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Wabi Sabi
Wabi Sabi, a little cat in Kyoto, Japan, had never thought much about her name until friends visiting from another land asked her owner what it meant.
At last, the master
Says, "That's hard to explain." And
That is all she says.
This unsatisfying answer sets Wabi Sabi on a journey to uncover the meaning of her name, and on the way discovers what wabi sabi is: a Japanese philosophy of seeing beauty in simplicity, the ordinary, and the imperfect.
Using spare text and haiku, Mark Reibstein weaves an extraordinary story about finding real beauty in unexpected places. Caldecott Medal-winning artist Ed Young complements the lyrical text with breathtaking collages. Together, they illustrate the unique world view that is wabi sabi.
A New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book for 2008!
At last, the master
Says, "That's hard to explain." And
That is all she says.
This unsatisfying answer sets Wabi Sabi on a journey to uncover the meaning of her name, and on the way discovers what wabi sabi is: a Japanese philosophy of seeing beauty in simplicity, the ordinary, and the imperfect.
Using spare text and haiku, Mark Reibstein weaves an extraordinary story about finding real beauty in unexpected places. Caldecott Medal-winning artist Ed Young complements the lyrical text with breathtaking collages. Together, they illustrate the unique world view that is wabi sabi.
A New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book for 2008!
40 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2008
12 people are currently reading
1590 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 351 reviews
January 21, 2009
Excellent introduction to "wabi sabi" and the Taoist and Japanese Zen views of life. The artwork is great, lots of collages, and the story is simple and sweet and touching--and THOUGHTFUL. The haiku element is a nice touch. I'm not sure if young children will really appreciate all of the elements, but I think they would appreciate the story of the cat's journey and the other creatures that she meets, and haiku can be really fun! Besides, children are so "wabi sabi" naturally! ;->
February 28, 2022
Wabi Sabi is a Japanese view of the world and the name of a cat. Set against gorgeous artwork of collages on thick pages that you open from top to bottom and haiku in English and Japanese, Wabi Sabi explores Kyoto, Japan in search of the meaning of her name.
Poetry and plot: 2 stars
Artwork and book structure: 5 stunning stars!
Poetry and plot: 2 stars
Artwork and book structure: 5 stunning stars!
September 8, 2008
Credit author Mark Reibstein with this much. He sure doesn’t shy away from trying to teach kids complex philosophical concepts. Here he is writing his very first picture book and does he select something easy like being the new kid in school or losing your first tooth? No, Reibstein decides to write a book about the ancient Chinese concept of wabi sabi (later adopted by the Japanese), working in thoughts on Taoism, haiku, and even the works of Basho on the sly. Paired alongside the remarkable Ed Young’s artwork, the final product is a quiet, deep, moving story that may require a special audience, and yet has many uses.
One day Wabi Sabi the cat overhears his mistress discussing his name with a pair of visitors. When asked what “wabi sabi” means, the young woman replies, “That’s hard to explain.” Curious, Wabi Sabi sets out to find the true meaning of her name. Each creature she asks explains how difficult a concept it is to explain, and they often end their thoughts with a little haiku (each one describing wabi sabi in some manner). It isn’t until the cat meets a wise monkey and partakes of tea in a plain and beautiful bowl that the phrase begins to take on a real meaning. Wabi sabi is the feeling you get when you find harmony in the imperfect that is beautiful. Stopping at a temple on her way home, Wabi Sabi creates poems in its honor and truly understands her name by the time she meets up with her mistress once again.
The book bears some surface similarities to Jon Muth’s Zen Shorts, though the tone feels a bit different. In both cases, however, you find yourself wondering idly about audience. The idea of a cat searching for the true meaning of its name is something kids will grasp easily. But with the added haiku in the text, the book appears to be aimed at older children. Maybe if a school had a class assignment on haiku this would make for a natural companion piece. Normally when a child has to learn about haiku they are handed a book of poems that are separate from one another. A title like If Not for the Cat by Jack Prelutsky is fun for kids but doesn’t always make plain haiku’s power to set a moment in time apart from the busyness of life. What Wabi Sabi does is to place these haikus within the context of a larger tale. When that happens, the little sayings and moments are set apart. They are shots of quietude in the midst of a busy narrative. As a result, the entire book has a kind of calming effect on the reader. Whether that effect will touch children as often as it touches adults remains to be seen.
I wouldn’t call my relationship to Ed Young’s work a love/hate relationship because I’ve never really hated anything he’s done. I just feel that his art varies to a great and grand degree. When Ed Young created Lon Po Po it was justly given a Caldecott Medal for a title that was inarguably the greatest children’s art of that given year. Lon Po Po was a triumph. Since then Mr. Young has done personal tales like My Mei Mei and grand sweeping visions with eclectic techniques as in Beyond the Great Mountains. These are all fine and good but few have them have really touched me in any way. Really, I haven't found an Ed Young book I really liked since I, Doko. Wabi Sabi, however, grabbed my attention. It could have been another run-of-the-mill book, but there’s something extra here. Something special. Maybe it’s wrapped up in the story of these illustrations’ creation.
