This time, the pair shrink down so they can enjoy a magical adventure in the tall grass with a variety of inventive and friendly creatures. Riding their bicycles, the girls discover a whimsical world where bumblebees share honey sponge cake balls wrapped in flower petals, flower chafers make mixed-leaf juice and a lizard invites them to help create colourful candies from shards of crystal.
You'd think this much sweetness would be enough to give anyone a toothache, but Doi infuses the text and illustrations with a serenity and beauty indicative of life in Japan, along with simple messages of curiosity and inclusiveness.
Her gentle and straightforward language, with charming touches of onomatopoeia, is matched with dreamy illustrations in pencil, pastel and crayon, creating a timeless treasure to enchant little readers everywhere.
This is the second in the series, translated from Japanese into English by Yuki Kaneko, and I'm excited to say that more are on the way.
Title: Chirri & Chirra In the Tall Grass
Author/Illustrator: Kaya Doi
Publisher: Enchanted Lion Books, $26.99
Publication Date: 20 June 2017
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781592702251
For ages: 3+
Type: Picture Book
