[Picture Books] Moon-viewing picture books to read on the night of the full moon
September. Moon-viewing season has arrived.
This year's full moon night is September 10th (Sat).
So, this time, I will introduce 5 moon-viewing picture books to read on the night of the full moon.
What kind of event is moon-viewing?
Moon-viewing is an event to admire the moon on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar. The night of the 15th day of the lunar month is called Jūgoya, and the moon on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, when the air is clearest and the moon looks most beautiful, is called "Chūshū no Meigetsu" (Harvest Moon). In Japan, there has been a custom of admiring the moon since the Jomon period. By the Heian period, the custom of viewing the moon on the night of the full moon was introduced from China, and nobles began to enjoy banquets while watching the moon. It seems that moon-viewing spread to the common people during the Edo period.
Moon-viewing picture books to read on the night of the full moon
"I Want to Eat Dumplings, Moon-sama"
Author: Asae Suto
Illustrator: Yasuhiko Nakatani
Publisher: Holp Shuppan
Year of Publication: 2018
For the moon who wants to eat dumplings, the clouds take the dumplings offered as an offering...
This is a book recommended for small children who have started to take an interest in familiar events.
"Moon-viewing Ghost"
Author/Illustrator: Keiko Sena
Publisher: Poplar Publishing
Year of Publication: 2015
A ghost transforms into a dumpling to comfort a crying rabbit, but...
The interaction between the caring ghost and the innocent rabbit is cute, just like little siblings. If you also read Keiko Sena's afterword, you will feel gentle.
"Moon-viewing Bus"
Author/Illustrator: Tomohiko Fujimoto
Publisher: Suzuki Shuppan
Year of Publication: 2017
When the bus and the mice are preparing for moon-viewing, the dumplings are stolen...
This picture book was a big hit with my son. The talking bus is funny, and the story has a good tempo. He was overjoyed at the final "Bero-Bero Bus!"
It seems to be a picture book in a series called "Itadaki Bus," and I would like to read the other stories too.
"Moon-viewing Rabbit"
Author: Hirotaka Nakagawa
Illustrator: Yasunari Murakami
Publisher: Doshinsha
Year of Publication: 2001
When the children and the kindergarten principal are moon-viewing, wait? The moon rabbit is gone! It seems the rabbit has fallen from the moon.
A wonderful picture book where the contrast between the night sky and the moon is beautiful, and you can feel fantasy in everyday life. It's also nice that it comes with a dumpling recipe.
"Song of the Moonlit Night"
Author/Illustrator: Satomi Hasegawa
Publisher: Bunkeido
Year of Publication: 2015
A bear cub is invited to moon-viewing by a raccoon dog. While walking and singing his self-composed "Song of the Moon," he falls over in the wind and the song disappears. With the help of friends he meets along the way, he collects the fragments of the song, but...
The humorous interactions between the animals are cute, and it makes me feel warm and fuzzy.
You can listen to the song the bear cub made on the publisher's website, and it's also laid-back and cute.
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How was the moon-viewing picture book feature?
In our home, we plan to prepare dumplings and gaze at the full moon. I hope we can see the moon while my early-sleeping son is still awake.
There are many wonderful picture books with the moon as a theme, so I would like to write an article about them someday.
Well then, hoping that you will be able to see a beautiful full moon... Have a wonderful time moon-viewing.