Here is the true story behind the pictures you will see in Wabi Sabi. When Mr. Young was asked to create the art for Reibstein’s book he produced a series of beautifully simple images. When the pictures were done he went to visit his editor (or was it his agent?) and left the images on the front porch of the home. When he went outside again to retrieve them, they were gone. Poof! “It was a wabi sabi moment,” says Mr. Young. And rather than bemoan his fate, curse the heavens above, and fall into a funk, Young resolved to make the pictures again, “and make them better.” The result is what you hold in your hand now. Rather than use the same style (and this really was a case of starting over from scratch), Young went in a new direction. They’ll call this artistic style mixed media and I guess that they aren’t wrong, but there’s something about Young’s combinations here that gets at the heart of the story better than any random smattering of pulp on paper could. The epilogue to this tale is that six months or so after the disappearance of the art, it reappeared anonymously at a local church and was returned to Young’s possession. And if you do a side-by-side comparison of Young’s first try and subsequent re-illustration one thing is patently clear. The new images are better than the originals. Just as Ed Young said they would be.
To talk a little more about the art, can I confess to you that I’m not actually a fan of collage? I’m not. I have nothing against pasting random bits and pieces together in the hopes of creating something new and different, but it’s not my favorite style in the whole wide world. And so the single most impressive and interesting image in this book is not, to my mind, the cat or the creatures he encounters but in fact the photograph that lurks behind the publication information at the end of the book. It’s a shot taken in low lighting of what appears to be a stone garden. The sand is even, possibly after a recent rain, but breaking it up natural as you please is a set of small and precise cat footprints. The combination of perfect smooth surface and the playful remains of kitty feet is what this book is all about. The perfection of imperfection.
It is not an easy book to describe. I keep trying to give you some vast sense of the whole, and instead I keep finding myself returning to descriptions of single moments. How could I review this book without mentioning the image of Wabi Sabi staring out over a busy city at dusk? Young perfectly captures in a visual sense the accompanying haiku’s description of the darkening city, “before the shock of new light”, that will come with electricity. I was particularly intrigued to find that though I started the book by imagining that it took place in the past (Wabi Sabi’s mistress wears a kimono), the shot of the city places it squarely in the present. This is not a jarring realization, however, and few will have any problems with it.
If people dohave any difficulties with the book, it may lie in the design. Wabi Sabi is a vertical book. To read it, you must turn it so that the pages move from down to up rather than from right to left. Some people find such books too difficult to read to children though, if Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens is any indication, this is something adults object to. Not children.
If you find the song Simple Gifts running through your head, do not be surprised. Heck, you could even pair this book with Chris Raschka’s picture book Simple Gifts for a cat-related, simplicity-centric storytime. Concept books are hard enough when you’re trying to teach a kid why sharing is bad or why homemade things have more meaning than store bought. Trying to teach kids about why the simple and plain are also beautiful is a task few would willingly select. Reibstein and Young, however, have hit upon the one way it can be done. I suspect that the world will recognize their achievement accordingly. Highly recommended.
Ages 7 and up.
One day Wabi Sabi the cat overhears his mistress discussing his name with a pair of visitors. When asked what “wabi sabi” means, the young woman replies, “That’s hard to explain.” Curious, Wabi Sabi sets out to find the true meaning of her name. Each creature she asks explains how difficult a concept it is to explain, and they often end their thoughts with a little haiku (each one describing wabi sabi in some manner). It isn’t until the cat meets a wise monkey and partakes of tea in a plain and beautiful bowl that the phrase begins to take on a real meaning. Wabi sabi is the feeling you get when you find harmony in the imperfect that is beautiful. Stopping at a temple on her way home, Wabi Sabi creates poems in its honor and truly understands her name by the time she meets up with her mistress once again.
The book bears some surface similarities to Jon Muth’s Zen Shorts, though the tone feels a bit different. In both cases, however, you find yourself wondering idly about audience. The idea of a cat searching for the true meaning of its name is something kids will grasp easily. But with the added haiku in the text, the book appears to be aimed at older children. Maybe if a school had a class assignment on haiku this would make for a natural companion piece. Normally when a child has to learn about haiku they are handed a book of poems that are separate from one another. A title like If Not for the Cat by Jack Prelutsky is fun for kids but doesn’t always make plain haiku’s power to set a moment in time apart from the busyness of life. What Wabi Sabi does is to place these haikus within the context of a larger tale. When that happens, the little sayings and moments are set apart. They are shots of quietude in the midst of a busy narrative. As a result, the entire book has a kind of calming effect on the reader. Whether that effect will touch children as often as it touches adults remains to be seen.
I wouldn’t call my relationship to Ed Young’s work a love/hate relationship because I’ve never really hated anything he’s done. I just feel that his art varies to a great and grand degree. When Ed Young created Lon Po Po it was justly given a Caldecott Medal for a title that was inarguably the greatest children’s art of that given year. Lon Po Po was a triumph. Since then Mr. Young has done personal tales like My Mei Mei and grand sweeping visions with eclectic techniques as in Beyond the Great Mountains. These are all fine and good but few have them have really touched me in any way. Really, I haven't found an Ed Young book I really liked since I, Doko. Wabi Sabi, however, grabbed my attention. It could have been another run-of-the-mill book, but there’s something extra here. Something special. Maybe it’s wrapped up in the story of these illustrations’ creation.
