チリとチリリ: ちかのおはなし

Chirri & Chirra

by Kaya Doi, どい かや

家の地下で大きな音がして何かが逃げていきました。チリとチリリのふたりは追いかけましたが…。チリとチリリの地下の探険を描いた物語。「チリとチリリ」シリーズ第6弾。

Genres: Picture Books, Fantasy, Childrens, Animals, Japan, Family, Fiction

32 pages, Tankobon Hardcover

First published April 1, 2013

About the author

Born in Tokyo, Kaya Doi graduated with a degree in design from Tokyo Zokei University. She got her start with picture books by attending the Atosaki Juku workshop, a Tokyo bookshop specializing in picture books. Since then she has produced numerous picture books featuring her softly styled, color-pencil drawings. She now lives in Chiba Prefecture and maintains a strong interest in environmental and animal welfare issues. Since the earthquake of March 2011 she has been active in recovery and shelter efforts for abandoned pets.

Reviews

[Hilary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful adventure with the siblings Chirri and Chirra. Seeing some furry legs disappear down a hole in their wall, Chirri and Chirra follow in hot pursuit on their bicycles to find out who the intruders are. Passing by root vegetables, underground flower gardens, tunnels and an undergrond peanut ice cream parlour run by voles they catch up on the their hirsute intruders only to find they are three young badger children who took a wrong turn on their way to the orchard.

Beautiful, magical illustrations in perfect and design conscious pages. Happy and positive stories guaranteed to give you sweet dreams. I can't think of a more perfect and peaceful bedtime story than the Chirri and Chirra books!

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though i seldom review children's, I will be doing so a little more often. The reason is that my youngest daughter will be opening a shop in my town, and she wants to carry children's books. So I thought I'd help her out by finding some interesting ones, plus I was curious about a book translated from the Japanese.

Apparently this is a series in Japan, and it features two you g children having adventures. Here the pair finds a good in the wall which they crawl through. Following tunnels they find a badger family where they spend the night. The illustrations are whimsical and the story though short is cute. Will read to my granddaughter next time she is here to see what she thinks.

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Alice in Wonderlandish' fun - love the art!

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

When those intrepid twins, Chirri and Chirra, hear something in their downstairs pantry, and see some legs disappearing into a hole in their cellar, they get their bikes and follow the intruders, leading to a magical underground adventure. In their course of their journey they encounter an underground peanut farm, an underground flower garden, and meet a Badger family (whose three children were the aforementioned intruders) who take them to a beautiful underground lake...

Like its three predecessors, I found Chirri & Chirra: Underground - originally published in Japan, and translated for the English-language market by the marvelous Brooklyn-based Enchanted Lion Books - to be utterly charming! I love the matter-of-factly magical adventures these two sisters have - they always encounter animals doing unexpected things, and inevitably get to enjoy unexpected treats - and I love the beautiful illustrations. Recommended to anyone who has read and enjoyed other stories about Chirri and Chirra, and to those seeking magical picture-book adventures!

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun and fanciful story about two little girls and their underground adventures as they try to find whatever was scurrying through the dirt wall in their cellar. It made me think of a Japanese-style Alice in Wonderland in some ways, with just a glimmer of Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory tossed in. I hope our library has more of the Chirri & Chirra stories. They are winsome and so different from what we usually find on the shelves.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything about this book is perfect for readers young and old-- the charming illustrations remind me of retro picture books, and Chirri and Chirra go on such a magical adventure! When they find a hole in the wall of their basement, they hop on their bikes to find a whole lot of nature in progress underground; moles preparing peanuts, mayflies managing flowers, and even badgers with boats! Please open this gem-- you will fall in love!

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chirri and Chirra, the Japanese twins, hear a noise in the basement and follow some moles into their underground tunnels. They have treats with the moles and ride their bikes under the root vegetables, follow the badgers and finally emerge above ground with their new friends.

[Larissa Fan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m having a hard time right now with the double-whammy of isolation that comes with chronic illness plus a pandemic. So I’m actively seeking out things that bring me delight.

Chirri and Chirra: Underground by Kaya Doi definitely fits the bill. Chirri and Chirra is a series of picture books about two sisters who go on adventures, always on their bikes. In this one they explore a tunnel whose entrance appears mysteriously in their basement. They discover a peanut factory run by moles, a garden, an underground lake, and more.

