Abstract

From the hole where the rice ball had rolled came a cheerful song:

♪ Rice ball tumbling, tumbling down,
rolling, rolling, tumbling down! ♪

Eager to hear more, the old man drops another rice ball into the hole, then another... What happens next?

Rice Ball Tumbling, Tumbling Down retells Omusubi Kororin, a beloved Japanese folktale passed down through generations. This is the first title in an innovative bilingual picture book series that presents Japanese folktales with Japanese and English text side by side on every spread, allowing readers to enjoy the story in either language. Humorously conveying the lesson that greed can lead to trouble, the story introduces children naturally to an important moral while offering an ideal introduction to Japanese folklore. Audio is available for download in both Japanese and English, making the book perfect for listening practice, reading aloud, or giving as a gift.

One of the book’s greatest attractions is the rhythmic text, which invites readers to join in aloud, together with the warm, gentle illustrations by children’s author and illustrator Yukari Kakita. Translator Lisa Vogt skillfully renders the emotional nuances of the Japanese text in clear, accessible English, bringing a fresh dimension to this traditional tale. The recurring refrain, “Omusubi kororin, suttonton,” can be enjoyed in both Japanese and English, allowing readers to experience the distinctive sounds and rhythms of both languages while learning.

Five Features
• Introduces a carefully selected Japanese folktale that deserves to be shared with readers around the world.
• Brings the story vividly to life through detailed storytelling and warm, beautiful illustrations.
• Features Japanese and English text, introducing Japanese readers to the fun of English and international readers to the charm of Japanese folktales.
• Includes Japanese and English audio and read-aloud videos, making it perfect for shared reading.
• Presented in a deluxe hardcover edition that makes an ideal gift.

Target Audience
Ages 3 and up. Also recommended for libraries, kindergartens, nursery schools, schools, and international exchange organizations.

Downloadable Audio
Available in both Japanese and English.
Read-Aloud Videos
Includes read-aloud videos in both Japanese and English.

Author’s Information

Yukari Kakita
Born in Saitama Prefecture, Yukari Kakita is a member of the Japan Children’s Book Artists Society. Her major works include Summer Vegetables’ Summer Vacation, Winter Vegetables’ Winter Vacation, The Autumn Vegetables’ Festival, and Spring Vegetables’ Spring Vacation, all written by Kirin Hayashi and published by Hikari no Kuni, as well as The King’s Birthday Present and The King’s Picnic, published by Sekai Bunka Publishing. In 2019, she published Mr. Gorton’s Potatoes (Akachan to Mama Sha), her first original picture book as both author and illustrator. She also works across a wide range of fields, including books, magazines, and advertising. Kakita has established a distinctive artistic style that combines gentle humor and warmth with realistic detail and a touch of fantasy.

Lisa Vogt
Born in Washington State, USA, Lisa Vogt earned a master’s degree in TESOL from Temple University. She has spent many years teaching English and promoting cross-cultural understanding, having served as a Special Professor at Meiji University and as a Lecturer at Aoyama Gakuin University. Through her appearances on NHK English-language programs, newspaper and magazine columns, lectures, and numerous language-learning books, she has introduced readers and audiences to the power of language and the wonders of the wider world in an engaging and accessible way.

Vogt has also translated classic children’s literature into bilingual editions, and her rhythmic, reader-friendly English is enjoyed by readers of all ages. An accomplished photographer, she has traveled to more than 60 countries and has received recognition from the BBC for her photographs of polar bears in the Arctic. She has also photographed penguins in Antarctica. In this book, she captures the warmth and joy of the Japanese folktale in lively, flowing English.