This Giveaway is now closed. Thanks for participating!
Happy Children's Book Week! What a great thing to celebrate. I have had so much fun recently exploring children's literature, there is so much amazing stuff being produced lately.
One of those amazing books is called Aoki, by Annelore Parot (CAN, JP, US, INT). Originally published in France in 2010, it was published in English by Chronicle Books along with companion books Yumi, Amigos, and Kimono.
This picture book is aimed at young children but could easily do double duty as a coffee table book. The texture is fantastic. The cover features a pleather print kokeshi (wooden bridal gift doll) and that is just the start. My daughter loved the flaps to lift and adorable bentos. My son loved the fold-out Shinkansen (marked Kyoto on one side and Tokyo on the other!).
The design is modern and magnificent. If only Japan was really this beautiful!
I have only one complaint, and that is that there is an oven in the kitchen of one of the kitchens, and that's not at all common! Of course there are crazy people like me who have regular-sized ovens so I guess it gets a pass.
Would you like a copy of Aoki? I'm giving one away as part of the Children's Book Week Giveaway Hop, hosted by I Am A Reader Not A Writer, KidLitFrenzy, Classic Children's Books, and Mymcbooks. My giveaway is open internationally to every country to which Japan Post will ship, and will close at midnight on May 13th. If the winner does not respond within 3 days to my email I reserve the right to choose another winner. You have three different chances to enter!
Check out the other sites involved in this Giveaway Hop before entering using Rafflecopter below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I am an illustrations girl, that's what draws me in every time. If I don't click with the pictures then even if the text is amazing I don't enjoy it as much as I should. Terrible, I know! Aoki looks beautiful - just the right level of kawaii for me and I love kokeshi.
ReplyDeletePictures are what always draws me to a book first and then the text follows. I love the way these pictures have been made - an original concept. But, I do agree with you... not so many Japanese houses have ovens!
ReplyDeleteA lot of things draw me to picture books. I do have my favorite authors/illustrators, topics, etc. But I have to say that most of the time if the illustrations don't catch my eye than I won't pick up the book. Although if I read good reviews I'll often give the book a look.
ReplyDeleteI love envisioning you reading this book in Japan and my reading your blog in San Francisco where it was published by Chronicle! I look forward to looking it, especially because of what you've written.
ReplyDeleteHow adorable does this book look! I laughed when I saw the taxi picture with the Asahi building, it's great that that was included (I love telling the story of that building to people and am so glad our tour guide shared it with us). I think Xander would love the shinkansen too, though I'd have to be careful with it until he gets a proper grasp on the word 'gentle'.
ReplyDeleteI'm usually drawn first by the theme and/or illustrations, though wonderful writing is what will keep me coming back!
ReplyDeleteeai(at)stanfordalumni(dot)org
For me the illustration is the first thing that always grabs my attention to picture books.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen a childs book with pictures of japan like this, it looks realy educational!
ReplyDeleteMy little boy particularly likes the 'lfit the flap' books or something else that he can get involved in x
ReplyDeleteThe book is educational and I also love the beauty of the book.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this great giveaway.
:)Jeanne B.T.
All of the above :) illustrations are HUGE for me... but I have a soft spot for SO many different authors as well... and there's nothing like a well written children's book. What can I say, I'm addicted to children's literature.
ReplyDeleteOh illustrations, most definitely.
ReplyDeleteThe Rafflecopter calls me 'Margot' since it is accessing my facebook where I am 'Margot C __' and is connected to this email: annazed10 [at] yahoo [dot] com
Two things draw me in - first is the quality of the pictures, and their uniqueness. Then I look to the writing - as a teacher I am looking for vivid verbs and lots of descriptive writing.
ReplyDeleteUm, my 5-yr-old will kill me if I don't enter him to win a book featuring a Golden Turd. But seriously, this book sounds so richly detailed that I think it'd absorb both adults and kids. I'd love to win!
ReplyDeletethe book looks beautiful!
ReplyDeletethanks for making it international!
how did I miss this post before, love the drawings
ReplyDeleteI am draw in first by the illustrations (cover). Then the title. I can recognize the style of some of my favorite illustrators- so I sometimes pick up a book that way. I always open the book and read a little to see if I am interested in the text.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway! I am also following you via GFC: Fairday Morrow.
~Jess
I most love the texture of the illustrations! It always draws me to a new children's book!
ReplyDelete-Rachael Henzman
It is always the illustrations for me although I did buy my daughter a book or two based on texture when she was a baby. I loved those books with the actual (fake)fur and feathers on the animals.
ReplyDeleteI't the illustrations and whether I like the style or not.
ReplyDeleteI'm drawn to the illustrations and the messages found in the story.
ReplyDeleteWhile I do have my favourite authors, I am drawn to those that are beautifully illustrated. My elder daughter really enjoyed the tactile stimulation of textured books - she still does and she's 10 yrs!
ReplyDeleteIt does look like a beautiful book! Thanks for the giveaway!
The illustrations, I'm a sucker for beautiful drawings/pictures and will often buy books because of cover art!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely the illustrations then the text. When it comes to picture books I look at the pictures. I work with toddlers so I want something that will keep their attention and then the text comes next.
ReplyDeleteI am a visual person so definitely the illustrations. :D
ReplyDeletePlus, I dont really know how to draw so I'd love to see wonderful and great illustrations! :D
OMG I would SO love to win this. It's adorable. It's got gorgeous art and I love the idea of introducing my daughter to another culture.
ReplyDeleteAwesome contest!
it's the illustrations that draw me to picture books. i grew up reading books with lots of pictures. :)
ReplyDeleteI love that there are less words on the pages so that the kids can look longer at the picture before turning the page. We always look at every single thing on the page because there always seems to be surprises on them.
ReplyDeleteThe pictures draw me initially and then the theme of the story captivates me
ReplyDeleteThe illustrations! Really I would say a mixture of all the above but the illustrations pull me in.
ReplyDeleteI think I am drawn in by the illustrations but if the story line isn't good, I won't come back.
ReplyDeleteIllustrations are the first thing that draws me!
ReplyDeleteThanks :)
kimberlybreid at hotmail dot com
The illustrations always draw me in.
ReplyDeleteThe colors draw me first, then the actual illustrations. I like bright and bold colors.
ReplyDeleteI am usually drawn by the picture on the front of the book.
ReplyDeletethanks
Glad you loved it too. Yumi is another beauty.
ReplyDeleteThe illustrations.
ReplyDelete