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Kiki's Delivery Service
(魔女の宅急便 / Kiki's Delivery Service #1)
by
Nostalgic fans of the Miyazaki film and newcomers alike--soar into the modern classic about a young witch and her clever cat that started it all!
Half-witch Kiki never runs from a challenge. So when her thirteenth birthday arrives, she's eager to follow a witch's tradition: choose a new town to call home for one year.
Brimming with confidence, Kiki flies to the seaside ...more
Half-witch Kiki never runs from a challenge. So when her thirteenth birthday arrives, she's eager to follow a witch's tradition: choose a new town to call home for one year.
Brimming with confidence, Kiki flies to the seaside ...more
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Hardcover, 193 pages
Published
July 7th 2020
by Delacorte Press
(first published January 1st 1985)
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Guilherme Semionato
This will get a new edition in the U.S. in 2020. :)
Community Reviews
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Start your review of Kiki's Delivery Service

On sale July 7! Final review, first posted on Fantasy Literature:

Kiki’s Delivery Service, a 1985 children’s fantasy novel first published in Japanese as Majo no Takkyūbin (or “Witch’s Express Home Delivery”), is best known outside of Japan as the basis for a 1989 Studio Ghibli anime film directed by Hayao Miyazaki. In fact, the book won several prizes in Japan and Kadono has published five sequels over the years (unfortunately none of the sequels are currently available in English translations). ...more

Kiki’s Delivery Service, a 1985 children’s fantasy novel first published in Japanese as Majo no Takkyūbin (or “Witch’s Express Home Delivery”), is best known outside of Japan as the basis for a 1989 Studio Ghibli anime film directed by Hayao Miyazaki. In fact, the book won several prizes in Japan and Kadono has published five sequels over the years (unfortunately none of the sequels are currently available in English translations). ...more

Sep 06, 2020
Gavin
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
middle-grade,
2020-reads
Maybe I have over-rated Kiki's Delivery Service by giving it 5 stars, but I enjoyed this book so much when reading it.
Kiki is a young witch with a talking cat called Jiji. When she comes of age, she must set off on her broomstick to a town without witches so she can prove herself useful in a new community. She comes across Koriko, a town by the sea, and ends up using her ability to fly to deliver anything the town residents desire.
This had that cosy, magical feeling to it without being overtly ...more
Kiki is a young witch with a talking cat called Jiji. When she comes of age, she must set off on her broomstick to a town without witches so she can prove herself useful in a new community. She comes across Koriko, a town by the sea, and ends up using her ability to fly to deliver anything the town residents desire.
This had that cosy, magical feeling to it without being overtly ...more

Jul 01, 2020
Nenia ✨ I yeet my books back and forth ✨ Campbell
marked it as fantasy-wishlist
OMG!!!! I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS A BOOK!!!!
...more

What a charming, delightful book. I didn't know this was a book. I had only seen the movie which is one of my favorites. I love Kiki and her feisty cat Jiji. Leaving town for year to start her first year of training as a witch. She finds a town by the sea and meets many interesting people along the way. All the while finding out who she is and what matters most. This book was so cozy and exactly what I needed.
...more

Nov 29, 2020
April (Aprilius Maximus)
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
favourites,
2020
representation: own voices all Japanese cast.
[trigger warnings are listed at the bottom of this review and may contain spoilers]
★★★★★
THIS WAS SO WHOLESOME AND WONDERFUL AND I LOVED IT. Absolutely loved the illustrations too! Will defs reread this and read this to Amelie when she's old enough! ...more
[trigger warnings are listed at the bottom of this review and may contain spoilers]
★★★★★
THIS WAS SO WHOLESOME AND WONDERFUL AND I LOVED IT. Absolutely loved the illustrations too! Will defs reread this and read this to Amelie when she's old enough! ...more

Sorry this is just a little too childish for me and I'm like okay lol magic woohoo. next.
...more

This book just made me happy. I loved the movie by Studio Ghibli, and loved how Kiki’s world was filled with nice people.
That’s mostly true in this book, and the worst one can say about the people Kiki deals with, once she moves to Koriko, is that they’re impatient and sometimes a little thoughtless.
Kiki’s totally wonderful. I love her and how she figures things out for herself, and how mostly unflappable and positive she is. Jiji is less sarcastic than all the cats I’ve ever known, but he was c ...more
That’s mostly true in this book, and the worst one can say about the people Kiki deals with, once she moves to Koriko, is that they’re impatient and sometimes a little thoughtless.
Kiki’s totally wonderful. I love her and how she figures things out for herself, and how mostly unflappable and positive she is. Jiji is less sarcastic than all the cats I’ve ever known, but he was c ...more

Star Rating: —> 4.5 Stars
LOVED THIS A perfect book for all ages.
Cannot even compare to the Miyazaki film, but it is still great!
i ADORE Jiji! Best character in the book ;-). 🐈⬛🎀🧹
🖤❤️🖤❤️🖤
LOVED THIS A perfect book for all ages.
Cannot even compare to the Miyazaki film, but it is still great!
i ADORE Jiji! Best character in the book ;-). 🐈⬛🎀🧹
🖤❤️🖤❤️🖤

