Tama and Baby
Will be published approx. on 11. June 2026
Book
Hardback
44 pages
978-1-59270-461-3 (ISBN)
Description
From the acclaimed creator of the Chirri & Chirra books, Kaya Doi, comes this absolutely adorable picture book about Tama the cat and her baby sister.
Tama has never seen a baby before, so when a newborn comes to her house, she's in for a big surprise. Babies, as Tama quickly learns, cry and fuss and sleep and sleep-but they also laugh and play and explore, offering the sweetest smiles and the warmest hugs.
Before long, Baby starts to crawl and follows Tama everywhere, and the two become the best of sisters and the best of friends. And no matter how much Baby grows-getting bigger and older than the cat herself-she will always be Tama's baby sister.
Written and illustrated by Kaya Doi, Tama and Baby is a playful, heartwarming story about welcoming a new baby into the family-perfect for baby showers, new siblings, and families adjusting to joyful change.
Tama has never seen a baby before, so when a newborn comes to her house, she's in for a big surprise. Babies, as Tama quickly learns, cry and fuss and sleep and sleep-but they also laugh and play and explore, offering the sweetest smiles and the warmest hugs.
Before long, Baby starts to crawl and follows Tama everywhere, and the two become the best of sisters and the best of friends. And no matter how much Baby grows-getting bigger and older than the cat herself-she will always be Tama's baby sister.
Written and illustrated by Kaya Doi, Tama and Baby is a playful, heartwarming story about welcoming a new baby into the family-perfect for baby showers, new siblings, and families adjusting to joyful change.
Reviews / Votes
"Pencil-like linework, minimal but evocative details, and spot colors [lend] warmth and intimacy as the youth, and the relationship, mature... It's a clear-eyed take on adjustment and a reassuring model that honors the challenges and rewards of welcoming a new family member with open paws." * Publishers Weekly * "A patient kitty adjusts to an infant's arrival... Similar to the illustrations in Doi's beloved Chirri Chirra series, the minimalist spot art and clean design create a pared-down aesthetic that suits the story's graceful text, translated from Japanese... Well-paced page turns warmly capture the bloom of affection between the titular characters. A simple and sweet sibling tale." * Kirkus Reviews *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
Children/juvenile
US School Grade: From Preschool to Kindergarten, Interest Age: From 3 to 5 years
Illustrations
Illustrations throughout
Dimensions
Height: 194 mm
Width: 149 mm
Thickness: 14 mm
Weight
213 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-59270-461-3 (9781592704613)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Born in Tokyo, Kaya Doi graduated with a degree in design from Tokyo Zokei University. She got her start with picture books by attending the Atosaki Juku workshop, a Tokyo bookshop specializing in picture books. Since then, she has produced numerous picture books featuring her softly styled color-pencil drawings. She now lives in Chiba Prefecture and maintains a strong interest in environmental and animal welfare issues. Since the earthquake of March 2011, she has been active in recovery and shelter efforts for abandoned pets. David Boyd teaches translation at Kobe City University of Foreign Studies. He won the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission Prize for the Translation of Japanese Literature in 2018 for Slow Boat by Hideo Furukawa, in 2022 for The Hole by Hiroko Oyamada, and in 2024 for Takaoka's Travels by Tatsuhiko Shibusawa. Asa Yoneda has translated books by Yukiko Motoya, Rin Usami, and Banana Yoshimoto, among others. Asa's translation of Under the Eye of the Big Bird (Hiromi Kawakami) was shortlisted for the 2025 International Booker Prize.