Here is the true story behind the pictures you will see in Wabi Sabi. When Mr. Young was asked to create the art for Reibstein’s book he produced a series of beautifully simple images. When the pictures were done he went to visit his editor (or was it his agent?) and left the images on the front porch of the home. When he went outside again to retrieve them, they were gone. Poof! “It was a wabi sabi moment,” says Mr. Young. And rather than bemoan his fate, curse the heavens above, and fall into a funk, Young resolved to make the pictures again, “and make them better.” The result is what you hold in your hand now. Rather than use the same style (and this really was a case of starting over from scratch), Young went in a new direction. They’ll call this artistic style mixed media and I guess that they aren’t wrong, but there’s something about Young’s combinations here that gets at the heart of the story better than any random smattering of pulp on paper could. The epilogue to this tale is that six months or so after the disappearance of the art, it reappeared anonymously at a local church and was returned to Young’s possession. And if you do a side-by-side comparison of Young’s first try and subsequent re-illustration one thing is patently clear. The new images are better than the originals. Just as Ed Young said they would be.
To talk a little more about the art, can I confess to you that I’m not actually a fan of collage? I’m not. I have nothing against pasting random bits and pieces together in the hopes of creating something new and different, but it’s not my favorite style in the whole wide world. And so the single most impressive and interesting image in this book is not, to my mind, the cat or the creatures he encounters but in fact the photograph that lurks behind the publication information at the end of the book. It’s a shot taken in low lighting of what appears to be a stone garden. The sand is even, possibly after a recent rain, but breaking it up natural as you please is a set of small and precise cat footprints. The combination of perfect smooth surface and the playful remains of kitty feet is what this book is all about. The perfection of imperfection.
It is not an easy book to describe. I keep trying to give you some vast sense of the whole, and instead I keep finding myself returning to descriptions of single moments. How could I review this book without mentioning the image of Wabi Sabi staring out over a busy city at dusk? Young perfectly captures in a visual sense the accompanying haiku’s description of the darkening city, “before the shock of new light”, that will come with electricity. I was particularly intrigued to find that though I started the book by imagining that it took place in the past (Wabi Sabi’s mistress wears a kimono), the shot of the city places it squarely in the present. This is not a jarring realization, however, and few will have any problems with it.
If people dohave any difficulties with the book, it may lie in the design. Wabi Sabi is a vertical book. To read it, you must turn it so that the pages move from down to up rather than from right to left. Some people find such books too difficult to read to children though, if Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens is any indication, this is something adults object to. Not children.
If you find the song Simple Gifts running through your head, do not be surprised. Heck, you could even pair this book with Chris Raschka’s picture book Simple Gifts for a cat-related, simplicity-centric storytime. Concept books are hard enough when you’re trying to teach a kid why sharing is bad or why homemade things have more meaning than store bought. Trying to teach kids about why the simple and plain are also beautiful is a task few would willingly select. Reibstein and Young, however, have hit upon the one way it can be done. I suspect that the world will recognize their achievement accordingly. Highly recommended.
Ages 7 and up.
May 29, 2009
This book is simply spectacular. I’m in danger of using hyperbole here. It really blew me away.
It’s one of those books that are ostensibly for children but that can be enjoyed at least as much by adults.
It starts uniquely because the binding is not on the left side, as it is in most English language books, but at the top.
The collages that make up the illustrations are gorgeous and interesting; they’re really special. I particularly loved the page with the leaves.
The story is interspersed with many Haiku poems that appear throughout the book and are a part of the story too. Just a couple of pages into the tale completely hooked me when it showed, along with Wabi Sabi, a cat named Snowball. The juxtaposition of these two got a big guffaw out of me, especially given the reader has already been educated in the meaning of wabi sabi.
There’s much educational material provided: the meaning and history of wabi sabi, which is a lovely philosophy, what Haiku poems are (actually the only poem that I felt didn’t fit with the story very well is apparently the most famous Haiku poem ever written and I assume that’s why it was included) and there’s more Haiku in English at the end, translated from Haiku shown in Japanese characters that also appeared on many pages of the story.
The end result here is just lovely.
It’s one of those books that are ostensibly for children but that can be enjoyed at least as much by adults.
It starts uniquely because the binding is not on the left side, as it is in most English language books, but at the top.
The collages that make up the illustrations are gorgeous and interesting; they’re really special. I particularly loved the page with the leaves.
The story is interspersed with many Haiku poems that appear throughout the book and are a part of the story too. Just a couple of pages into the tale completely hooked me when it showed, along with Wabi Sabi, a cat named Snowball. The juxtaposition of these two got a big guffaw out of me, especially given the reader has already been educated in the meaning of wabi sabi.
There’s much educational material provided: the meaning and history of wabi sabi, which is a lovely philosophy, what Haiku poems are (actually the only poem that I felt didn’t fit with the story very well is apparently the most famous Haiku poem ever written and I assume that’s why it was included) and there’s more Haiku in English at the end, translated from Haiku shown in Japanese characters that also appeared on many pages of the story.
