Abstract

For days now, the little bird has been flying around the forest in search of magnolia twigs.
“Excuse me, but would you please be willing to share a few of those twigs with me?”

At last, the little bird finds the twigs he is after. The cat, who has been gathering them, agrees to give him a single twig each day.

The little bird takes a liking to the lonely cat, and they begin to share a warm exchange.

A beautifully dramatic portrayal of daily life, coexistence, and the cycle of life itself, this is the story of two creatures from different worlds whose lives become deeply intertwined as they come together through mutual understanding and empathy.

By presenting the story from both the cat’s and the bird’s perspectives, this book offers deeper insight into the complexity of both their situations and feelings.

Author’s Information

Hiroshi Tateno
Born in Kanagawa Prefecture in 1968. A picture book author and wildlife artist who, from an early age, studied under renowned illustrator Chikabo Kumada. While conducting biological research, he also honed his illustration skills and became an established wildlife illustrator. He later began creating picture books and is widely known for his beautifully detailed illustrations. His works have received numerous awards, including the Shogakukan Children's Publishing Culture Award for Tsuchihanmyou (Kaiseisha), and the Japan Picture Book Award for both Neko to Kotori (Sekai Bunka Publishing) and Donguri (Komine Shoten).

Mami Nakano
Born in 1984. After working as a designer, she began her career as an illustrator. She has studied under Hiroshi Tateno since 2017 and has now had the opportunity to illustrate text written by him. She specialises in detailed watercolour paintings.