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 Chibikuro Party © 1993, 2008 by Akiko Ikeda, All Rights Reserved. Related Guide PicksChibikuro PartyGuide Rating -  The Bottom LineIn this installment of the adventures of Dayan the cat, Dayan's shadow comes out of the shadows to play in the moonlight at the Chibikuro Party. Ikeda's playful artwork bubbles over with happiness and imagination, with a hint of darkness that keeps this children's book from getting too saccharine. While these stories have universal appeal, Chibikuro Party's Japanese roots do show, sometimes in peculiar ways. Ikeda may not understand how Western readers might think that a villain demon working for "Satan," no matter how cute, would be a bit off-putting. But that's a rare misstep in an otherwise delightful book.  Pros
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Guide Review - Chibikuro PartyDayan the cat is back, and this time he's got his shadow to keep him company. In Chibikuro Party, Madame Moon, a kindly spirit awakens all the shadows of the critters of Tachiel City and gives them a night of freedom to play and party without their living companions. When the shadow of a demon tempts the shadows to escape from their companions forever, Dayan rouses the townscritters to save their shadows from a terrible fate. In many ways, Chibikuro Party has many delightful elements that make it appealing to any reader, young and old alike. The artwork is absolutely delightful and imaginative. Dayan's shadow creeps out from under the bed like a pool of oil, then turns into a happy go lucky black cat. A parade of lantern-bearing squirrels stroll though a moonlit forest. The shadows and their animal companions dance under the stars. You just can't help but smile at these charming scenes, and marvel at Ikeda's distinctive way with paint and pencil. The Dayan books have universal appeal, but sometimes their Japanese roots do show in peculiar ways. First, the title: For Japanese readers, the word chibikuro evokes two words: chibi, which means "small and cute," and kuro, which means "black". This makes sense, given that this tale is about some cute shadows at play, but I suspect many Western readers will miss out on this detail. The other odd quirk? The appearance of a demon who works for "The Satan of Death Forest." I suspect that the word "Satan" has a more benign / non-religious meaning to the mostly Buddhist / Shinto Japanese readers, but American readers familiar with Christian traditions might find this a bit off-putting. But that's a quibble; an unusual off-key note in an otherwise whimsically wonderful story. All in all, Chibikuro Party is a super cute story that reaffirms Dayan's popularity in Japan and around the world. Related Guide Picks |
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