the cat who saved books

• The Value of Books: Each of Tiger’s missions underscores the importance of books not just as objects, but as vessels of ideas, emotions, and human experience. Whether it’s the businessman who sees books purely as investments or the publisher obsessed with speed over quality, these characters remind us how easy it is to lose sight of what truly makes literature valuable.

• Grief and Healing: Rintaro’s journey is as much about saving himself as it is about saving books. His reluctance to leave the bookstore mirrors his struggle to let go of his grandfather. Through his adventures with Tiger, Rintaro learns to embrace change, confront his fears, and rediscover his purpose.

• The Importance of Human Connection: While Rintaro starts the story as a socially isolated recluse, his interactions with others including a classmate named Sayo who takes an interest in him highlight the necessity of forming genuine relationships. The missions with Tiger push Rintaro to step out of his comfort zone and engage with the world around him.

• The Joy of Reading: Perhaps the most universal theme in the book is its celebration of reading as a deeply personal yet profoundly communal act. Natsukawa reminds us that books have the power to inspire, challenge, and connect us in ways that transcend time and space.

Best children's books

"Imaginations Unleashed" is a delightful and comprehensive guide for parents, educators, and anyone passionate about introducing young readers to the magic of stories. This book serves as both an inspiration and a roadmap, offering a curated selection of children’s books that spark creativity, foster empathy, and open up entire worlds of wonder.

A Treasure Trove for All Ages

One of the standout features of "Imaginations Unleashed" is its thoughtful organization. The books are divided into age categories, ranging from picture books for toddlers to chapter books for teenagers. This structure makes it easy for caregivers to find books perfectly suited to a child’s developmental stage, ensuring an engaging and impactful reading experience.

Diverse and Thoughtful Curation

The collection spans an impressive range of genres and themes, from whimsical tales about adventurous animals to heartfelt stories about overcoming challenges. Notable inclusions like The Gruffalo, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and Anne of Green Gables sit alongside more contemporary works like Last Stop on Market Street and The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind. This mix of classic and modern ensures a well-rounded reading list.

What truly sets this guide apart is its attention to stories that promote critical values like kindness, inclusion, and resilience. Books like Wonder teach empathy, while stories such as The Lorax encourage environmental awareness. The selections are not just entertaining but deeply enriching, helping children navigate the world around them.

Visual and Practical Appeal

The book itself is a feast for the eyes, with colorful illustrations, excerpts from the featured books, and whimsical design elements that make flipping through it a joy. Each book recommendation comes with a brief synopsis, age suitability, and even suggestions for related activities or discussion topics, making it a valuable tool for both parents and teachers.

A Few Limitations

While the guide is excellent, it could benefit from even greater diversity in its selections. The emphasis leans heavily on Western literature, and expanding to include more books from African, Asian, and South American authors would provide an even richer global perspective.

Additionally, while the suggestions for related activities are great, some readers might find them a bit limited. More ideas for interactive ways to engage with the stories like crafts, games, or even recipes would add extra value.

"Imaginations Unleashed: A Guide to the Best Children's Books" is a celebration of the power of storytelling. It not only equips adults with tools to nurture a child’s imagination but also reminds readers of all ages why books are so essential to our lives. This guide is a must-have for anyone hoping to introduce young minds to the transformative magic of reading.

Ditulis oleh Julia Donaldson dan diilustrasikan oleh Axel Scheffler, The Gruffalo adalah sebuah karya klasik kanak-kanak yang telah memikat hati pembaca di seluruh dunia sejak diterbitkan pada tahun 1999. Dengan teks berima, jalan cerita yang bijak, dan ilustrasi yang menarik, buku ini adalah contoh terbaik dalam seni bercerita untuk kanak-kanak.

