手ぶくろを買いに [Tebukuro o kai ni]

by Nankichi Niimi, 新美南吉, 黒井健

Here is a classic story that has charmed Japanese children for generations. Enchanting illustrations illuminate this gentle tale of a mother's tenderness and a child's new discoveries. Written by one of Japan's most beloved authors, it has the timeless quality of a folktale that will speak across cultures.

Genres: Picture Books, Japanese Literature, Japan, Short Stories, Literature, Childrens, Animals

31 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1988

About the author

Niimi was born in Yanabe, in the city of Handa, Aichi prefecture, on July 30, 1913. He lost his mother when he was four years old. His literary skill was noticeable at an early age. During his elementary school graduation ceremony, he presented a haiku that impressed most people at the ceremony.

At age 18, Niimi moved to Tokyo to enter the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies. He fell sick with tuberculosis while in Tokyo shortly after graduating, and returned to his hometown. He worked there, first as an elementary school teacher, then as a women's high school teacher. He died at age 29.

Although not prolific, he shows great talent in all of his writings. His works are known for their accuracy and lively depictions of humans. He is also often compared to Kenji Miyazawa. There is a Niimi Nankichi Memorial Museum in his birthplace, Handa.

Reviews

[Teresa Osgood · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this Japanese picture book for a bit of a challenge, and translated it sporadically over a couple of weeks. It is about a young fox's first snowfall, and how his mother decides to buy him some gloves. Along the way she meets with some old fears, and deals with them in a way that advances the plot, but makes zero sense to this mother's heart. Also, she uses a French word at one point. I didn't figure it out until a couple of pages later. Anyway, there is a happy ending (not guaranteed in Japanese stories), and the illustrations, different than the one shown here, are gorgeous. It was a good challenge.

[loqueleohoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mamá me trajo de regalo este libro (en su versión español-japonesa editada por También el caracol, pero todavía no está en Goodreads para loggearlo) y aaaa qué dulce, y las ilustraciones son de mi estilo favorito, esas que parecen pintadas con acuarelas -no sé si tienen un nombre específico- pero DIVINAS

[Brendan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute children's picture book, very simple story and language, suitable for language learners at around the N4 level. I understood the general story on my first unaided readthrough though a more thorough second study with a dictionary revealed there were some important, more obscure words that enhanced my understanding.

[M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice tale about trust and motherhood. The mother fox teaches her son be careful with humans, and to pretend he's human to get mittens that will help him stand the cold out of caution. She fears that her son will be trapped and put in a cage. When none of this happens despite her son's mistake, the reflection is that because also humans have little ones to care for, they will be kind to foxes. Mutual distrust set them apart, but things could change. Obviously the moral lies along the idea that kids could empathize even with wild animals (although they could represent another kind of families / ethnicities, etc).

[Juan Carlos malik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este cuento lo conocí por sakura card captor. Y me lo puse a buscar y en verdad me encanto.

¿para qué leer adquiriendo guantes?

1. Las ilustraciones son hermosas
2. Muestra perfectamente la inocencia y la bondad de los niños.
3. También muestra que el amor de madres sea de animales o de personas es el mismo y poderoso.
4. Logra mostrar que algunos humanos no son tan malos,
5. El escenario invernal y la prosa es preciosa.
6. La canción de cuna es hermosa.

Aquí lo puedes leer:
https://estoespurocuento.wordpress.co...

[Valleri · Rating 5 out of 5]

While the version I "read" was in Japanese and I cannot read nor speak Japanese, I must say that even the emotion radiating the pages of this book were powerful enough to become one I would recommend for young children.

[Lu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Realmente un relato enternecedor, no se puede hablar de él ya que son de esas historias que merecen ser descubiertas durante su lectura y no por reseñas.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

A charming story.

[Luca · Rating 4 out of 5]

「ほんとうに人間はいいものかしら」
a really sweet and gentle story.

[Lady · Rating 5 out of 5]

good

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked it ,but the authour Niimi Nankichi he.....he died in 1934 and he died when he was only 30:(..but its a good book:)

[Joakwinters · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in English and the original Japanese, Tebukuro wo Kai ni.