Sato the Rabbit, The Moon

Sato the Rabbit #2

by Yuki Ainoya, Michael Blaskowsky (Translator)

Pastoral and surreal, the seven short tales in this collection are a celebration of the senses, and of the harmony that can exist between a gentle creature such as Sato the Rabbit and the natural world. Whether it's a pillow of cool, fresh water offered to him for a nap by the spring on a blisteringly hot day, a fragrant floral air float to carry him and his dreams, a hole in his hat, through which he discovers a midsummer forest full of singing cicadas, or a moon basket, nature's offerings are a bounty to be marveled at and enjoyed. In these stories, the invitation that the world extends doesn't exist separately from the eyes which see it and the imagination that conceives it. In other words, Sato's way of seeing actively participates in creating the beauty that he sees.

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

72 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Born in Yokohama, Yuki Ainoya studied Japanese painting at the Tama Art University Faculty of Art and Design. She was the winner of the the Crayon House Children's Book Grand Prize in 1990 and the 12th Japanese Children's Book Award in 2007 for the original Japanese edition of Sato the Rabbit (Shogakuan). In her spare time, she likes playing the accordion and hula dancing.

Reviews

[Annelise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this children’s book, it’s a beautiful exploration of imagination in combination with the possibilities of our natural world. I love that this book focuses of nature, and even as an adult reader has me wanting to reread it again!! Can’t wait to read this to my children some day

[Princess Isabelle]

Taoist version of Margaret Wise Brown books might be the easiest way to explain this book.🤷‍♀️

[Christie Kaaland · Rating 5 out of 5]

An author-illustrator who clearly remembers the wild imaginings of childhood, Ainoya anoints Sato the Rabbit with an array of whimsical seasonal musings: playful, joyful and definitely cosmic all at once. Favorite of this reader was the rain party: Why not make a celebration of the coming rain? Fill the yard with glass containers to allow raindrops to create plinking music, as special ribbons tie the rain drops into a rain-column ballroom where Sato and all his friends celebrate. Is Sato a boy in a rabbit costume or a rabbit with a boyish face? Doesn't matter, Sato is so exuberant for adventures that the reader is breathless with anticipation of what Sato, fitted with waders, will do once he rescues the moon from the lake: why, make a moon pillow, of course. The nature-and-cosmic adventures Sato experiences have such wonderful imaginings for young readers.

[Amber Wagner · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was hard to understand what was happening in the book and did not seem to have any story line to it. It is about a rabbit and all the different things he did, but it did not flow. I do think that having international books in the classroom is important so that students can see multiple different books from different countries, but I do not think that I would read these books again.

[Rebecca Caufman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like the size, shape, and illustrations in this mini-chapter book. The stories left me with many questions...and a bit confused. This follows a mysterious character who is a rabbit with a human face as he explores nature.

[Heidi Burkhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rabbit and the moon are predominant features of Japanese folklore. The author cleverly used the moon and a rabbit to describe a number of adventures. Both my granddaughter and I were delighted by this delightful picture book.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sato the rabbit is back with more fantastical, nature-inspired whimsy. Depending on the child these will either delight or enrage. Is your child inclined to love the idea of fishing the moon out of a reflective pond, drying it and using it as a fluffy blanket? If so proceed.

[Hanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

More imaginative actually becomes reality as an adult. You think you’re reading fantasy but it can be true because now there is video evidence of some of the books activities.

I enjoyed it better in nature of a wonderful place.

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stories in this book were very creative. I liked how the stories explored themes of nature. The character is cute and the illustrations were well done; the book's use of bright colors was particularly striking.

[charlene.librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 in a trilogy with seven (or eight) delightful short tales. The tales speak of spring rain, summer into fall and cicadas chirping and leaves fluttering. The cool lake water goes burble, burble, burble.

[Andréa]

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

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable.

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another delightfully surreal, dreamlike Sato adventure. I love that these books are so unique and full of whimsy.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these weird and whimsical stories!

[Tina Hoggatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a mysterious creature Sato the Rabbit is! Broken into story chapters, Sato travels through a moonlit, fluffy, budding world and takes us along for the ride.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The art is gorgeous and the short stories are surreal in the best way. The first Sato the Rabbit book of stories was equally dreamy, odd, and wonderful, and so I look forward to many more of these.

[Melissa the Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books are so imaginative and dream-like.

[they think that i'm tom cruise]

Cute. Liked the story about the leaves. :-)

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nearly as charming as the first in the series. 4.5 stars

[J. Blair Hartman III · Rating 4 out of 5]

whimsical charm and it was what it set out to be

[Jeanine · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting cross between short stories, short chapters, and a picture book. Each vignette ends just as it begins. This could be used for prompts to continue the story and imaginations.

[Steven Lin · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a sequence where the rabbit man takes some water and uses it as a pillow. He sees the moon's reflection in the water pillow and pulls the reflected moon from the water and eats it.

[Thomasin Propson · Rating 3 out of 5]

My favorite of the series because of the moon collection and blanket.

[Nadine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sato's adventures are very creative and out-of-the-box, but also very short and meaningless. The prose is also just a description, without meter or whimsy.