The end result here is just lovely.
July 20, 2021
The pale moon resting
on foggy water. Hear that
splash? A frog’s jumped in.
*
A warm, heavy bowl
comfortable as an old friend—
not fine, smooth china.
...wabi sabi began to shape Japanese culture when the Zen priest Murata Shukō of Nara (1423-1502) changed the tea ceremony. He discarded the fancy gold, jade and porcelain of the popular Chinese tea service, and introduced simple, rough, wooden and clay instruments. About a hundred years later, the famous tea master Sen no Rikyū of Kyoto (1522-1591) brought wabi-sabi into the homes of the powerful. He constructed a tea house with a door so low that even the emperor would have to bow in order to enter, reminding everyone of the importance of humility before tradition mystery and spirit.
a traveler
I may be called:
the first winter drizzle
—Bashō
July 19, 2021
* Later on my blog.
February 12, 2011
Read about this in the New York Times: children's book based on a Japanese philosophical aesthetic with pictures created from hand-made paper collages, and it stars a cat. I gave it as a gift to a friend who is obsessed with A) paper making, B) Japanese art and C) cats. So it was a pretty good gift.
The artwork is beautiful and the story lyrical and unusual. But I don't know how much a kid would actually get out of (or into) it -- wabi-sabi (侘寂) represents a comprehensive Japanese world view or aesthetic centered on the acceptance of transience. The aesthetic is sometimes described as one of beauty that is "imperfect, impermanent and incomplete" (WIKIPEDIA'D!). That is almost as exciting as Spongebob, but not quite.
It seems more like a book made for, well, adults who are obsessed with A) paper making, B) Japanese art and C) cats.
The artwork is beautiful and the story lyrical and unusual. But I don't know how much a kid would actually get out of (or into) it -- wabi-sabi (侘寂) represents a comprehensive Japanese world view or aesthetic centered on the acceptance of transience. The aesthetic is sometimes described as one of beauty that is "imperfect, impermanent and incomplete" (WIKIPEDIA'D!). That is almost as exciting as Spongebob, but not quite.
It seems more like a book made for, well, adults who are obsessed with A) paper making, B) Japanese art and C) cats.
August 22, 2021
Cute book
November 29, 2025
Amazing is really the only word for it, so I have to give it five stars. Lovely art, fun story, delightful haiku (some in English; others in Japanese)... which do I enjoy most? Actually, I enjoy the 'philosophy' of wabi sabi, itself, most. I really appreciate the author's extensive notes, too.
"Even in cities,
before the shock of new light -
the colors of dusk."
---
Reread for the Poetry folder, initiated April 2023 in the Children's Books Group.
Five stars it is. Because it is a gorgeously written and illustrated fable for Everyone, of All Ages.
Of course we all know Ed Young's works, so many are so wonderful. The team also created Yugen so I will have to find that.
---
Reread at the library in Tucumcari New Mexico. Who'd'a thunk? Loved it all over again.
For older readers I highly recommend reading Wabi-Sabi: for Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers next. Short, but but also both poetic, thorough, and illustrated.
"Even in cities,
before the shock of new light -
the colors of dusk."
---
Reread for the Poetry folder, initiated April 2023 in the Children's Books Group.
Five stars it is. Because it is a gorgeously written and illustrated fable for Everyone, of All Ages.
Of course we all know Ed Young's works, so many are so wonderful. The team also created Yugen so I will have to find that.
---
Reread at the library in Tucumcari New Mexico. Who'd'a thunk? Loved it all over again.
For older readers I highly recommend reading Wabi-Sabi: for Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers next. Short, but but also both poetic, thorough, and illustrated.
October 30, 2018
Beautiful collaged images and a good introduction to haiku form and the concept of wabi sabi. This book could be easily enjoyed by children across a wide age range and by adults. The images take the reader along the journey with the character and complement the haiku.
November 3, 2018
A book that I immediately wanted my own copy of, Wabi Sabi, written by Young of whose Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China I have long been a fan. It tells the story of an inquisitive cat who wishes to seek out the meaning of her name (which is the title). Presented in a highly unusual format with a nod to its Japanese origins, the book is presented so that we read from top to bottom rather than left to right and is to be read more in a traditional Japanese format than a conventional picturebook. Throughout her journey, Wabi Sabi encounters different creatures who tell her that explaining the concept of her name is a challenge and "is hard to explain," yet with each meeting the cat (or the reader) is blessed with a haiku that slowly reveals the essence behind its philosophy.
From a narrative point of view the book's structure is also a welcome challenge and change. Firstly, there is the narrative prose of the third person limited narrator who follows Wabi Sabi and tells us of her encounters; then each page's narrative is closed with a haiku, written in English, that invites the reader to glimpse the truth and beauty of each encounter. Fnally there is a Japanese haiku on each page which was written by Basho and Shiki (of which there are translations at the end).
The pictures themselves are beautiful collages. As Wabi Sabi looks out to us on the front page, inviting us into the story, the pages become rich in celebrating aspects of Japan from its busy cities to its peaceable bamboo gardens, all of which are presented using a range of mixed materials that reminded me so much of Jeannie Baker's work but a little more inviting and intimate.
