otoshi (What Emily Saw) is as simple a picture book as it is profound.
From the moment you look at the book cover and read the first page, you know you’re about to experience something special. The concept, a story about bullying that uses splotches of color and numbers to speak of the power of one person to initiate change, is highly original, and its execution, flawless. When One stands up to Red, who is bullying Blue, all the other colors who felt for Blue but had been afraid to speak up, follow his lead and turn into numbers who “count.” In the process, Red isn’t ostracized, but told by One that he, too, can count. “Everyone counts!” they all shout.
My seven year-old was clearly touched by the book’s message of inclusion. She said: “It was nice of them to say that. I bet nobody had ever been nice to Red before.” So young and so wise… I have a feeling we will be gifting this book to friends and telling one and all about it.
Read Kathryn Otoshi’s interview at Character Counts, where she talks about what inspired the book. And for more, check out Alison Morris’ post at the Shelftalker: A Children’s Bookseller’s Blog, written when the book came out, last year.
