Chirri & Chirra, Under the Sea - by Kaya Doi (Hardcover)

About the Book

"On their sixth adventure, Chirri and Chirra bicycle beneath the waves, discovering the beauty of coral and seashells, and the deliciousness of marine edibles"--Publisher marketing.

Book Synopsis

A Wall Street Journal 20 Best Children's Books of the Past 20 Years Selection!

On their sixth adventure, Chirri and Chirra bicycle beneath the waves, discovering the beauty of coral and the deliciousness of marine edibles.

Chirri and Chirra are pedaling along when they find a cave. At the end of the tunnel, they see a light. Oh! They are under the sea! They pedal through a maze of color and pass through an opening in the seaweed, into a scene of seashells of all colors and shapes. Naturally, they come upon sea treats, such as parfait à la conch and marine soda jelly topped with pearl cream. This is the happy, lovely world of Chirri and Chirra, where they stumble on the most wonderful surprises.

Review Quotes

Featured in New York Magazine's 2024 Holiday Gift Guide: Best Books to Gift to Little Kids! "It's simple, and the colored-pencil illustrations are very charming -- the best imaginative treats."--Illustrator Sarah Jacoby "New York Magazine's The Strategist"

• A Wall Street Journal 20 Best Children's Books of the Past 20 Years Selection
• A New York Magazine 2024 Holiday Gift Guide Selection

One of the Wall Street Journal's "20 Best Children's Books of the Past 20 Years: Most Beguiling Picture-Book Series!" "These enchanting books are like a dream of childhood--full of kindness, adventure and eccentric delights."--Meghan Cox Gurdon "The Wall Street Journal"

"Chirri & Chirra is an utterly charming series of children's picture books...low on the angst scale and high on the charm meter. Doi is known for her softly styled drawings on rich creamy paper. She creates the illustrations in these books with colored pencils, pastels, and crayons, crafting them to give an old-world feel, a time of innocence and simplicity. The exquisite art radiates joy and has a dreamy quality to it that reflects how children imagine their ideal world to be. These delightful books are a welcome escape for young children from their anxieties."-- "International Examiner"

"Doi's artwork mesmerizes. The colors are rich and vibrant--the blue provides a particularly effective contrast to the corals, for example--but there's also a softness to the pencil drawings that captures the dreaminess of secret worlds and childhood discoveries. There is delight in even the tiniest of details: fish hold open the curtains at the theatre, a seahorse is dressed with a top hat and scarf, a dessert jelly is topped with pearls. The books are also sized for a child's hands. Long but not tall, they feel proportionate for small hands and ready for close examination... If the aim is to help children see the beauty and the mystery in the natural world, Doi has more than succeeded."--Melanie Ho "Asian Review of Books"

"I love a book that is just so clearly written to access the world inside a child's mind... It's an adventure to nowhere and everywhere and is so visually enchanting."--Comedy writer and bestselling author Bess Kalb "New York Magazine's The Strategist"

"In Chirri & Chirra, Under the Sea, a mysterious cave leads two girls on bicycles into a fantastical world. ­Peddling along with a 'dring dring, ' the bobbed, rosy-cheeked duo find coral mazes, seashell sofas, and an octopus waiter. An enjoyable installment in Kaya Doi's series."-- "World Magazine"

"Kaya Doi has created another wondrous alternative world for her signature characters... Each glowing illustration seems more delectable than the last. It's a glorious outing to a place warmed by courtesy, kindness and the pleasure of being alive."--Meghan Cox Gurdon "The Wall Street Journal"

About the Author

Born in Tokyo, Japan, Kaya Doi graduated with a degree in design from Tokyo Zokei University. She got her start in picture books by attending the Atosaki Juku Workshop, held at a Tokyo bookshop specializing in children's books. Since then she has created many picture books featuring her delicate color-pencil drawings. She lives in Chiba Prefecture and maintains a strong interest in environmental and animal welfare issues. Since the earthquake of 2011 she has been active in recovery and shelter efforts for abandoned pets.

David Boyd holds a master's degree from the University of Tokyo and is currently a Ph.D. candidate at Princeton University. His translations have appeared in Monkey Business International, Granta, and Words Without Borders, among other publications.