Tanuki's Gift: A Japanese Tale (Asian Pacific American Award for Literature. Children's and Young Adult. Honorable Mention

by Tim J. Myers, Robert Roth (Illustrator)

Tanuki's Gift: A Japanese Tale retold by Tim Myers, illus. By Robert Roth, tells of a badger who teaches a priest a lesson about friendship.

Genres: Picture Books, Japan, Childrens, Fiction

30 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Tim J. Myers is a writer, songwriter, storyteller, and lecturer at Santa Clara University in Silicon Valley. His"Glad to Be Dad: A Call to Fatherhood" is out from Familius and "Nectar of Story: Poems" from BlazeVox. He has 15 children's books out and one on the way. His children’s books have won recognition from the New York Times, NPR, the Smithsonian, Nickelodeon, and others. He’s published over 130 poems, won a first prize in a poetry contest judged by John Updike, has a poetry chapbook out, won a major prize in science fiction, was nominated for two Pushcarts, and has published much other fiction and non-fiction for children and adults. He recently won the West Coast Songwriters Saratoga Chapter Song of the Year award. His website is www.TimMyersStorySong.com, his YouTube channel is at https://www.youtube.com/user/TimJMyers, and he can whistle and hum at the same time.

Reviews

[Tim Myers]

This is my retelling of a beautiful but little known Japanese folktale. A Buddhist priest and a tanuki (a "raccoon-dog") become friends, but when the tanuki disappears, the priest fears the worst. A book about the depths of friendship.

[Kristen EJ Lauderdale · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very sweet story!

[Willow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love! So sweet!

[Melanie Gaum · Rating 2 out of 5]

The tanuki looked like a badger and I didn't like the art style, but the story was okay.

[Jennifer Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

“Tanuki’s Gift” is a Japanese fictional tale about a priest and animal, tanuki. It tells of how during one winter, a priest provides shelter for the tanuki and how the two becomes close friends. During the process of the tanuki trying to repay the priest for his friendship, they both learn a lesson. I would use this story to teach the students about friendship and how it is not an object to be bought or sold (example- the priest realizes he values tanuki’s friendship more than monetary gifts). This book could also be used to showcase kindness and helping others in need (ex. the priest providing shelter to the tanuki in need). This story also introduces the students to the Japanese culture and religion. Although the author, Tim Meyers, is not a Japanese American, his efforts and support from others have made this story into a valuable folktale.

[NS Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Japanese Tale about a friendship between a Buddhist Priest and a Tanuki. A tanuki is a raccoon dog that most people feared. This animal visits the priest during the winter and brings gifts in exchange for shelter and food. This happens for ten years. The tanuki wants to repay the priest for letting him stay at his house. He goes out to search for gold and while he is away the priest realizes what is most important to him, their friendship. It would be appropriate for grades k-3.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily one of the best children's book out there. It's about a Buddha in Japan and a magical creature called a tanuki. It's beautifully written prose and doesn't get old after reading it over, and over, and over, and then once more.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful story of kindness and the true gift of friendship.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh, ho hum story, but I love a tanuki and the art was outsiderish enough to really appeal to me.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful folktale about the importance of friendship.