I Am Tama, Lucky Cat: A Japanese Legend

This was a recommendation from a kiwi crate, we enjoyed reading the book.

Mom's review: This is a beautiful retelling of a Japanese folktale. The illustrations are wonderful and add just the right amount of drama and playfulness to the story (i.e. the bough breaking and the cat walking through the monk's painting).Son's review: My favorite parts were where the cat saved the samurai's life; how Tama respected and liked the monk; and how Tama raises his paw. My favorite picture is the one where Tama was sitting just like the monk.Daughter's review: My favorite part was when the samurai said "thank you" to Tama. My favorite picture was the last page with the cherry blossoms and the ladies in their pretty kimonos.

Great story. Our family actually visited the temple in Japan and I’m so glad to be able to share this story with my child so she can appreciate the history of it once she’s old enough to appreciate it. Beautiful story and beautiful pictures. What a great way to introduce little kids to the Maneki Neko (lucky cats).

I love this story! In the book, Tama comes to live with a monk at a monastery in a poor village. During a storm, Tama saves a wealthy samurai and brings the village wealth. The illustrations are very well done for this book, as well. I would definitely recommend this book to the parents of smaller children. It's wonderful!

I thought it would be longer but it was only few pages.

A sweet, sweet story with gorgeous watercolor illustrations. If you ever get a chance to go to Tokyo, be sure to visit (although it's off the beaten track) the Gotokuji Temple --- you will be amazed at the maneki neko cats you will see there!! Or just google the name of the temple and look at the photos; I think you'll be delighted to see the thousands of ceramic cats!!

What a wonderful book. The illustrations are beautiful and the story is just as good.

This is a lovely portrayal of the "temple version" of the Japanese Maneki Neko legend. A poor temple priest's cat saves the life of a wealthy nobleman who makes the temple very prosperous in return. Thus the proliferation of lucky cat statuettes in Japan and elsewhere. The watercolor pictures are attractive and realistic but dreamlike in quality. A "must" for Maneki Neko fans.