Chirri & Chirra, Underground - (Hardcover)

About the Book

In their fourth adventure, Chirri and Chirra discover a network of tunnels behind a hole in their basement wall and visit moles, enter caves full of glowing flowers, poke at the roots of growing plants, traverse a subterranean lake, and spend the night with a family of badgers! Full color.

Book Synopsis

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

Chirri and Chirra go underground in this charming addition to the Chirri & Chirra series.

Behind a hole in their basement wall, Chirri and Chirra discover a network of tunnels. Join them as they visit moles, discover caves full of glowing flowers, poke at the roots of growing plants, traverse a subterranean lake, and spend the night with a family of badgers! The fourth book in the Japanese Chirri & Chirra series, this underground adventure is sure to charm and delight.

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

STARRED REVIEW! ★ "Another delightful adventure with the adorable twins Chirri and Chirra... The gorgeous, fresh colored pencil drawings portray a world of harmony between the girls and the animals. The animals have a fairy-like quality that is very appealing."--Youth Services Book Review

• 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

"A soft, sherbet-hued realm of kindly animals, cozy dens and delicious edible treats awaits in Chirri Chirra, Underground... Like the other Chirri and Chirra books, this one will earn rapturous scrutiny from readers ages 3-8."--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 detailed, velvety illustrations create a vivid and cozy world, something to which fans of the series will already be familiar. The page turns in this horizontally oriented book are compelling, as readers follow along to see where the tunnels will take Chirri and Chirra next. It's another truly delightful book in the series, perfect for young readers."--Julie Danielson, Seven Impossible Things

"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 this Japanese import, the winsome, bike-riding twins from Chirri Chirra in the Tall Grass are back for another gently surreal adventure... The twins are identical, with black pageboys, dot eyes, pudgy, rosy cheeks, and Mona Lisa smiles; their delight in the wonders they encounter is pure, unquestioning, and totally infectious. Another charmer."--Kirkus Reviews

"Sweetly magical and perfectly in tune with children's acceptance of the fantastic. Smudgy colored-pencil illustrations are aglow with light and color, whimsically whisking readers along with the rosy-cheeked twins."--Booklist

"The soft-edged illustrations in colored pencils, pastels, and crayons are filled with details that will have readers wanting to pause and take a closer look."--School Library Journal

"Unique and highly recommended."--The Midwest Book Review

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 teaches translation at Kobe City University of Foreign Studies. He won the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission Prize for the Translation of Japanese Literature in 2018 for Slow Boat by Hideo Furukawa, in 2022 for The Hole by Hiroko Oyamada, and in 2024 for Takaoka's Travels by Tatsuhiko Shibusawa.