The Gruffalo

Cerita ini mengisahkan seekor tikus kecil yang cerdik ketika dia berjalan melalui hutan yang penuh dengan pemangsa. Untuk mengelak daripada dimakan oleh seekor musang, burung hantu, dan ular, tikus tersebut mencipta watak makhluk menakutkan yang dipanggil Gruffalo. Makhluk ini digambarkan dengan "taring yang mengerikan, kuku yang menakutkan, dan gigi yang besar di rahangnya yang menyeramkan." Namun, tikus itu terkejut apabila Gruffalo benar-benar wujud! Dengan kepintarannya, tikus itu sekali lagi berjaya mengalahkan Gruffalo dan keluar sebagai pemenang.

The Gruffalo

Rima yang Mudah Diingati

1. Penggunaan rima oleh Julia Donaldson membuatkan cerita ini berjaya menarik perhatian kanak-kanak. Struktur ayat yang berulang bukan sahaja menyeronokkan untuk dibaca tetapi juga membantu pembaca muda meramalkan apa yang akan berlaku, menjadikannya pilihan yang baik untuk literasi awal.

2. Tema yang Bijak
   

   Pada asasnya, The Gruffalo adalah cerita tentang kepintaran mengatasi kekuatan. Tikus kecil, walaupun lemah dan mudah terdedah, menggunakan akal dan kreativiti untuk mengatasi musuh yang lebih besar dan lebih menakutkan. Pesanan ini sangat relevan untuk kanak-kanak dan mengajar mereka bahawa akal boleh mengalahkan kekuatan.

3. Ilustrasi yang Hidup
   

   Ilustrasi oleh Axel Scheffler membawa watak dan suasana hutan kepada pembaca. Gruffalo sendiri adalah ciptaan yang unik dan menakutkan tetapi pada masa yang sama kelihatan comel. Setiap pemangsa dan habitat mereka digambarkan dengan cantik, menambahkan lapisan tarikan visual kepada cerita.

4. Keseronokan untuk Semua Umur
   

   Walaupun buku ini ditujukan untuk kanak-kanak berusia 3 hingga 7 tahun, humor dan daya tarikannya turut menghiburkan golongan dewasa. Twist di akhir cerita memastikan pembaca dewasa juga akan terhibur dengan kebijaksanaan tikus kecil ini.

Di sebalik ceritanya yang menarik, The Gruffalo mengandungi pengajaran berharga:

• Keyakinan dan Keberanian: Tikus menghadapi ketakutannya dengan penuh keyakinan, menunjukkan kepada kanak-kanak nilai untuk tetap tenang dan bijak dalam situasi sukar.
• Imaginasi Sebagai Alat: Dengan mencipta Gruffalo, tikus menunjukkan bagaimana imaginasi boleh menjadi alat penyelesaian masalah yang kuat.

Ada yang mungkin merasakan struktur cerita yang berulang boleh menjadi terlalu dijangka selepas beberapa kali membaca. Namun, bagi kanak-kanak, sifat berulang inilah yang membuatkan cerita ini menarik kerana mereka menikmati irama dan kebiasaan.

The Gruffalo adalah sebuah klasik yang layak berada di setiap rak buku kanak-kanak. Gabungan penulisan yang bijak, ilustrasi yang memukau, dan pengajaran hidup yang bermakna memastikan ia kekal segar dan menyeronokkan, walaupun selepas bertahun-tahun diterbitkan.

Penilaian: 5/5 🌟

The Full Moon Coffee Shop adalah sebuah novel yang menggabungkan elemen kehidupan sehari-hari dengan sedikit sentuhan magis. Buku ini membawa pembaca ke dalam dunia yang penuh dengan emosi, pengajaran hidup, dan juga keajaiban semuanya dalam latar belakang sebuah kafe yang sederhana namun penuh makna.

Unik nya cerita ini apabila kafe ini hanya ditemukan di tempat yang tertentu, untuk orang yang tertentu dan apabila bulan penuh sahaja kafe ini akan ditemui. Ianya akan muncul secara tiba- tiba dan akan hilang juga secara tiba-tiba seolah olah mimpi.

