I Am Tama, Lucky Cat: A Japanese Legend

I Am Tama, Lucky Cat: A Japanese Legend
Age Range
6+
Release Date
February 01, 2016
ISBN
9781561459162
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Under the shadow of the white-capped mountains of Japan, a white cat with unusual markings arrives at the door of a rundown temple. A kind and gentle monk takes him in and names him Tama, Lucky Cat. Tama watches as his new master teaches Buddhas ways to small gatherings of poor farmers. The monk worries about the peoples welfare, ignoring his own empty stomach. One night in a powerful thunderstorm, Tama sees a towering warlord on a white horse. The cat beckons the warrior to him just as a large branch crashes to the ground and lands right where the warlord had previously stood. In gratitude to Tama for saving his life, the warlord lavishes gifts on the temple and makes it his familys place of honor.

Under the shadow of the white-capped mountains of Japan, a white cat with unusual markings arrives at the door of a rundown temple. A kind and gentle monk takes him in and names him Tama, Lucky Cat. Tama watches as his new master teaches Buddhas ways to small gatherings of poor farmers. The monk worries about the peoples welfare, ignoring his own empty stomach. One night in a powerful thunderstorm, Tama sees a towering warlord on a white horse. The cat beckons the warrior to him just as a large branch crashes to the ground and lands right where the warlord had previously stood. In gratitude to Tama for saving his life, the warlord lavishes gifts on the temple and makes it his familys place of honor.

Editor reviews

2 reviews
A vibrant modern classic
Overall rating
 
4.0
Plot
 
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Beautiful illustrations and lyrical prose tell the legend of the "maneki neko" or lucky cat of Japanese folklore.

Readers will love the adorable face of Tama, the lucky feline protagonist. While searching for food and shelter, Tama comes across a run-down shrine. The kind monk who lives there takes Tama in and cares for him, and they end up great friends. When Tama saves the life of a wandering samurai, the monk's luck also turns around and the shrine is blessed with the samurai's kindness and wealth.

This story of fate and luck is told with well-written, classical prose and incredibly detailed, vibrant illustrations. The colorful rural Japanese scenery really comes alive on the page. Readers will be entranced by the clever story and keep turning the page for more lovely paintings.

Highly recommended for libraries and schools, as well as young readers who love cats or are interested in foreign cultures.
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