{"id":4264849735,"title":"A Carp for Kimiko","handle":"a-carp-for-kimiko","description":"\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy: \u003ca title=\"Author Virginia Kroll\" href=\"\/pages\/virginia-kroll\"\u003eVirginia Kroll\u003c\/a\u003e \/ Illustrated by: \u003ca title=\"Illustrator Katherine Roundtree\" href=\"\/pages\/katherine-roundtree\"\u003eKatherine Roundtree\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSometimes you need to swim against the current of tradition.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Japan, families fly a kite in the shape of a carp for each boy in the house on Children's Day. When her family hangs little brother Yukio's kite, Kimiko desperately wants a carp kite of her own.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKimiko's parents remind her that there is a holiday just for girls – Doll Festival Day – but this does not stop Kimiko from longing for her very own carp. Can her wish be granted without breaking tradition? \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/candy-shop\" title=\"Candy Shop\"\u003eCandy Shop\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/goldy-luck-and-the-three-pandas\" title=\"Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas\"\u003eGoldy Luck and the Three Pandas\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/the-cazuela-that-the-farm-maiden-stirred\" title=\"The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred\"\u003eThe Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e [TABS]\n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg class=\"cvr-border-gray\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/carp-for-kimiko-spread.jpg?10451048681524368399\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e\n\u003cscript type=\"text\/javascript\" async=\"\" defer data-pin-shape=\"round\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVirginia Kroll, author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVirginia Kroll attended Canisius College and the State University of New York at Buffalo. She was formerly an elementary school teacher and has raised six children of her own. It was Virginia's love of children that led her to begin her career as a children's writer in 1984.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVirginia has a special talent for understanding and communicating with children. Her efforts to cross cultural lines and address multicultural issues have won her the praise of critics and readers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca title=\"Author Virginia Kroll\" href=\"\/pages\/virginia-kroll\"\u003eRead more \u003c\/a\u003eabout Virginia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - ENTER ILLUSTRATOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKatherine Roundtree, illustrator\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKatherine Roundtree graduated from the Columbus College of Art and Design Katherine is an elementary school art teacher. She lived for many years with her extended family on the banks of the Ohio river, but currently resides in Stone Mountain, Georgia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca title=\"Illustrator Katherine Roundtree\" href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/katherine-roundtree\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about Katherine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBooklist\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKimiko very much wants a calico carp kite like her brother's to fly on Children's Day. She can't have one, though, because she's a girl, and Japanese tradition dictates that only boys get colorful kites. Luckily, Kimiko has understanding parents, and the day after the festival, she wakes to find a real calico carp swimming in a tank in her room. The intention of this title, stated on the jacket blurb, is to introduce readers to Japanese customs and traditions, such as the Children's Day and Doll's Day celebrations mentioned in the story. With brightly colored paintings and a believable premise, the story succeeds, relaying its information with a minimum of didacticism and more than a little charm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKimiko yearns for a carp-shaped kite to fly on Children's Day, like the one little brother Yukio has, but it's not the Japanese tradition: kites are for boys. When she tries, politely, to negotiate, her parents are firm—but not unsympathetic, especially Mama. It's true, as Kimiko says, that Yukio shared in the Doll Festival by coming to Kimiko's party; Mama, sighing, says, \"You remind me of the carp, Kimiko, always wanting to swim against the current,\" but agrees to \"bend\" tradition: she may unpack one of the dolls reserved for that festival. Better, once Children's Day is over, Kimiko gets a special gift: a live carp in an aquarium. Roundtree's illustrations are stolidly literal, her bright colors almost garish—an unfortunate choice for a gentle story distinguished by unusual warmth and subtlety. An upbeat but still bracing look at a culture in which children learn to accept tradition—and, like all children, to bargain within the constraints they're given.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA straightforward story that focuses on a Japanese holiday. On the fifth day of the fifth month, Children's Day is celebrated, formerly called Boy's Day. Families fly a carp windsock for each son, and Kimiko longs to have one fly in her honor along with the three for her brothers. Her mother makes the obvious comparison-her daughter is like a carp struggling against the current. Traditional ways prevail, and a colorful windsock does not fly for Kimiko. But, the morning after the holiday, she is delighted to find a live calico carp in a fishbowl by her bed. The bright, realistic illustrations are filled with the details of Japanese life, including a corner rock garden, shoe rack, and table setting. In one overzealous attempt to provide information, the author gives the Japanese words for various family members in a phonetic manner instead of in the accepted method of transcription. This will prove confusing to anyone with some knowledge of Japanese.\u003cem\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/products\/carp-for-kimiko-cvr.jpg?v=1454440902\" style=\"display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/carp-for-kimiko-hires.zip?78656191844873660\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/carp-for-kimiko-activity-guide.pdf?78656191844873660\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Activity Guide\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePaperback\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-0-88106-411-7\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 4-7\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 32\u003cbr\u003e10 x 8\u003c\/p\u003e\n[\/TABS]","published_at":"2016-02-02T14:49:00-05:00","created_at":"2016-02-02T14:20:54-05:00","vendor":"Charlesbridge","type":"Children's Book","tags":["Browse by Age_Ages 3-6","Browse by Age_Ages 6-10","Browse by Fiction\/Nonfiction_Fiction","Browse by Format_Picture Book","Browse by Language_English","Browse by Subject_Diversity","family","girl"],"price":795,"price_min":795,"price_max":795,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":14592337927,"title":"Paperback","option1":"Paperback","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"64117","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"A Carp for Kimiko - Paperback","public_title":"Paperback","options":["Paperback"],"price":795,"weight":136,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_quantity":6,"inventory_management":"shopify","inventory_policy":"continue","barcode":"978-0-88106-411-7","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/carp-for-kimiko-cover.jpg?v=1570195546"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/carp-for-kimiko-cover.jpg?v=1570195546","options":["Title"],"media":[{"alt":"A Carp for Kimiko book cover image","id":2446923989071,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.247,"height":481,"width":600,"src":"\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/carp-for-kimiko-cover.jpg?v=1570195546"},"aspect_ratio":1.247,"height":481,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/carp-for-kimiko-cover.jpg?v=1570195546","width":600}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy: \u003ca title=\"Author Virginia Kroll\" href=\"\/pages\/virginia-kroll\"\u003eVirginia Kroll\u003c\/a\u003e \/ Illustrated by: \u003ca title=\"Illustrator Katherine Roundtree\" href=\"\/pages\/katherine-roundtree\"\u003eKatherine Roundtree\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSometimes you need to swim against the current of tradition.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Japan, families fly a kite in the shape of a carp for each boy in the house on Children's Day. When her family hangs little brother Yukio's kite, Kimiko desperately wants a carp kite of her own.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKimiko's parents remind her that there is a holiday just for girls – Doll Festival Day – but this does not stop Kimiko from longing for her very own carp. Can her wish be granted without breaking tradition? \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/candy-shop\" title=\"Candy Shop\"\u003eCandy Shop\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/goldy-luck-and-the-three-pandas\" title=\"Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas\"\u003eGoldy Luck and the Three Pandas\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/the-cazuela-that-the-farm-maiden-stirred\" title=\"The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred\"\u003eThe Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e [TABS]\n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg class=\"cvr-border-gray\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/carp-for-kimiko-spread.jpg?10451048681524368399\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e\n\u003cscript type=\"text\/javascript\" async=\"\" defer data-pin-shape=\"round\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVirginia Kroll, author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVirginia Kroll attended Canisius College and the State University of New York at Buffalo. She was formerly an elementary school teacher and has raised six children of her own. It was Virginia's love of children that led her to begin her career as a children's writer in 1984.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVirginia has a special talent for understanding and communicating with children. Her efforts to cross cultural lines and address multicultural issues have won her the praise of critics and readers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca title=\"Author Virginia Kroll\" href=\"\/pages\/virginia-kroll\"\u003eRead more \u003c\/a\u003eabout Virginia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - ENTER ILLUSTRATOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKatherine Roundtree, illustrator\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKatherine Roundtree graduated from the Columbus College of Art and Design Katherine is an elementary school art teacher. She lived for many years with her extended family on the banks of the Ohio river, but currently resides in Stone Mountain, Georgia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca title=\"Illustrator Katherine Roundtree\" href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/katherine-roundtree\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about Katherine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBooklist\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKimiko very much wants a calico carp kite like her brother's to fly on Children's Day. She can't have one, though, because she's a girl, and Japanese tradition dictates that only boys get colorful kites. Luckily, Kimiko has understanding parents, and the day after the festival, she wakes to find a real calico carp swimming in a tank in her room. The intention of this title, stated on the jacket blurb, is to introduce readers to Japanese customs and traditions, such as the Children's Day and Doll's Day celebrations mentioned in the story. With brightly colored paintings and a believable premise, the story succeeds, relaying its information with a minimum of didacticism and more than a little charm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKimiko yearns for a carp-shaped kite to fly on Children's Day, like the one little brother Yukio has, but it's not the Japanese tradition: kites are for boys. When she tries, politely, to negotiate, her parents are firm—but not unsympathetic, especially Mama. It's true, as Kimiko says, that Yukio shared in the Doll Festival by coming to Kimiko's party; Mama, sighing, says, \"You remind me of the carp, Kimiko, always wanting to swim against the current,\" but agrees to \"bend\" tradition: she may unpack one of the dolls reserved for that festival. Better, once Children's Day is over, Kimiko gets a special gift: a live carp in an aquarium. Roundtree's illustrations are stolidly literal, her bright colors almost garish—an unfortunate choice for a gentle story distinguished by unusual warmth and subtlety. An upbeat but still bracing look at a culture in which children learn to accept tradition—and, like all children, to bargain within the constraints they're given.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA straightforward story that focuses on a Japanese holiday. On the fifth day of the fifth month, Children's Day is celebrated, formerly called Boy's Day. Families fly a carp windsock for each son, and Kimiko longs to have one fly in her honor along with the three for her brothers. Her mother makes the obvious comparison-her daughter is like a carp struggling against the current. Traditional ways prevail, and a colorful windsock does not fly for Kimiko. But, the morning after the holiday, she is delighted to find a live calico carp in a fishbowl by her bed. The bright, realistic illustrations are filled with the details of Japanese life, including a corner rock garden, shoe rack, and table setting. In one overzealous attempt to provide information, the author gives the Japanese words for various family members in a phonetic manner instead of in the accepted method of transcription. This will prove confusing to anyone with some knowledge of Japanese.\u003cem\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/products\/carp-for-kimiko-cvr.jpg?v=1454440902\" style=\"display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/carp-for-kimiko-hires.zip?78656191844873660\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/carp-for-kimiko-activity-guide.pdf?78656191844873660\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Activity Guide\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePaperback\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-0-88106-411-7\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 4-7\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 32\u003cbr\u003e10 x 8\u003c\/p\u003e\n[\/TABS]"}