 The Full Moon Coffee Shop. Kafe ini bukan hanya tempat untuk menikmati kopi, tetapi juga menjadi tempat di mana orang datang untuk mencari kedamaian, berhubung dengan orang lain, dan menyelesaikan masalah hidup mereka. Setiap pelanggan yang datang membawa cerita dan rahsia masing-masing, dan melalui perbualan dengan pemilik kafe serta sesama pelanggan, mereka mendapati jawapan kepada persoalan dalam hidup mereka.

Salah satu kekuatan utama buku ini adalah bagaimana pengarang menggambarkan perasaan dan hubungan antara watak-wataknya. Setiap karakter dibangunkan dengan teliti, dengan latar belakang dan konflik peribadi yang dapat menyentuh hati pembaca. Tetapi yang paling mengejutkan, apabila kafe ini dimiliki oleh kucing yang bersaiz manusia dan boleh bercakap! (omaigadd i'm gonna dieee!!!) Unik nya disini, apabila kucing-kucing ini yang akan menghantar pesanan kepada anda bersesuaian dengan situasi anda ketika itu. Anda tidak akan perlu untuk order pesanan, malahan pesanan akan dtg sendiri.

Penulis menggunakan gaya bahasa yang sangat bersahaja tetapi puitis, menjadikan setiap bab mudah diikuti namun penuh dengan makna. Walaupun tema-tema yang diangkat boleh dikatakan berat seperti kehilangan, cinta, dan penemuan diri namun ia disampaikan dengan cara yang penuh dengan optimism, menjadikan buku ini satu pengalaman yang menyentuh dan memberi inspirasi.

Secara keseluruhannya, The Full Moon Coffee Shop adalah sebuah buku yang penuh dengan keindahan emosional. Ia mengingatkan pembaca tentang betapa pentingnya berhubung dengan orang lain dan bagaimana sebuah tempat yang sederhana boleh memberi kesan yang mendalam kepada kehidupan seseorang. Buku ini sangat sesuai untuk sesiapa yang suka cerita yang menghangatkan hati dan memberi pengajaran hidup.

Berjaya habiskan dengan bantuan biskut Dan hot chocholate

"Hafsatu Bebi" by Fatima Bala is a compelling and introspective novel that delves into themes of identity, tradition, and personal struggle within a cultural context. The book centers around the life of Hafsatu a young woman navigating the complexities of her society while grappling with her own desires and constraints.

picture from Google. Credit to the owner

It combines the separate stories of five people — a young office worker not really knowing if what she does is what she wants to do, a mother who wants to find something in life other than raising children, a freelancer loud about being a happy freelancer but whose life is a mess between home and work, a widower who finds himself lonely, and a shopkeeper who has lost interest in the future. Their circumstances vary, but each is visited by Komachi, who, with her almost mystical intuition for what a reader needs, introduces them to books that expand their horizons and open possibilities.

The novel explores themes of self-discovery, human connection, and the transformation power of books. It delves into the idea that even mundane interactions can have profound consequences and that inspiration often comes from unexpected places. It also highlights libraries as spaces of quiet magic, where answers to life’s questions might lie just a shelf away.

One of the book’s major strengths is its relatability. The fears and hopes of the characters are universal, and out of these journeys, their travels resonate deeply. The novel also offers an evocative portrait of Japanese life — its work culture, its communal spirit.

Another highlight is Sayuri Komachi herself, whose mysterious aura and gentle wisdom grounds the narrative. She is proof that sometimes, what we need isn’t advice or answers, but a push into the right direction.

What You Are Looking For Is in the Library is a charming celebration of libraries, books and the possibility of humans. It is a perfect read for a person standing at a crossroads in life or for those seeking comfort in the written word. Gentle, its approach, at the same time, the novel makes its point emphatically, leaving the sense of ourselves as mystics reminding us that the answers we search for exist within us or elsewhere in the faces in this world, and the pages of a surprising book.

TITLE: Up & Down

Author: Britta Teckentrup

“Up and Down” by Britta Teckentrup is a gorgeously illustrated picture book that explores the idea of life’s ups and downs in a way that’s digestible and soothing for little ones. The book has both emotional punch and visual sweep, with its lyrical text and eye-catching illustrations.