To find beauty in something that is simple is a wonderful concept to share with any person. Wabi Sabi invites us to ponder on this meaning and, perhaps, begin to reflect on the idea that beauty can be everywhere, what is difficult is learning how to see it. Much like The Alchemist, it is only when our cat returns home that she finally grasps its meaning. To think that children would need to do the same would be doing them a disservice for this book is as simple as it is complex and with each re-reading and return, as the reader grows, new meaning will come from its pages. It deserves to be a classic.
From a narrative point of view the book's structure is also a welcome challenge and change. Firstly, there is the narrative prose of the third person limited narrator who follows Wabi Sabi and tells us of her encounters; then each page's narrative is closed with a haiku, written in English, that invites the reader to glimpse the truth and beauty of each encounter. Fnally there is a Japanese haiku on each page which was written by Basho and Shiki (of which there are translations at the end).
The pictures themselves are beautiful collages. As Wabi Sabi looks out to us on the front page, inviting us into the story, the pages become rich in celebrating aspects of Japan from its busy cities to its peaceable bamboo gardens, all of which are presented using a range of mixed materials that reminded me so much of Jeannie Baker's work but a little more inviting and intimate.
To find beauty in something that is simple is a wonderful concept to share with any person. Wabi Sabi invites us to ponder on this meaning and, perhaps, begin to reflect on the idea that beauty can be everywhere, what is difficult is learning how to see it. Much like The Alchemist, it is only when our cat returns home that she finally grasps its meaning. To think that children would need to do the same would be doing them a disservice for this book is as simple as it is complex and with each re-reading and return, as the reader grows, new meaning will come from its pages. It deserves to be a classic.
March 1, 2019
A little cat named after a complex cultural phenomenon is curious about her name and visits people and places that teach her about the concept. Haiku in English and Japanese deepen our appreciation. Simplicity, natural feelings, the splash of a frog, the making of tea and a range of places are met and assimilated into the cat’s understanding. Collage and brush painting set up some great images, and the book requires some thoughtful turning and careful inspecting to really appreciate the story and illustrations, perhaps the most arresting for me being the cat looking at her reflection in a tea bowl.
Altogether a lovely book - but four rather than five stars for me because, although the haiku are wonderful, classics in their own right, the rhythm of the narrative- the cat visits this person, then that - just does seem a little heavy handed.
But it will be something I give for birthdays this year, for adults as well as children.
Altogether a lovely book - but four rather than five stars for me because, although the haiku are wonderful, classics in their own right, the rhythm of the narrative- the cat visits this person, then that - just does seem a little heavy handed.
But it will be something I give for birthdays this year, for adults as well as children.
January 18, 2018
Wonderful mixed-media illustrations and a gentle and pensive storyline that will provoke thought and discussion. There is beauty in the plain, simple and natural things around us. There is also a simple lesson in Japanese culture and haiku. The only complaint I had was the referring of the cat's caretaker as her "master."
February 16, 2020
Wabi Sabi, a little cat living just outside Kyoto, sets out to discover the meaning of her name - something that everyone seems to find "hard to explain" - in this gorgeous picture-book. When Snowball the cat and Rascal the dog have no answers for her, our feline heroine sets off for Mt. Hiei, to see the wise old monkey Kosho. It is here, holding Kosho's simple tea-cup, gazing at the woods around, and coming upon Ginkakuji - the "Silver Temple" - that she finally understands: Wabi Sabi is the feeling that beauty is to be found in the simple, the small, and the imperfect...
A thoughtful, contemplative narrative, incorporating haiku poetry with prose, Wabi Sabi is also a visually arresting book, with stunning collage-art by Ed Young, who won a Caldecott Medal for his work on Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China . I know very little of the art form of haiku, and had never before encountered the term Wabi Sabi, but this idea of the beauty to be found in imperfection is one I have often pondered, and I was reminded of the poetry of William Carlos Williams while reading this. It somehow seems appropriate that my introduction to Wabi Sabi came in a book meant for children - those "small" people amongst us. Thank you, Chandra, for recommending this one!
A thoughtful, contemplative narrative, incorporating haiku poetry with prose, Wabi Sabi is also a visually arresting book, with stunning collage-art by Ed Young, who won a Caldecott Medal for his work on Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China . I know very little of the art form of haiku, and had never before encountered the term Wabi Sabi, but this idea of the beauty to be found in imperfection is one I have often pondered, and I was reminded of the poetry of William Carlos Williams while reading this. It somehow seems appropriate that my introduction to Wabi Sabi came in a book meant for children - those "small" people amongst us. Thank you, Chandra, for recommending this one!
December 1, 2022
What's in a name? Wabi Sabi, a Japanese cat, journeys from Kyoto into nature gathering interactions and self reflection relatable to all who have wondered about identity and meaning. The use of collage art and haiku throughout the book encouraged me to pause and go deeper.