When I was living in Japan I decided to read a kid's book to help me practice reading at a level I could possibly undertake. Since I had seen and enjoyed the film, I decided on this one. (Better, I thought, than reading a translation of Harry Potter or something like that.) I thought, since I knew the story, I could better make guesses and use "context clues" (as they used to say in school) when confronted with unfamiliar vocabulary.
Little did I know that, like Miyazaki's godawful adaptation of ...more
Little did I know that, like Miyazaki's godawful adaptation of ...more

This book was hard to track down but I'm glad I finally got it. It's a delightfully cute story-just like the movie. Too bad it's not more easily available in English.
...more

This was so heartwarming and cute to read!

As a huge fan of the Studio Ghibli film, once I found out that Kiki's Delivery Service was originally a book I had to read it straight away. Thankfully this charming little book lives up to the film's reputation and even exceeds it in some ways too.
I don't want to spend the whole review drawing comparisons between the two - the skeleton of the plot is still much the same, with Kiki being a witch, leaving home and finding a new town while setting up a delivery service in the bakery. Where the boo ...more
I don't want to spend the whole review drawing comparisons between the two - the skeleton of the plot is still much the same, with Kiki being a witch, leaving home and finding a new town while setting up a delivery service in the bakery. Where the boo ...more

“It's not really important what color your dress is. What matters is the heart inside.”
Witch stories are some of my favorite things to read. They say that you read what you know, so....
I’ve seen the Studio Ghibli movie quite some time ago but I’ll always remember it. I watched it during a time in my life where I needed a pick me up and it did just that. So reading the book meant so much more to me.
I just adore Kiki’s tale. Her story is so cute and sweet. Kiki is just a wholesome character who ...more
Witch stories are some of my favorite things to read. They say that you read what you know, so....
I’ve seen the Studio Ghibli movie quite some time ago but I’ll always remember it. I watched it during a time in my life where I needed a pick me up and it did just that. So reading the book meant so much more to me.
I just adore Kiki’s tale. Her story is so cute and sweet. Kiki is just a wholesome character who ...more

I had heard only of the movie version, made by the amazing Studio Ghibli, and had no idea it was based on a book. Now, this recent translation has made this utterly delightful book accessible to more readers. And this should be read.
I loved everything about ‘Kiki’s Delivery Service.’ It has all the qualities I have come to love in Children’s Literature - a pinch of magical realism, humor, love, friendship, and fun adventures. Kiki is not your regular teenager - she is a witch who has to figure ...more
I loved everything about ‘Kiki’s Delivery Service.’ It has all the qualities I have come to love in Children’s Literature - a pinch of magical realism, humor, love, friendship, and fun adventures. Kiki is not your regular teenager - she is a witch who has to figure ...more

Such a wonderfully whimsical coming of age story.
Kiki is a young witch who is setting out on her own with her companion, and black cat named Jiji. As is the tradition for all witches' daughter at the age of 13, if they choose to follow in their mothers footsteps they must travel away from home to find a new town in need of a witch's assistance.
She comes upon the town of Koriko, that has not had a witch's presence in many years. At first the townspeople were very skeptical of her, not sure of he ...more
Kiki is a young witch who is setting out on her own with her companion, and black cat named Jiji. As is the tradition for all witches' daughter at the age of 13, if they choose to follow in their mothers footsteps they must travel away from home to find a new town in need of a witch's assistance.
She comes upon the town of Koriko, that has not had a witch's presence in many years. At first the townspeople were very skeptical of her, not sure of he ...more

When Trent Reznor heard Johnny Cash's cover of his song Hurt, he is on the record with the following statement: "I listened to it and it was very strange. It was this other person inhabiting my most personal song." He has since gone on to say "I wrote it, but it's his song now." I've always found this extremely depressing in a way. What was once the most personal of his works was taken away… while it will always be his in origin, for so many they will associate it with another. I can't imagine h
...more

This was everything I needed right now. I absolutely love the film adaptation of this book and grew up watching it as a kid. I always wanted to read the book, so when it was finally translated and published in English last year, I immediately wanted to get my hands on it.
If you want a fun, sweet time reading about a young witch and her sassy cat, pick this up right now.
If you want a fun, sweet time reading about a young witch and her sassy cat, pick this up right now.

Apr 29, 2012
Harold Ogle
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
children and parents who enjoy fantasy
There're two kinds of speculative fiction: the kind that imagines people who are essentially the same as people of today, thrust into very different circumstances, and the kind that imagines that the people themselves are as different as their circumstances. It's always interesting to read a translation from a foreign country, because you often (as with Kiki's Delivery Service) can't tell which of the two it is. Kiki is a teenaged girl who's never had any romantic interest. At thirteen, she is e
...more

This was one of my very favorite movies growing up (and honestly still is) - and the book did not let me down. I never knew there was a book to be honest, but it was so pleasant and calming - it gave me the same joy as watching the movie does.

