Kuma-Kuma Chan's Home

by Kazue Takahashi

Overview

When a boy receives an invitation in the mail from Kuma-Kuma Chan, a friendly bear who lives far away, he travels by train, bus, and finally on foot to reach Kuma-Kuma Chan’s home. Kuma-Kuma Chan welcomes him and serves tea. Even though the two don’t have a lot to talk about, just by spending time together, sharing the day’s activities they bond and create a friendship and enjoy each other’s company. This heartwarming tale once again immerses children of all ages, in Kuma-Kuma Chan’s peaceful, simple world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781940842585
Publisher:	Museyon
Publication date:	05/16/2022
Series:	Kuma-Kuma Chan
Edition description:	Second edition
Pages:	52
Product dimensions:	5.25(w) x 6.75(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	3 - 5 Years

About the Author

Kazue Takahashi made her debut as a picture book author with the beloved Kuma-Kuma Chan series in 2001. Her picture books include The Mailbox in the Forest and The Secret Forest Friends (story with Kyoko Hara). Takahashi’s illustrations embody kawaii—the quality of being cute and adorable, which is prominent in Japanese popular culture.

Editorial Reviews

"The first-person account, told from the friend’s perspective, is quietly affectionate and descriptive, never judgmental.” —Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2016-02-17
Kuma-Kuma Chan ("cute little bear" in Japanese) stars in his second book to be translated for English-speaking audiences. In this episode, a young man receives an invitation to the animal's home. Although the trek involves catching a train, riding a bus, and walking, he obliges. Soft, earth-tone scenes placed against generous cream-colored expanses depict their pleasant day together. The unhurried pace and well-honed routines may remind listeners of visiting an elderly relative. The home even "smells slightly of bear." The pair has tea, unsure of what to discuss at first, so they "watch the dust floating around in the afternoon sunbeams." Conversation picks up by dinnertime, when salmon is served. The evening concludes with companionship in front of the TV until it is time for the guest to board the bus. The portrayal of such a visit rings true, acknowledging moments of uncertainty and offering a model for what to notice and how to navigate silence. The first-person account, told from the friend's perspective, is quietly affectionate and descriptive, never judgmental. With an invitingly small trim size and easy-to-track action, this title can be perused by pre-readers employing their narrative skills independently or shared with a loved one for an interlude of calm and contentment. (Picture book. 3-5)

Kirkus Reviews