September 23, 2010
Ok, I loved it, but how many kids are going to understand the concept of wabi sabi presented here? This seems to me to be one of those books written by adults who don't have kids in mind. Having said that, I loved, as always, Ed Young's illustrations, collage/papercuttings made with natural materials. The definition of wabi sabi, given on the title page, says it "finds beauty and harmony in what is simple, imperfect, natural, modest, and mysterious. It can be a little dark, but it is also warm and comfortable." What a great description of the qualities of a cat! Mark Reibstein picked the perfect symbol of wabi sabi. I also enjoyed the haiku on each 2-page spread, and the translation of the haiku by Basho and Shiki at the back of the book, as well as the brief history of the concept of wabi sabi. I had no idea it went back to the 15th century! I thought it was a relatively recent movement. A beautifully put-together book, and definitely one that I will order for my personal collection.
August 1, 2008
For a book whose intent is to introduce a highly unexplainable Zen/Tao concept, a way of life and looking at the simple things to see their beauty in life, this one actually succeeds quite nicely. Ed Young's stunning paper and object collages definitely capture and enrich the telling of the "tale." The unusual way of opening the book (flipping pages "upward" rather than "left-ward" -- it's hard to explain!) also adds to the texture of the reading experience. The only slight complaint I have is the inclusion of haikus merely AS DECORATIONS by Japanese poets on each spread. It might not bother others, but since I can recognize the Chinese characters and know that those are NOT the translations to Reibstein's own (maybe slightly less successful) haikus for each scene, it created a confusion and a distraction. This is when I think, "more is less."
October 27, 2015
Gorgeous illustrations prop up an ordinary plot about a cat on a quest for information about himself, namely what his name means. I'm not sure I completely got what Wabi Sabi is, it came across to me as kind of a cross between the concept of simplicity, the appreciation of rustic and a little of being at home with the ordinary. The closest thing I can think that we have in my culture is the concept of country in decorating, that rustic, down-home, appreciation of the worn and used. One of the better parts of the book was the usage of haiku throughout by the characters the little kitten meets. Many of the haiku in the book were written by famous Japanese poets and there was an explanation about this in the back which I found more interesting than the book itself.
January 20, 2009
By any definition, this book is a work of art. The question is: should the Caldecott Medal, which honors the artist of the most distinguished picture book for children, be given to a work of art, one that appeals not just to children, but to all ages and on many different levels? I say yes.
Awards should expand the definition of excellence in a picture book, as The Invention of Hugo Cabret did in 2008. Excellence can embrace both the traditional and the unique in format, artistic technique and subject matter and thus expand the picture book audience to children of all interests and all ages.
Wabi Sabi is a total art experience that immerses the reader in Japanese culture, from the top-to-bottom presentation, that suggests a traditional scroll painting, to the subject of most of the illustrations as well as the haiku, animals and plants in natural settings. We also learn from the back matter that the text structure of the book, short prose passages which set up the haiku, is also traditional.
And while there is a story, this is not a picture storybook driven by a simple plot or childlike characters or a familiar setting, although these literary elements are all present in support of the theme: There is beauty in simplicity.
I love that wabi sabi is a real concept and has a real history, a history that Wabi Sabi, the book, shares in its simple and beautiful text:
Yellow bamboo stalks
bow by teahouse doors so low
emperors must kneel
For students, there is much to ponder and questions to answer through research, for example who were Basho and Shiki? They may also want to practice writing haiku, which seem simple to write, but are not, or to try making their own paper and then using it to illustrate their own favorite stories in collage.
I only wonder about the front end papers…and the potential beauty in my next cup of coffee.
Awards should expand the definition of excellence in a picture book, as The Invention of Hugo Cabret did in 2008. Excellence can embrace both the traditional and the unique in format, artistic technique and subject matter and thus expand the picture book audience to children of all interests and all ages.
Wabi Sabi is a total art experience that immerses the reader in Japanese culture, from the top-to-bottom presentation, that suggests a traditional scroll painting, to the subject of most of the illustrations as well as the haiku, animals and plants in natural settings. We also learn from the back matter that the text structure of the book, short prose passages which set up the haiku, is also traditional.
And while there is a story, this is not a picture storybook driven by a simple plot or childlike characters or a familiar setting, although these literary elements are all present in support of the theme: There is beauty in simplicity.
I love that wabi sabi is a real concept and has a real history, a history that Wabi Sabi, the book, shares in its simple and beautiful text:
Yellow bamboo stalks
bow by teahouse doors so low
emperors must kneel
For students, there is much to ponder and questions to answer through research, for example who were Basho and Shiki? They may also want to practice writing haiku, which seem simple to write, but are not, or to try making their own paper and then using it to illustrate their own favorite stories in collage.
I only wonder about the front end papers…and the potential beauty in my next cup of coffee.
January 25, 2009
Wabi Sabi provides a visual, artistic and cultural experience for readers of all ages. It is a book that can be read over and over only to discover new details, appreciate more beauty and ascertain more information. The significant cultural theme is developed brilliantly through the illustrations and the text. It is clearly a distinguished children’s picture book and should be considered for the Caldecott Medal.
Ed Young’s mixed-media artwork is breath-taking. His collages, made from natural materials, provide so much contrast and texture that I find myself touching the page expecting a bumpy and jagged tactile experience. His individually distinct work is undoubtedly marked by eminence and excellence in quality.
