Product Description

"A fanciful travel adventure to Japan as seen through the eyes of two children . . . informative, funny, and lively."--School Library Journal. From the author/illustrator of Stay Up Late and Hey Willy, See the Pyramids. Full-color illustrations throughout.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #311602 in Books
• Published on: 1989-10-01
• Format: Bargain Price
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 40 pages

From Publishers Weekly
While watching a performance of The Mikado , Alexander suggests to his older sister Lulu that perhaps they should visit Japan. Lulu, eager to avoid her piano lesson and her teacher, the dreaded Mrs. Kackleman, is only too happy to agree. The two arrive in Tokyo (without parents, you understand), and are bundled off in a red taxi driven by a gloved man with "sharp black hair." Images of houses and people, food and customs jumble together in a wild stream-of-consciousness travelogue that springs from the minds and lips of the irrepressible brother and sister. A man sitting on a park bench and a frog in a kimono reciting a haiku are as riveting as a visit to a Japanese school or communal bath house. The book is studded with many gems from the mouths of Lulu and Alexander, like the poem dedicated to their guide: "Hey Hiroko, are you loco? Would you like a cup of cocoa?" The unique and provocative illustrative style evidenced in Hey Willy, See the Pyramids flourishes in this new work, demonstrating a graphic brilliance that is fast becoming Kalman's hallmark. Her carefully orchestrated yet extravagantly kinetic paintings are crammed with details and characters ready to spill off each page. All ages.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

This book is really funny.
This is a story about two kids who take a trip to Japan. The writing style is really humorous, and yet it is not not silly. It uses puns and a wonderful descriptive style in ways that are really original. My son (age 3) really enjoys this story, and so do his older cousins. The illustrations are also interesting and fun to look out. This is a good book to read out loud at bedtime.

This book sings!
From the subway that "smoothed into the station" to all the exotic Japanese meals, this fantasy trip of two kids to Japan is just inspiring. I find myself as delighted and laughing as my kids. Having falling totally in love with Ms. Kalman's words and images I'm off in search of more!

She found our world
Maira Kalman has captured the best selling points of Japan.
We have lived in Kyoto for 8 years. My husband is Japanese, and I'm American. We're raising our "doubles" (dual nationals)over here. "Sayonara Mrs. Kackleman" is our kids' ultimate favorite book, and they laugh and laugh when I read "Pajan" or they call them "Japansneeze" and "Hey Hiroko...are you loco?" The author writes about the precious things that we wish we could preserve over here. Sadly, the traditional culture is being replaced with the younger generation's obsession with character goods, shopping for horrendously overpriced luxury goods, overwork, porn DVDs in vending machines, McDonalds in every neighborhood. Kalman writes about Japan in the 80s, I think. It has changed a lot in 25 years, so the things she recorded in her book are all the more dear to me. The humor, the illustrations and the fact that she chose this country have turned me into fan.
When we go back to the States I check out all her books from the library, so we can read them as often as we do at home.