The story depicts the ebb and flow of life, saying that just as life has its “ups,” it also has “downs,” and that both are integral to the human experience. It teaches kid to persevere through adversity, find balance and appreciate the highs and the good through the lows and the challenged. With a gentle narrative that reassures readers that hard times won’t last forever, it makes a wonderful first step toward teaching young readers emotional intelligence.” 

The text is rhythmic and poetic, making it ideal for read-aloud sessions. The repetition of key ideas helps reinforce the themes and creates a soothing experience for young readers. The simple, concise language ensures the book’s messages are clear without being overwhelming.

 Diary of a Void by Emi Yagi is a compelling and darkly comedic exploration of how one woman’s lie forces her into a new identity, questioning society’s perception of womanhood, motherhood, and the roles women are expected to play in Japan. Yagi crafts a unique narrative that uses humor and satire to expose deep-seated cultural issues around gender and workplace dynamics.

Plot Overview: Shibata is a 34-year-old woman working in a Tokyo office, where she is overburdened with menial tasks because she's one of the few women there. Her male colleagues routinely push their "women’s work" onto her—everything from washing dishes to cleaning up the office mess. Frustrated by the unfairness, she impulsively announces that she's pregnant, believing it will offer her a reprieve from the additional responsibilities. The lie takes on a life of its own as Shibata realizes that pretending to be pregnant changes the way she's treated by those around her: she's given more respect, fewer demands, and even personal space—privileges she hadn’t experienced as a single, childless woman.

The novel unfolds as Shibata navigates the complexities of maintaining her lie, dealing with both the benefits and the isolating effects of living under this façade. Her “pregnancy” brings her a strange sense of purpose and empowerment as she explores the limits and privileges of this new, fictitious identity. She buys maternity clothes, researches prenatal exercises, and even adopts certain mannerisms of expectant mothers to keep up the illusion.

Themes and Social Commentary:

1. Gender Roles and Expectations: 

Yagi uses Shibata's fake pregnancy to examine how deeply ingrained cultural expectations around womanhood and motherhood dictate women's lives. Her colleagues, who once viewed her as expendable, suddenly treat her with greater care simply because they believe she’s fulfilling a traditional maternal role.

2. Workplace Dynamics: 

The novel critiques Japan’s patriarchal corporate culture. Shibata’s experience is emblematic of how women often receive little respect in male-dominated workplaces, highlighting issues around gender discrimination and the invisible labor women are often expected to perform

3. Isolation and Identity: 

As Shibata continues the charade, the lie isolates her, leaving her in a space between two identities—an expectant mother and a single woman. This duality forces her to question who she is beyond the expectations others place on her, touching on themes of self-perception, autonomy, and the lengths people go to escape societal pressures.

4. Freedom through Reinvention: 

Shibata's fake pregnancy offers her freedom from certain oppressive norms and responsibilities. The act of pretending to be someone else gives her an outlet for the frustrations she feels as a single woman in her thirties, a status that Japanese society can sometimes view with pity or suspicion. Through Shibata’s journey, Yagi probes whether self-worth can be truly independent of societal validation.

Yagi’s prose is spare, precise, and filled with a sharp wit that brings Shibata’s internal struggles and observations to life. The diary format gives readers an intimate look into Shibata’s thoughts, creating a sense of immediacy that enhances both the humor and pathos of her situation. Critics have praised Diary of a Void for its originality and its subversive take on societal issues, often drawing comparisons to novels like Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata for its exploration of identity within strict social norms.

Diary of a Void is a bold and thought-provoking work, reflecting Yagi’s keen observations on societal expectations and the individual cost of conformity. It’s a powerful statement about how women navigate a world that constantly tries to define them, and how they might carve out space for themselves—even if through unconventional means.