Wabi Sabi immerses children into a multi-sensory experience. One’s visual sense is roused by the bold and layered scenery. The images emphasize nature and enlighten the reader to its importance in the Japanese culture. Readers hear the frog jumping in the water and the drops falling from the leaves. The warm tea is tasted and soothes the reader through the remainder of the text. The overall mood of the book is calm, simple and beautiful.
This exceptional work of art and children’s literature can be used in countless ways in the classroom. It clearly lends itself to reading and writing Haiku. Older students may learn about Haiku using Haibun form. In addition, Wabi Sabi contains many pieces of factual information about the Japanese culture that may be researched. For example, students may choose to study Basho and Shiki or further research Japanese tea ceremonies. Art teachers could study Ed Young’s techniques and use the information to instruct students. These are just a tiny sample of the myriad of ways in which Wabi Sabi may be used to enlighten students about art, the Japanese culture and children’s literature.
Ed Young’s mixed-media artwork is breath-taking. His collages, made from natural materials, provide so much contrast and texture that I find myself touching the page expecting a bumpy and jagged tactile experience. His individually distinct work is undoubtedly marked by eminence and excellence in quality.
Wabi Sabi immerses children into a multi-sensory experience. One’s visual sense is roused by the bold and layered scenery. The images emphasize nature and enlighten the reader to its importance in the Japanese culture. Readers hear the frog jumping in the water and the drops falling from the leaves. The warm tea is tasted and soothes the reader through the remainder of the text. The overall mood of the book is calm, simple and beautiful.
This exceptional work of art and children’s literature can be used in countless ways in the classroom. It clearly lends itself to reading and writing Haiku. Older students may learn about Haiku using Haibun form. In addition, Wabi Sabi contains many pieces of factual information about the Japanese culture that may be researched. For example, students may choose to study Basho and Shiki or further research Japanese tea ceremonies. Art teachers could study Ed Young’s techniques and use the information to instruct students. These are just a tiny sample of the myriad of ways in which Wabi Sabi may be used to enlighten students about art, the Japanese culture and children’s literature.
April 25, 2009
There is a lot packed into this picture book! It is a bilingual book with Haiku poems in English and Japanese characters. It is based on a buddhist principle of simple beauty that has become a Japanese cultural expression. It is written both with narrative and related haiku poems. And it is illustrated in nature-based, highly textured collages that open from top to bottom instead of left to right..
The story follows a cat named Wabi Sabi as he investigates what the concept of Wabi Sabi means. The term is never directly defined but a imagery laden definition is hinted at and provides a lot of room for discussion with students.
In the back of the book, there is a description of the history of Wabi Sabi, the history of Haiku and Haibun, ans a pronunciation guide as well as a translation of the haikus that are written in Japanese.
The story follows a cat named Wabi Sabi as he investigates what the concept of Wabi Sabi means. The term is never directly defined but a imagery laden definition is hinted at and provides a lot of room for discussion with students.
In the back of the book, there is a description of the history of Wabi Sabi, the history of Haiku and Haibun, ans a pronunciation guide as well as a translation of the haikus that are written in Japanese.
February 9, 2009
If I was a thoughtful, philosophical, organic shopping, tree hugging grownup without a small child, I'd buy this.
If I was a cat obsessive who collects everything cat, I'd buy this.
If I was a "hip", "with it" children's librarian who appreciates the depths of this book, the fact that it's gorgeously illustrated by Caledecott winning artist Ed Young, and nothing else, I'd buy it.
But I'm a grumpy, aging mother of 2 who gardens organically but can't afford to shop at Whole Foods,I'm the owner of cats and above all I'm a hopelessly UNHIP children's librarian.
So because the little dears at my library would get about as much from this book as they would from the Oxford Unabridged Dictionary, I'll spend my money elsewhere.
If I was a cat obsessive who collects everything cat, I'd buy this.
If I was a "hip", "with it" children's librarian who appreciates the depths of this book, the fact that it's gorgeously illustrated by Caledecott winning artist Ed Young, and nothing else, I'd buy it.
But I'm a grumpy, aging mother of 2 who gardens organically but can't afford to shop at Whole Foods,I'm the owner of cats and above all I'm a hopelessly UNHIP children's librarian.
So because the little dears at my library would get about as much from this book as they would from the Oxford Unabridged Dictionary, I'll spend my money elsewhere.
April 19, 2018
This book best fits the genre of poetry. The book is filled with haikus. Each page has at least two poems, one an English haiku, and the other a Japanese haiku written in characters. When Wabi Sabi visits the "Silver Temple," she writes three haikus of her own. The haikus coincide with the different points in the story. This book is appropriate for all ages, especially grades K-5.
I really loved this book because it was different from most other children's picture books. For example, the book's binding is at the top instead of on the left so the way it is read is very unique. Also, the illustrations are beautiful, detailed, yet simplistic collages; two-dimensional images seem to have texture so real you can almost touch it. This book was a beautiful work of art from the words to the pictures. It gives readers a little taste of Japanese culture.
After reading this book as a read-aloud, teachers could ask their students to create their own haikus and a visual representation in the form of a collage to go with it. Haikus can be more challenging for very young students to write, so this project would be suited for grades 3-5. Teachers in grades K-2 could practice decerning syllables as a class by clapping out the syllables together as everyone echo reads.
