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hollyxbear's review
5.0
I loved this book. Public bath houses are so interesting to me and having a place to go and have community while being completely you is wonderful.
liftyourheavyeyelids's review
5.0
This is a beautiful picture book!
Upon reading the first two pages, I felt an instant connection to the story. The girl arriving to her Japanese grandmother's house after traveling reminded me so much of traveling to Puerto Rico and arriving to my abuela's house! The first lines of the book are so lovely, and so relatable for me: "When you get to Baachan's place, you'll forget about all the time that's passed and everything that happened to get you there. You'll tumble towards her and she'll shuffle toward you, and it'll be understood". I think these lines are relatable to anyone going to their grandma's house, no matter how close or far, but the significance of traveling to another country where your grandma speaks another language is totally represented here.
I also loved the drawings of women in the bathhouse. It took me by surprise at first (I'm very American in that sense), but after I checked myself, I found it very refreshing. It felt very body positive and the illustrations really are beautiful.
Upon reading the first two pages, I felt an instant connection to the story. The girl arriving to her Japanese grandmother's house after traveling reminded me so much of traveling to Puerto Rico and arriving to my abuela's house! The first lines of the book are so lovely, and so relatable for me: "When you get to Baachan's place, you'll forget about all the time that's passed and everything that happened to get you there. You'll tumble towards her and she'll shuffle toward you, and it'll be understood". I think these lines are relatable to anyone going to their grandma's house, no matter how close or far, but the significance of traveling to another country where your grandma speaks another language is totally represented here.
I also loved the drawings of women in the bathhouse. It took me by surprise at first (I'm very American in that sense), but after I checked myself, I found it very refreshing. It felt very body positive and the illustrations really are beautiful.
xsleepyshadows's review
5.0
BEAUTIFUL! I loved the heartfelt story and the wonderful watercolor illustrations! I really felt like this was such wonderful way for a family visiting their family in Japan to bond with each other. It shows family bathing together and shows bodies of all types and ages. The illustrations do not hide these bodies and it's just bathing just as a normal person would! I especially love the author's note in the back that talks about the experience they had (the story is based on) and how her body acceptance started early in life and think it is strange that we go to such extreme ways that we hid our bodies here. I feel very similarly and think there must be comfort to see and understand that bodies are different and how they will develop into elderly ages.
Highly recommend!
Highly recommend!
lolocole's review
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Not only was this book visually stunning but I loved that it introduces readers to a way of thinking about bodies (shape, age, appearance) that doesn’t assume you have to look a certain way to be a part of experiencing pleasure- in this case, the pleasure of the bath house and existing in your naked body in safety, comfort, and love.
librarianryan's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
5.0
This book is about the author’s memories of her time spent in Japan. Where big group baths are common. This story is lovingly told and would be fantastic at story time if Americans weren’t such small minded people who bring shame to everything. Because this book has illustrations of naked women. It’s not to glorify and it’s not to be lustful. It’s to say bodies are human, bodies are normal. And that being around others bearing your body is culturally relevant. This book is wonderful and it’s such a shame that some kids will never get to read it.
jennywithaz's review
5.0
A beautiful celebration of Japanese bath house culture, full of body positivity / the normalization of naked bodies. It is also a celebration of the intimate connection between family members across language barriers. Beautiful!
msgabbythelibrarian's review
3.0
Oh boy, if the Idaho Legislature got their hands on this book.....with its drawings of nude women (complete with nipples and pubic hair)
Guess what, I'm sure this is what Japanese bath houses (or any communal place) is like. So it's fine!
Guess what, I'm sure this is what Japanese bath houses (or any communal place) is like. So it's fine!