Tokyo Night Parade - by J P Takahashi (Hardcover)

About the Book

"The night parade is about to begin . . . The ground thunders in Tokyo. A gust of wind blows. The pitter patter of paws and claws draws closer. The air is thick with swirling, swooping demons. It's Eka's favorite evening of the year, the one night she refuses to miss. But it's become harder to travel to Japan now that she's living across the world in New York. Unsure of when she can return next to see her yokai friends, Eka tries to forget that this could be her last parade for some time. Instead, she'll march, sing, dance, hoot, and screech until sunrise. Because on this night, there's no time to waste--the night parade awaits."--

Book Synopsis

Spirited Away meets Where the Wild Things Are by way of yokai mythology in this enchanting picture book by debut author J. P. Takahashi and illustrator Minako Tomigahara.

The night parade is about to begin . . . The ground thunders in Tokyo. A gust of wind blows. The pitter-patter of paws and claws draws closer. The air is thick with swirling, swooping demons. It's Eka's favorite evening of the year, the one night she refuses to miss. But it's become harder to travel to Japan now that she's living across the world in New York.

Unsure of when she can return next to see her yokai friends, Eka tries to forget that this could be her last parade for some time. Instead, she'll march, sing, dance, hoot, and screech until sunrise. Because on this night, there's no time to waste--the night parade awaits.

Praise for Tokyo Night Parade:

"This sparkling, Miyazaki-hued story instantly whisked me back to childhood summers in Tokyo." --Kyo Maclear, author of The Big Bath House and Kumo

"An unforgettable story. A remarkable debut that delivers abundantly." --Antwan Eady, author of Nigel and the Moon

Two Starred Reviews * A B&N Best Book of 2023 * School Library Journal Best Book of the Year *

Review Quotes

"A magical ode to the In-Between--to the space between homes, between creaturely and human worlds, between what the heart can hold and what it misses. This sparkling, Miyazaki-hued story instantly whisked me back to childhood summers in Tokyo, to far-out fables and night festivals, reminding me: the supernatural is often the best doorway to the true." - Kyo Maclear, author of The Big Bath House and Kumo
"Tokyo Night Parade will leave readers longing for the worlds we've known and curious about the worlds we've yet to discover. An unforgettable story combines with a gorgeously illustrated world, reminding readers that our most magical moments can exist in the here and now. A remarkable debut that delivers abundantly." - Antwan Eady, author of Nigel and the Moon
"Melodic and mesmerizing and thrilling yet tender, this book is a lush sensory and emotional experience." - Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, critically-acclaimed children's book author
"A glorious night parade through the streets of Tokyo. Offering a glimpse of modern and traditional Japanese culture, this tale will charm a wide audience, including readers unfamiliar with and those enamored of its folklore, fiction, and manga." - School Library Journal (starred review)
"Eka's questions about whether the yokai are good or wicked offer intriguing food for thought--like humans, the yokai contain multitudes. With its beautiful night palette, the artwork glows and brings the text and monsters to life. A beautiful tale of friendship and living in the moment." - Kirkus Reviews
"Jubilant and poignant. Cinematic, atmospheric illustrations...look like the stills of an animated film. This deeply felt and nuanced story leaves much for child readers to ponder." - Shelf Awareness (starred review)
"An enchanting child's-eye view of this night when the worlds of humans and demons overlap. In magnificent, flowing double-page spreads rendered in deep jewel tones, Tomigahara conjures a twilight setting both mistily dreamlike and glowingly joyous, perfectly in harmony with this tale's buoyant celebration of the sweet space shared between two worlds." - Booklist
"In this yokai-studded reimagining of Japanese folklore, a child who has "come home to Tokyo" reunites with fantastical friends on her favorite evening--that of the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons. [A] visually appealing nighttime romp." - Publishers Weekly