AWARDS AND REVIEWS

★ “Sato the Rabbit returns after his eponymous debut in a set of adventures all about nature. In this Japanese import, Haneru Sato, the pale-skinned child who dresses as a white rabbit, explores the out-of-doors, manipulating elements in nature in a series of seven delightful and slightly surreal stories… In one, Sato throws a rain party, tying sheets of rain with ribbon and making “rain music” with friends; the shimmering rain sheets, bundled like curtains, make for a magical, indelible image… Each of these stories captures the imaginative wonder of a child’s perspective and embraces a genuine but never cloying whimsy. Compositions vary, with some spreads featuring vignettes and other illustrations taking up every inch of the spread, such as the glorious “shower of green” Sato creates with the turn of the green screw. The artwork pops with color and texture and depicts beautiful, dreamlike vistas. Sato endears himself to readers; he is inquisitive, clever, and generous. (It’s thanks to him that his friends get to visit the “rain-column ballroom.”) A welcome return.” —STARRED REVIEW, Kirkus Reviews

★ “Haneru Sato, the most imaginative Japanese boy in a bunny suit to ever grace the page, returns. And who better to guide readers along a journey of absolute imagination? In a series of short stories, Sato explores nature and finds fantastic things… The artwork is colorful and varied; the moon is especially beautiful, shining brightly in a buttery, warm yellow glow. Paired with the illustrations is succinct, crisp text. The language sparkles when onomatopoeia is employed. Each story ends with a little bunny emoji, a minute detail that adds to an already charming presentation. In Sato’s world, it’s not that nothing is what it seems; instead, everything is exactly what it seems to be when viewed from his unique perspective. A beautiful addition to all collections.” —STARRED REVIEW, School Library Journal

★ "Sato, the boy in the rabbit costume from Sato the Rabbit, returns for seven cozy, dreamy, nature-based adventures... For the most part, these small stories are solitary adventures in a benign, quirky setting full of soft pillows, delicious snacks (what would a bit of moon taste like?), and surprising transformations. Like many narratives that celebrate joy and harmony, it ends with a wedding. Sato, in text and (gorgeous) pictures, is industrious, curious, experimental, and focused, using the found materials around him to fashion inventions (a curtain made of rain, a rolled-up red carpet made of fallen leaves) that enhance his surroundings and provide an arena for his imagination. In other words, Sato is every child at play." —STARRED REVIEW, The Horn Book

Featured in New York Magazine's 2024 Holiday Gift Guide: Best Books to Gift to Little Kids "Another character that’s captured my kids’ imaginations for years is Yuki Ainoya’s Sato the Rabbit. Each book in the series depicts a child dressed as a rabbit in magical vignettes that bridge reality and the imagination... Capturing both the poetic, gentle, and spiritual ways a child may experience nature, Sato is a portrayal of a magical reality." —Youngna Park, for New York Magazine, The Strategist

"A surreal symphony of vibrant colors and images, Sato the Rabbit is a whimsical trilogy of picture books for readers age 4-8... All three books in Sato the Rabbit are a satisfying ode to the deep power—and beauty—of the imagination." —Nanette McGuiness, World Kid Lit