Tokyo Night Parade

In this yo¯kai-studded reimagining of Japanese folklore, a double debut from Takahashi and Tomigahara, a child who has "come home to Tokyo" reunites with fantastical friends on her favorite evening--that of the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons. Since the creatures of the Night Parade can't cross the ocean to New York, Eka, a brown-skinned child of Japanese descent, is eager to encounter them again, knowing that "New York is expensive and Japan is too far away to keep visiting." Dressed in a fox costume--a long-ago gift from her grandfather--she awaits the monsters' arrival, listening for "music and mumbling, hooting, and screeching." Her longtime friend, the turtle-like kappa, soon leads Eka down a red-lantern-lit path to a place "thick with swirling, swooping ghosts," where the parade carries her away until dawn. Light-limned, bokeh-dotted illustrations that feel like film stills incorporate gouache, woodblock printing, paper scraps, and digital techniques. Introspective prose touches lightly on the idea of whether spirits--and humans--are "good" in this visually appealing nighttime romp. An author's note concludes. Ages 4-8. Author's and illustrator's agent: Kathleen Ortiz, KO Media Management (Oct.)

PreS-Gr 4--In Japanese folklore, the Hyakkiyagy, or Night Parade of One Hundred Demons, takes place when the human and supernatural worlds overlap. Eka, a Black and Japanese girl growing up in Tokyo and New York City, relishes tales of y kai, or supernatural creatures. On the eve of her return to the U.S., she imagines taking part in a glorious night parade through the streets of Tokyo. Accompanied by her faithful dog and friendly kappa, a froglike spirit, she dons her kitsune, or fox-spirit costume, and joins the singing, prancing y kai parading through the moonlit streets. Digital illustrations in gorgeous hues of lavender, mauve, and turquoise animate the hordes of fierce and endearing creatures. Based on Takahashi's own experience of growing up amid two cultures, this lively tale grows pensive as Eka wistfully thinks of the distance between her two homes, family, and friends. For more magical realism, pair this title with Sunny Seki's The Last Kappa of Old Japan and Sanae Ishida's Chibi Samurai Wants a Pet. VERDICT Offering a glimpse of modern and traditional Japanese culture, this tale will charm a wide audience, including readers unfamiliar with and those enamored of its folklore, fiction, and manga.--Marilyn Taniguchi

"A magical ode to the In-Between—to the space between homes, between creaturely and human worlds, between what the heart can hold and what it misses. This sparkling, Miyazaki-hued story instantly whisked me back to childhood summers in Tokyo, to far-out fables and night festivals, reminding me: the supernatural is often the best doorway to the true." — Kyo Maclear, author of The Big Bath House and Kumo

"Tokyo Night Parade will leave readers longing for the worlds we've known and curious about the worlds we've yet to discover. An unforgettable story combines with a gorgeously illustrated world, reminding readers that our most magical moments can exist in the here and now. A remarkable debut that delivers abundantly." — Antwan Eady, author of Nigel and the Moon

"Melodic and mesmerizing and thrilling yet tender, this book is a lush sensory and emotional experience." — Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, critically-acclaimed children's book author

"A glorious night parade through the streets of Tokyo. Offering a glimpse of modern and traditional Japanese culture, this tale will charm a wide audience, including readers unfamiliar with and those enamored of its folklore, fiction, and manga." — School Library Journal (starred review)

"Eka's questions about whether the yokai are good or wicked offer intriguing food for thought—like humans, the yokai contain multitudes. With its beautiful night palette, the artwork glows and brings the text and monsters to life. A beautiful tale of friendship and living in the moment." — Kirkus Reviews

"In this yokai-studded reimagining of Japanese folklore, a child who has "come home to Tokyo" reunites with fantastical friends on her favorite evening—that of the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons. [A] visually appealing nighttime romp." — Publishers Weekly