[Picture Book] The Coffee Shop Without a Sign / What It Means to Master a Craft
I was introduced to a cute picture book on my Instagram recommendations.
I followed the author and, as usual, searched the library catalog♪
There is also an introductory article on Pictbook!
“Think for yourself.”
“Always listen to the voices of the acorns.”
“You must search with your own feet.”
A wolf who runs a second-hand bookstore where acorn coffee is delicious finds a shop without a sign, lured by a wonderful aroma. The coffee brewed by the bear master is so delicious that he keeps visiting to learn how to make it himself...
Written by Akiko Kameoka
Holp Shuppan (2024)
The illustrations are very cute, but this story...
It is modeled after a real coffee shop in Japan that the author, Kameoka-san, used to visit.
Once you read the picture book, you will understand why they don't reveal the shop's location.
The master's love for coffee and his spirit are so cool that you'd want to do the same!
Since it is a medium-sized picture book, there are pages with panels for pacing, and the cute animals, the forest, and the coffee shop are all delightful to look at.
But the main theme is, after all,
the wonder of mastering one thing, something you truly love.
“I want to get better.”
“I want people to drink even more delicious coffee.”
Both the master and the wolf feel this way, but mastering a craft requires effort and the power of persistence. That is fun in itself, and those who feel that “it’s natural because I love it” are the ones who can be called professionals. Does that mean that as long as you are struggling,you still have a long way to go?
“I am also still studying.”
The master's words
The master's words are cool. And the results follow, don't they?
Since they are forest animals, they roast acorns to make coffee, but when I muttered, “Can you really make coffee from acorns??” my friend next to me gave me a gentle, wry smile.
However, when I looked it up at night... it seems you really can make acorn coffee!!
Acorns often fall in parks and forests.
I feel like I want to try it. As for the taste... (lol)
What is acorn coffee? Introducing recipes and impressions of actually making it! Could it be a candidate for a sustainable alternative coffee in the future!? - Gribiz
It was a cute picture book that also contained a wonderful message ^^