The fourth day of the daffodil moon

Books selected by the Japan Library Association

Yukidoji finds a dying child in a snowstorm that heralds the arrival of spring. The child was the one who picked up the mistletoe branch that Yukidoji had thrown at him. Thanks to Yukidoji, who tries to save the child from being noticed by his friends, the child is able to greet the morning safely.

A masterpiece by Kenji Miyazawa that expresses fear and gratitude towards the great nature!
A world drawn with soft and delicate pencil drawings. The ``blue'' and ``white'' represent the coldness and beauty of winter, and the ``red'' of the child that stands out there evokes the power of life.

[Profile]
Illustration: Ken Kuroi
Born in Niigata Prefecture in 1947. Graduated from the Department of Secondary Art, Faculty of Education, Niigata University.
After joining a publishing company and editing picture books for two years, he became a freelance illustrator. Since then, he has been active mainly in illustration work for picture books and fairy tales. His unique drawing style using colored pencils has gained popularity.
In 1983, he won the Akai Tori Sashie Award for a series of works published in the magazine ``Poems and Fairy Tales'' (Sanrio).
His main picture books include the ``Korowan'' series (by Hisakata Child, written by Hisako Mamokoro), ``Gongitsune'', ``To Buy Handbags'' (both written by Nankichi Niimi, published by Kaiseisha), and ``Mother's Eyes'' (written by Kimiko Aman, published by Akane Shobo).

●Art materials used: Colored pencils, pencils, pastels, [some: CG] / Paper: Watercolor paper (Arche)

[Publication date] November 30, 1999