It hits all the notes that I would have loved as a child (and still love in fact): adventure, whimsy, beauty, cute creatures, and yummy food. It’s like a sophisticated, beautifully illustrated version of a story a child would invent.

The two-page spread of the peanut factory is something young me would have particularly enjoyed. My brother Devin and I would spend hours poring over detailed illustrations like this, for example the neighbourhood scenes in Richard Scarry books, picking out all the different characters and activities. We did a similar kind of drawing of creatures we invented called Bleeps that basically looked like balloons and lived underground in a large complex. I believe there was an ice cream factory.

Maybe it’s because of the weird mood I’m in, but Chirri and Chirra: Underground made me feel intensely nostalgic. For childhood, I guess, and a time when I could more easily get lost in invented worlds. Happily it let me do that again.

[Lydia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two little girls are having afternoon tea, when they hear a sound downstairs. They go to investigate and find a tunnel dug in their cellar with something just disappearing inside. So they grab their bikes and go to follow the creatures through the winding tunnels! They find many amazing things on their trip including an underground peanut farm and a field of giant flowers! Eventually they catch up to the critters and discover it is a family of badgers who accidently tunneled into their house. By way of apology they make the girls a feast before helping them find their way home.

This is almost Alice in Wonderland in it's strangeness but focuses on the adventure and the sweetness of exploration. There's never a point the girls are in danger, and everyone they meet are kind. It's a world of innocent daydreams and it is beautiful!

No content issues.

[Stacie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute little ditty reminiscent of Alice’s adventures, but with the wonderful sounds of bicycle bells trilling through the tale. Absolutely charming illustrations too.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chirri & Chirra find a tunnel in their cellar. They hop on their bikes to follow the creatures who made it, and have a grand adventure in a fantastic underground world.

Another adorable adventure with Chirri and Chirra. The illustrations are so soft. And the imaginative worlds they visit are enchanting. Highly recommended if you want to try some Japanese picture books or are just looking for a good fantasy adventure picture book.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chirri and Chirra are so heartbreakingly cute.
In this adventure, they explore underground and discover many amazements, like: a peanut farm, a glowing flower garden, and an underground lake. What a lovely start to the day!
Just read it if you like cuteness.

[Adam Copeland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mine and my kid's favorite of the Chirri & Chirra series

[Earl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another delightful installment of this Japanese export where the girls find themselves having an underground adventure full of surprises and new friends.

[Engel Dreizehn · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was cute...soft warm illustration and the creative delight of seeing the underground world was fun.

[Yuki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming!

[Riani Halim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adore the beautiful imagination on all Chirri & Chirra whimsical adventures, especially this one.

[Haines Eason · Rating 4 out of 5]

So transporting: Readers are treated to a complete world just beneath two little girls’ feet wherein badgers and many other denizens live out a magical existence. This book is refreshing because its art is hand drawn and does not lean on a familiar pedigree. One is also offered a subtle look at the mores of another culture’s concepts of children’s fantasy, which for the adult reader is its own pleasure.

[Roben · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightfully whimsical Alice in Wonderland type story for the younger crowd. What do Chirri and Chirra see running out of the hole in the basement? The only way to find out is to follow it (them?)-- on their bicycles, of course! What unfolds is a peek into the underground that is partially real and partially fantastic. I was happy to see that there are many Chirri and Chirra adventures!

[Janet Bruins · Rating 5 out of 5]

An underground adventure! Truly rare and very special 🤩

Two little girls sudden found themselves roaming through the tunnels under their house. They met new friends and encounter beautiful vistas before magically returning home.

For ages 3 through 8. This series was translated from Japanese. Part of an 8 book series.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

The more books I read in this series, the more I like it. I'm starting to understand that the girls ride their bikes to magical places. In this one, they go underground and meet underground animals. The food looks amazing! I love how the illustrations are soft and yet the colors are so colorful.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute. An easygoing mystery adventure.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book in the series is odder than the others. But the artwork is still beautiful.

[kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

quirky and cute

[Sonic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dring Dring, dring dring!
Let's ride our bikes Underground!

[c · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5)

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Capn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another imaginative daydream of an adventure. We love how the end papers vary from start to finish, and the usual little details to spot so typical of Kaya Doi's art.

[Juli Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Imaginative, if a little strange at times.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The artwork is beautiful, and I loved this whimsical little romp.