The Seven Gods of Luck

Winter Tales

by David Kudler, Linda Finch (Illustrator)

May the Seven Gods of Luck visit you!

Sachiko and Kenji just want to welcome the new year in the proper way, but their mother tells them they don't have the money for a New Year's feast. An act of generosity brings help from an unexpected source in this heartwarming Japanese classic.

"A lively adaptation of a Japanese folktale.... The well-paced, carefully plotted text has a sprightly partner in its stylized, gently colored illustrations." - School Library Journal

“A sweetly illustrated retelling” – The New York Times

Fifteenth Anniversary Edition with new notes by author David Kudler

Genres: Picture Books, Japan, Childrens, Holiday

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

David Kudler is a writer and editor living just north of the Golden Gate Bridge with his wife, actress, teacher, and author Maura Vaughn, their author-to-be daughters, and their (apparently) non-literary cats.

His award-winning novel Risuko: A Kunoichi Tale , a young-adult historical adventure novel set in sixteenth century Japan, serves as the first book in the Seasons of the Sword series. The sequel, Bright Eyes , hit the shelves on May 5, 2022. He's now hard at work on Book 3 ( Kano ).

He served as managing editor for the Collected Works of Joseph Campbell, editing Pathways to Bliss, Myths of Light, and Campbell's Asian Journals) in addition to managing the publication of over a hundred other print, ebook, print, audio, and video titles, including the first revised edition of the seminal The Hero with a Thousand Faces since the author's death.

Currently, he serves as publisher for Stillpoint Digital Press, producing fine print, ebook, and audiobook editions for all ages in a wide variety of genres from philosophy and poetry to memoir and historical to fantasy and romance.

Reviews

[Jinky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like Asian storries and this folklore retelling was cute and sweet. I enjoyed learning about this particular new year's tradition of the Japanese people with the added bonus of a fun portrayer of the seven gods of luck. Awesome!

Jinky is Reading

[Erma Talamante · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book about sharing and the New Year in Japan. When two kids realize that their mother cannot afford a proper New Year's meal for the family, the children pitch in, deciding to sell the things they have made. A trade and a few prayers later, and they are rewarded for their generosity and honest hearts.

[Selena Pigoni · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay, so I know this is a children's book, and I know I'm much older than the intended age group, but I found this underwhelming.

The story is like a retelling of the fairy tale about the old man who gives a bunch of Jizo statues the hats he made, substituting children for the old man and the Seven Gods of Luck for the Jizo. It's not a particularly great retelling.

"Abrupt" is the best way to describe this story. I know it's a kid's book, but it's still choppy and doesn't flow and "stops" is a better word for the ending than "ends." It's like, "Oh boy! It's New Year's Eve! We're cleaning!" and then Mom comes home and says, "Yeah, no celebrating. I paid off our debts, so we don't have money," and then the kids are all, "We have stuff we can sell!" The middle part is the only part that works, since it's almost the same as that old man and jizo story I mentioned before, and then the story just stops. It meets the minimum criteria of resolving the plot, but barely. I turned the page expecting more, but nope, nothing more. It just stops, and it really feels like there should be one more line rather then ending on a big reveal, but eh.

Again, I know this is a kid's book, but it doesn't do much for me at all.

[LAWonder10 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Present a Japanese New Year's custom to elementary age student's! This is a fun tale of a brother and sister who when faced without the expected celebration, decided to do put forth effort to make it better. When all seemed hopeless, events took an unexpected turn.

There is a few valuable lessons that are presented on unselfishness, service and perseverance.

The illustrations were nicely done by Linda Finch. The are slightly dull and simple but depicts the story well. They definitely give the audience a flair of the Orient. The story was written simply, presenting the main points clearly. After the story is told, the author ads some follow-up information which can be used for further enlightenment and discussion.

This is short and perfect for children's story time. It can be purchased in a large paperback, enabling a group to easily see the pictures.

It is book worthy of recommendation. My review of this book gives it a Four Stars rating.

This book was sent to me in exchange for an honest review, of which I have given.

[Lyle Appleyard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book book from the publisher when the book I had won a Goodreads Contest when another book I had won was delayed in being sent to me.

The story is a simple Japanese folktale with a wonderful moral. The illustrations are very well done. With the large pages, this book will be good for storytime. then it has a happy ending, which all stories for younger children should have

I enjoyed the book. This would be a bood book for a younger audience. I would recommend the book for anyone who likes to read to younger children or for children just starting to read.

[Leanne Feathers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one of my favorites out of all the books I have read so far for this assignment. It is very cute and family oriented. The children want so badly to make the holidays the same as every year and they cannot, but they are generous and do not expect anything but end up getting more than what they expect!!

[Kelli Lynn Dwyer]

I just wanted to thank for doing this giveaway, and to say that I'm very happy to have won a copy. Once I receive it in the mail I plan on reading it, giving it took my cousin who loves to read, and then review it with both of our thoughts.

[Jacqi Coon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose this book because I had to read a book from a multicultural genre and I liked the message. I liked how this book shows what you can receive from being so nice. I also liked how the children tried to help out their mother. It shows good character.

[Matthew Weymar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alden: 5 stars. It's a nice message.
Me: A brother and sister make their own luck.

[Bethe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice look at another culture's celebration of the New Year, focused on generosity and family.

[Ruben Salamanca · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story was nice but predictable. It teaches kids that giving is a good thing. Its a good message that should be taught.

[Walter Wojcik · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a really cute story for kids. i liked the story, the art, and the extra background information.

[Aiya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this book, as it's a story my dad liked to tell me when I was a little girl. It's a wonderful, heartwarming tale, and it was a deep breath of nostalgia to visit it again.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cutesy folktale, ripe with idol-worship.
It's certainly eastern!

[Yue · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kindle edition is meh

[Mimi · Rating 3 out of 5]

such a lovely tale.
a japanese tale of a brother and sister whose hearts are endlessly open and as a result the gods bestow some tasty new year's gifts to them.