The Beckoning Cat: Based on a Japanese Folktale
This lushly illustrated picture book, based on a Japanese folktale, reveals the story behind the beckoning cat, a good-luck figure found today in many Asian stores and restaurants.A long time ago in a village by the sea, a mud-covered white cat appeared on Yohei's doorstep. Yohei was very poor,...
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This lushly illustrated picture book, based on a Japanese folktale, reveals the story behind the beckoning cat, a good-luck figure found today in many Asian stores and restaurants.A long time ago in a village by the sea, a mud-covered white cat appeared on Yohei's doorstep. Yohei was very poor, but he welcomed the stray and shared his dinner with her before she disappeared. Later, when the Yohei's father grew ill, the boy became desperate-how could he work if he had to stay at home to care for his father? But the little white cat remembered Yohei's generosity and returned, bringing help with a wave of her paw.
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Format: Library
ISBN:
9780823420513 (0823420515)
Publish date: March 1st 2009
Publisher: Holiday House
Pages no: 32
Edition language: English
I loved learning one of the possible origins of maneki-neko. The story of the beckoning cat is similar to many Western folktales where a poor person shows kindness to an animal and is rewarded for it. This makes it a good introduction to Japanese folktales (some of which can be very weird).
Nice. I loved the giant head on that cat. And I'd always wondered what the deal was with those little cat statues. Interestingly, when I started reading the book to her, the PandaBat insisted that I make the protagonist a girl. That's a first.
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