Nation Studies: Japan

Written and illustrated by Deborah Nourse Lattimore. story of a poor birdcatcher named Hideo who is banished from his village when he is accused of being an evil bandit who steals from the Shogun and villagers alike. Finding shelter under a tree, Hideo makes a catch beyond his wildest dreams. The tale is set during Japan’s Edo period and features a mysterious maiden who helps Hideo save his village from a sly bandit.

Written by Margaret Hodges and illustrations by Aki Sogabe. A children's book that retells a Japanese folktale about a young boy who loves drawing cats and whose drawings come to life to help him. The story is based on the early life of 15th-century artist Sesshu Toyo, who was trained to be a priest but spent his time drawing cats instead. When his drawings save him from a goblin, he realizes his true calling as an artist.