I really loved this book because it was different from most other children's picture books. For example, the book's binding is at the top instead of on the left so the way it is read is very unique. Also, the illustrations are beautiful, detailed, yet simplistic collages; two-dimensional images seem to have texture so real you can almost touch it. This book was a beautiful work of art from the words to the pictures. It gives readers a little taste of Japanese culture.
After reading this book as a read-aloud, teachers could ask their students to create their own haikus and a visual representation in the form of a collage to go with it. Haikus can be more challenging for very young students to write, so this project would be suited for grades 3-5. Teachers in grades K-2 could practice decerning syllables as a class by clapping out the syllables together as everyone echo reads.
December 17, 2024
What an amazing book! It's large, like a coffee table book, and tells the story of Wabi Sabi, a cat who lives in Kyoto and wants to know what her name means. This curiosity leads her on an adventure to find out. In the process, she learns even more than what she expected.
This book is laid out differently from most. What would normally be the left side of the book is the top, and what would be the right side is the bottom, so that when the reader opens it up, Ed Young's gorgeous collages are revealed in all their glory. I really cannot say enough about how gorgeous these collages are. Mark Reibstein's text is added slowly, along with a haiku on most pages. As the story quite literally unfolds, Wabi Sabi finds out the value and depth of simplicity.
At the end are a number of haiku written by the haiku master Basho. Those who know me know that I famously dislike haiku, but it is actually "fauxku" that I dislike. I enjoy genuine haiku.
Although i have categorized this book as being a children's book, it is well worth the read for anyone of any age. I love this book!
This book is laid out differently from most. What would normally be the left side of the book is the top, and what would be the right side is the bottom, so that when the reader opens it up, Ed Young's gorgeous collages are revealed in all their glory. I really cannot say enough about how gorgeous these collages are. Mark Reibstein's text is added slowly, along with a haiku on most pages. As the story quite literally unfolds, Wabi Sabi finds out the value and depth of simplicity.
At the end are a number of haiku written by the haiku master Basho. Those who know me know that I famously dislike haiku, but it is actually "fauxku" that I dislike. I enjoy genuine haiku.
Although i have categorized this book as being a children's book, it is well worth the read for anyone of any age. I love this book!
March 17, 2025
I’m aiming to read one children’s book per month this year, but I missed last month, so I’m making up for it with two this month 🙂↔️
Today, I read Wabi Sabi, and WOAH, the illustrations really stood out. A unique, textured look because they were created using collage techniques, likely incorporating recycled or handmade materials like torn paper, fabric, and natural textures ♻️ That’s probably why they feel so rich and layered 🥳
It was a short read, but I really enjoyed the haiku at the end—I even took a photo of it. Loved it!
#arieariereads #wabisabibook
Today, I read Wabi Sabi, and WOAH, the illustrations really stood out. A unique, textured look because they were created using collage techniques, likely incorporating recycled or handmade materials like torn paper, fabric, and natural textures ♻️ That’s probably why they feel so rich and layered 🥳
It was a short read, but I really enjoyed the haiku at the end—I even took a photo of it. Loved it!
#arieariereads #wabisabibook
June 6, 2023
An exquisite picture book about a cat named Wabi Sabi who goes on a quest to discover the meaning of her name. With translated haiku by Basho and Shiki and Young's glorious illustrations, this is a timeless picture book classic for all ages. A must-include book for units on poetry and Japanese culture.
March 12, 2022
A beautifully illustrated book of haikus that both introduces the form to young readers, but also the concepts of Zen Buddhism. Clever and insightful. Like cats themselves, this tale takes a special and subtle perspective to understand the nuances.
March 28, 2024
I gave this book 5 stars because it was so unique. Very well done and creative! Everything from the cover, the crafty illustrations, haiku & spare text, even opening the book was uniquely done. What a fun book! I wish more authors and illustrators would take far more artistic liberties with children's books like this. My kids insisted on touching each page because they were certain they'd be able to feel the pictures.
The story was engaging, as well, with spare text, haiku, and even extra Japanese haiku on each page spread.
What a fun book!
The story was engaging, as well, with spare text, haiku, and even extra Japanese haiku on each page spread.
What a fun book!
April 1, 2017
A valuable reminder to find beauty in everything.
Woody Hayday
Woody Hayday
May 2, 2019
Just a spectacular picture book! Ed Young's art is beyond beautiful, and the story of Wabi Sabi the cat is a lovely life lesson from Japan.
February 1, 2022
I recently reviewed Wabi Sabi: Japanese Wisdom for a Perfectly Imperfect Life, by Beth Kempton (see here https://wordsandpeace.com/2022/01/23/...), and one of you mentioned this other book on Wabi Sabi.
Thankfully, it was at my awesome public library (it almost has everything I want!)
This is a gorgeous picture book to introduce wabi sabi to children and adults!
Check my short review here:
https://wordsandpeace.com/2022/01/30/...
Thankfully, it was at my awesome public library (it almost has everything I want!)
This is a gorgeous picture book to introduce wabi sabi to children and adults!
Check my short review here:
https://wordsandpeace.com/2022/01/30/...
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