Oh!!!
Did not expect this!!!
My Backstory quickly:
In my younger years I watched the Studio Ghibli movie 'Kiki's Delivery Service' (both in English and in Japanese, (I can't say which is best, I'll leave it up to you to try them and decide for yourself!).
But I was blown away!
The art, the cute characters, the story...! My oh my!
So I've been wanting to read the book it was based on forever and a day! But yeah... it's not exactly all over the place this side of the world...Then ebooks came in and wha ...more
Did not expect this!!!
My Backstory quickly:
In my younger years I watched the Studio Ghibli movie 'Kiki's Delivery Service' (both in English and in Japanese, (I can't say which is best, I'll leave it up to you to try them and decide for yourself!).
But I was blown away!
The art, the cute characters, the story...! My oh my!
So I've been wanting to read the book it was based on forever and a day! But yeah... it's not exactly all over the place this side of the world...Then ebooks came in and wha ...more
![M. [storme reads a lot]](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1618092339p2/11748214.jpg)
I adore how this reminded me of childhood and watching the movie. Yes, it is different. But I still enjoyed the nostalgia and the story. It is a quick read, but I thought it was very well done. I could imagine this being popular with fans of the movie, those who love middle grade, and just anyone who wants a cute story.
Kiki has turned thirteen, and it is time for her to leave and see the world. Along with her cat, Jiji, she sets off to a find a town that does not have witch. The town she find i ...more
Kiki has turned thirteen, and it is time for her to leave and see the world. Along with her cat, Jiji, she sets off to a find a town that does not have witch. The town she find i ...more

I've watched the movie based off this book more times than I can remember so, to receive an advanced copy of the newest English edition...my inner child is still squealing!
What is there to say about this lovely book? It's the most adorable middle-grade novel I've read. Kiki's adventures are so fun and the story is well put together. And, of course, Jiji is just the best witchy cat around :)

I may be a bit biased and overcome with nostalgia, but seriously...best book I've picked up in awhile! ...more
What is there to say about this lovely book? It's the most adorable middle-grade novel I've read. Kiki's adventures are so fun and the story is well put together. And, of course, Jiji is just the best witchy cat around :)

I may be a bit biased and overcome with nostalgia, but seriously...best book I've picked up in awhile! ...more

Oh wow! This book! Ok, I made the purchase because the cover showed a black cat - I have a black cat so I needed a book about a black cat. Logically.
Guess what? I would have loved it anyway! It’s a sweet coming of age story about a young witch (a good one) named Kiki. Her kitty is named Jiji. It’s such a sweet story.
Best part is I had no idea the book was also a movie. I also just found out there is a ton of Jiji (the black cat) merchandise. I’m in big trouble 😉
Guess what? I would have loved it anyway! It’s a sweet coming of age story about a young witch (a good one) named Kiki. Her kitty is named Jiji. It’s such a sweet story.
Best part is I had no idea the book was also a movie. I also just found out there is a ton of Jiji (the black cat) merchandise. I’m in big trouble 😉

Ok this is probably a super biased review because Hayao Miyazaki's adaption of Kiki's Delivery Service is my favorite Studio Ghibli film, but I absolutely adored this!
I could comfort read this again and again!
...more
I could comfort read this again and again!
...more

I don't know why but this just didn't work for me, the writing is pretty clunky so the translation is probably at fault.
...more

This rating/review is based on an advanced copy from Netgalley and Delacorte Press.
3.5 stars, rounded up because it's very charming. The story is super gentle and it would be a really good family read aloud. Basically Kiki comes of age, moves to a new town, and opens a delivery business. She learns some lessons and flies around. I'm guessing more things happen in subsequent books, but also maybe not! I had a conversation about which section to put this book in (general fiction vs. science-fictio ...more
3.5 stars, rounded up because it's very charming. The story is super gentle and it would be a really good family read aloud. Basically Kiki comes of age, moves to a new town, and opens a delivery business. She learns some lessons and flies around. I'm guessing more things happen in subsequent books, but also maybe not! I had a conversation about which section to put this book in (general fiction vs. science-fictio ...more
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Eiko Kadono (角野 栄子) is a Japanese author of children's literature, picture books, non-fiction and essays in Shōwa and Heisei period Japan. Kadono was born in Tokyo, and attended the Nihon Fukushi University in Aichi prefecture, followed by a degree in English literature from Waseda University. After graduation in 1960 at the age of 25, she emigrated to Brazil, where she spent two years. She wrote
...more
Other books in the series
魔女の宅急便 / Kiki's Delivery Service
(10 books)
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Why not focus on some serious family drama? Not yours, of course, but a fictional family whose story you can follow through the generations of...
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“Stop trying. Take long walks. Look at scenery. Doze off at noon. Don't even think about flying. And then, pretty soon, you'll be flying again.”
—
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“Kiki don't get too hung up on appearances, it's your heart that's important”
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