The magic of Taro Gomi and penguins

Hello, I am here!

It's been wow, half a year that I didn't show up here. Dear readers, are you still there?

I didn't write this long for some health and other personal reasons but it doesn't mean I stopped reading books with my son.

We are still in Japan. In the past months here I discovered and rediscovered many beautiful Japanese children's literature and foreign books translated in Japanese. These are just a few of many I got. We will take them all with us when we eventually return to Italy.

My son turned 16 months and lately started to understand many things we say to him although he still speaks few words that make sense.

The way he reacts to books changed a lot, too. Now he picks his favourite books from the bookshelf and comes on my lap, asking me to read them aloud.

One of the most frequently picked ones are these two. One is "Who Ate It?" by Taro Gomi. As I read it, he points on the pictures to respond to my question, "who ate it?" I usually read this book at least ten times a day, because he asks me to read it again and again and...again!

The other book he is addicted to is this yellow one you see on the floor. In this book readers can exercise with two penguins, a baby penguin and his mother. We got this book recommended by a librarian here, and he immediately fell in love with it. It's amazing that he actually imitates each move of the penguins; waving arms, putting up legs, and shaking buttocks. It's irresistibly cute.

It is my joy to see how he enjoys books, which is remarkably changed over the last few months.

We love reading together more than ever.

In Japan, the season of cherry blossoms has arrived.

I pray every day for this war to end.

I am not sure when I will write my next post, but I will return, when I can.

Alla prossima, ciao!

About today's book

Tabeta no Dare? (Who Ate It?)

Written and Illustrated by Taro Gomi
Originally published in June 1977 by Bunkashuppankyoku. The English title, Who Ate It? is published by Millbrook Press

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