Guts by Raina Telgemeier is a heartwarming and deeply relatable graphic memoir that skillfully addresses themes of anxiety, health, and growing up. Like Telgemeier’s other works (Smile and Sisters), Guts is rooted in her own life experiences, making it a sincere and personal story. The book is geared toward middle-grade readers, but its message is universal, resonating with anyone who has faced challenges with mental health or self-esteem.

The plot centers around young Raina as she navigates fifth grade, dealing with stomachaches and an ever-increasing sense of fear and worry. These aren’t just ordinary nerves—Raina begins to experience panic attacks and struggles with anxiety. As the story unfolds, the author explores how these feelings manifest physically, affecting her ability to eat and go about her daily life. With honesty and vulnerability, Telgemeier delves into the emotional complexities of Raina’s situation as she seeks therapy and learns to understand her body’s reactions to stress.

Telgemeier’s artwork is, as always, vibrant and expressive. The illustrations beautifully complement the narrative, especially in portraying Raina’s internal experiences—her anxiety is often depicted with swirling lines, dark shadows, and symbolic imagery that communicate the weight of her emotions. The blend of humor and earnestness in both the art and dialogue makes the story approachable without diminishing its seriousness.

What sets Guts apart is its candid treatment of mental health for young readers. Telgemeier doesn’t shy away from showing the messy, uncomfortable aspects of anxiety, but she also offers hope and practical insights about therapy, self-care, and the importance of talking about one’s feelings. Raina’s journey is one of self-acceptance, and the message that it’s okay to seek help is both powerful and necessary.

Overall, Guts is an essential read for children and adults alike. It’s a sensitive portrayal of how mental health issues can affect someone at a young age, and it offers a compassionate look at how to confront and manage those feelings. Telgemeier’s blend of humor, empathy, and honesty makes this graphic

#bookstagram #mentalhealth #anxiety

"The truth is, no one experiences grief the same way, and we all come out of it differently."

Seventeen-year-old Julie has her future all planned out—move out of her small town with her boyfriend Sam, attend college in the city, spend a summer in Japan. But then Sam dies. And everything changes.
Heartbroken, Julie skips his funeral, throws out his things, and tries everything to forget him and the tragic way he died. But a message Sam left behind in her yearbook forces back memories. Desperate to hear his voice one more time, Julie calls Sam’s cellphone just to listen to his voicemail.

And Sam picks up the phone.

I read it in one of those days when I was not feeling very joyful. I felt like I can't take sorrow anymore. We all want a second chance is it. The novel beautifully navigates the complexities of grief and the ways in which we hold on to memories.

The narrative unfolds with a mix of raw emotion and a touch of nostalgia, as Julie grapples with the unexpected discovery that reopens wounds she thought were healing. Thao's prose is evocative, drawing readers into the characters' experiences and allowing them to feel the weight of their emotions.

The thoughts, the feelings still lingering long after i finished this book. If you have a chance, who you wanna be on phone call with for the last time?

*mini review*

Title: The Baboons Who Went This Way and That: An Inspirational Tale of Courage and Unity

Author: Julia Lancaster

Rating: ★★★☆☆(3/5)

A man with a tree growing out of his head? A woman with children made of wax? A bird that can be milked? With more stories from his original celebration of African folktales, The Girl Who Married A Lion, let Alexander McCall Smith once again take you to a land where the bizarre is everyday and magic is real.

In her captivating children's book, "The Baboons Who Went This Way and That," Julia Lancaster delivers a heartwarming and thought-provoking tale that not only entertains but also imparts valuable life lessons to young readers.

The story follows a group of baboons living in the vast and beautiful African savannah. These baboons, known for their adventurous and curious nature, find themselves at a crossroads when their leader, Old Wise, falls ill. Faced with the uncertainty of selecting a new leader to guide them through life's challenges, the baboons become divided into opposing groups, each advocating for a different approach.

Lancaster masterfully explores the themes of courage, unity, and decision-making through an engaging narrative that keeps young readers on the edge of their seats. The author's descriptive processing all the information make it quite intriguing and the unexpected ending of each story. Despite of the interesting tales i found that some of the stories quite morbid.