Review by Booklist Review
A visit back home means a small girl can once again don her kitsune costume to join the annual mystical Night Parade of One Hundred Demons. In sizes ponderous or petite, with faces sweet or (gently) snarling, and neither honest nor wicked, the mismatched, mischievous yokai are Eka's cheerful companions in a prancing, starlit citywide procession. Though she wistfully reflects that these wonders can't follow her to her new home in America, she still finds delight in celebrating the riotous magic of this one special night with her beloved demon friends. Debut author Takahashi crafts an enchanting child's-eye view of this night when the worlds of humans and demons overlap, with the significance of this mythology deepened through her personal experience of growing up within family traditions of the U.S. and Japan. In magnificent, flowing double-page spreads rendered in deep jewel tones, visual development artist and illustrator Tomigahara conjures a twilight setting both mistily dreamlike and glowingly joyous, perfectly in harmony with this tale's buoyant celebration of the sweet space shared between two worlds.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
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.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
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
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Eka makes the most of her last night in Tokyo. Dressed as a kitsune (or fox spirit), Eka, a brown-skinned child of Japanese origin, listens for the sounds of the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons, when the human world overlaps with that of the yōkai, supernatural creatures such as monsters or ghosts. This is her first time returning to her grandfather's home in Tokyo since she and her family moved to New York, and she's determined not to miss her favorite night of the year. As she walks the streets with the yōkai, they ask about her new home. Given how far away New York is, Eka doesn't know when she'll return to Tokyo, and no one seems to understand or care about yōkai in her new home. Though her heart aches, for now she'll sing, hoot, dance, and enjoy herself. This is a sweet, whimsical story of a young immigrant who's uncertain when she'll see her beloved family and former home again. Eka's questions about whether the yōkai are good or wicked offer intriguing food for thought--like humans, the yōkai contain multitudes. With its beautiful night palette, the artwork glows and brings the text and monsters to life. In an author's note, Takahashi discusses her own experiences growing up African American and Japanese in both the United States and Japan. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A beautiful tale of friendship and living in the moment. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