A Carp for Kimiko

By: Virginia Kroll / Illustrated by: Katherine Roundtree

Sometimes you need to swim against the current of tradition.

In Japan, families fly a kite in the shape of a carp for each boy in the house on Children's Day. When her family hangs little brother Yukio's kite, Kimiko desperately wants a carp kite of her own.

Kimiko's parents remind her that there is a holiday just for girls – Doll Festival Day – but this does not stop Kimiko from longing for her very own carp. Can her wish be granted without breaking tradition? 

Maximum quantity available reached.

Virginia Kroll, author

Virginia Kroll attended Canisius College and the State University of New York at Buffalo. She was formerly an elementary school teacher and has raised six children of her own. It was Virginia's love of children that led her to begin her career as a children's writer in 1984.

Virginia has a special talent for understanding and communicating with children. Her efforts to cross cultural lines and address multicultural issues have won her the praise of critics and readers.

Read more about Virginia.


Katherine Roundtree, illustrator

Katherine Roundtree graduated from the Columbus College of Art and Design Katherine is an elementary school art teacher. She lived for many years with her extended family on the banks of the Ohio river, but currently resides in Stone Mountain, Georgia.

Read more about Katherine.

Booklist

Kimiko very much wants a calico carp kite like her brother's to fly on Children's Day. She can't have one, though, because she's a girl, and Japanese tradition dictates that only boys get colorful kites. Luckily, Kimiko has understanding parents, and the day after the festival, she wakes to find a real calico carp swimming in a tank in her room. The intention of this title, stated on the jacket blurb, is to introduce readers to Japanese customs and traditions, such as the Children's Day and Doll's Day celebrations mentioned in the story. With brightly colored paintings and a believable premise, the story succeeds, relaying its information with a minimum of didacticism and more than a little charm.

Kirkus Reviews

Kimiko yearns for a carp-shaped kite to fly on Children's Day, like the one little brother Yukio has, but it's not the Japanese tradition: kites are for boys. When she tries, politely, to negotiate, her parents are firm—but not unsympathetic, especially Mama. It's true, as Kimiko says, that Yukio shared in the Doll Festival by coming to Kimiko's party; Mama, sighing, says, "You remind me of the carp, Kimiko, always wanting to swim against the current," but agrees to "bend" tradition: she may unpack one of the dolls reserved for that festival. Better, once Children's Day is over, Kimiko gets a special gift: a live carp in an aquarium. Roundtree's illustrations are stolidly literal, her bright colors almost garish—an unfortunate choice for a gentle story distinguished by unusual warmth and subtlety. An upbeat but still bracing look at a culture in which children learn to accept tradition—and, like all children, to bargain within the constraints they're given.

School Library Journal

A straightforward story that focuses on a Japanese holiday. On the fifth day of the fifth month, Children's Day is celebrated, formerly called Boy's Day. Families fly a carp windsock for each son, and Kimiko longs to have one fly in her honor along with the three for her brothers. Her mother makes the obvious comparison-her daughter is like a carp struggling against the current. Traditional ways prevail, and a colorful windsock does not fly for Kimiko. But, the morning after the holiday, she is delighted to find a live calico carp in a fishbowl by her bed. The bright, realistic illustrations are filled with the details of Japanese life, including a corner rock garden, shoe rack, and table setting. In one overzealous attempt to provide information, the author gives the Japanese words for various family members in a phonetic manner instead of in the accepted method of transcription. This will prove confusing to anyone with some knowledge of Japanese.

Paperback
ISBN: 978-0-88106-411-7

Ages: 4-7
Page count: 32
10 x 8