Mr. Reaper

by Tatsuya Miyanishi

A hungry wolf searches the forest for a long-awaited meal, when his senses find something. At first he is not certain if his mind is playing tricks on him, but before him is a young piglet resting in a clearing. His wish has come true! He can eat again!

But there is something about this piglet that does not settle well with the wolf. The piglet seems to not be resting, at all. Instead, she appears to be in great pain.
Feeling guilty for wishing to take advantage of a being in need, the wolf takes the piglet into his home. And then begins a long and brave process to prepare for the piglet's future, whether its health turns for the better or worse.

Watching over the two is the story's narrator...Mr Reaper. Finding Mr Reaper is part of the tale, as his eyes lead the cast through many trials and a very unusual ending.

Genres: Picture Books

40 pages, Hardcover

First published April 3, 2012

About the author

His name is often written as 宮西達也 in Japanese, and sometimes as みやにし たつや.

Born in 1956, Tatsuya Miyanishi graduated from the Nihon University College of Art and was a doll artist and graphic designer before becoming a picture-book author. Miyanishi's books have a passionate fan base of all ages that enjoys his range of endearing characters in many genres, from superheroes to dinosaurs, all illustrated with bright colors. He has won the Kodansha Cultural Award for Picture Books, as well as the Kenbuchi Picture Book Grand Prize.

Reviews

[Melle · Rating 3 out of 5]

After Jason and I finished reading this together, I looked at him and asked, "What the crap was that?!"

Seriously, this is a strange little mindfuck of a picture book narrated by Mr. Reaper (Death) about a hungry wolf who tries to save a sick piglet dying in the woods so the wolf can eat the piglet. The ending is even weirder than the story, if that's even possible. (I discounted a star because I would have preferred a darker ending. Still, I appreciate being messed with as a reader.)

All things considered, I think I liked this. I would recommend to people who appreciate Lemony Snickett's The Dark, which sort of has that same ominous feel.

Also, how the what did I even find this book?!

[Emmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not entirely sure what I expected from Miyanishi-san. These books are so dark!

In this story, the reaper tells us that he knows when all living things will die. And he observes a little piglet that is clearly very sick and is dying in the woods. A hungry wolf finds him, decides that he would make better eating if he was healthy, and decides to care for him until he will make a fitting meal.

Here's where it gets dark (as if that wasn't dark enough). The pig knows the wolf's intentions! And in fact, he even tells the wolf that he was really hoping to get better soon so that the wolf would be able to eat him! What?!

The wolf of course, starts to feel bad, he decides to find a flower that will help the pig get better, and just as the reaper predicted, the wolf falls off a cliff and dies. Left unattended, the pig also dies. But, then, on the last page, with really no explanation, they're both perfectly fine. I'm so confused.

Did I enjoy reading this? Not exactly. Did I hate it? No. It was sort of like a fever dream or something. Miyanishi's work is like the proverbial car accident--I just can't look away.

[Nekoian · Rating 3 out of 5]

An okay children's book that deals with teaching about the fact nobody escapes death. Actually not sure it's for children. Artwork is fine.

[Liz Todd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Creepy... just too creepy.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Mr. Miyanishi’s first book to be translated into English. He is a popular children’s book author in Japan. The story is told by a reaper who isn’t seen, but tells of a hungry wolf who finds a small pig when he is out hunting. The wolf is very excited until realizing the pig is ill and he can’t eat sick pigs. So he brings the piglet back and does everything he can to nurse it back to health. The book introduces several questions about actions, what is right and what is not. It’s definitely for older students if one needs to discuss death. The illustrations are cartoon-like, yet also rather close to folk art. They take the time to help tell the story well. It’s such an interesting book about dying and I hope many will become aware of it.

[Jeimy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every once in a while you come upon a picture book that you are just drawn to. You know you possibly will not read it to your children, but there's something about it that just sticks. This is certainly the most bizarre concept I seen in a picture book. I'm still not sure how I feel, but I think I love it.

[N · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not the best translation, pretty awkward. I really like the ominous stark black front flap. Can a book about death really be absent of death?

[Mike Diakuw · Rating 1 out of 5]

Creepy and fails to deal with the core issue of the title character. Nope.