Mostrando resultados por autor "Nankichi Niimi" en Todas las categorías

A man buys a donkey, only to notice that it walks limply. Curious and concerned, he asks a local know-it-all for advice. A charming and witty tale by Nankichi Niimi, reminding us not to take others’ words at face value. Perfect for a quick read or a delightful read-aloud story.

Written by the celebrated children’s author Nankichi Niimi, Candy is a gentle and mysterious tale perfect for young listeners. A woman with two small children boards a boat on a warm spring day. Just as the ship is about to leave, a samurai comes running from the other side and leaps aboard. What happens next is quietly surprising… It is a heartwarming brief story, ideal for reading aloud to children.

A Very Short Fairy Tale by Nankichi Niimi, one of Japan's most cherished children's authors. In this heartwarming story, a class of first graders learns an important lesson at school: never tell a lie. Their honesty and kindness are quietly tested when they befriend a little grebe. What does the little grebe feel? It is a gentle tale of friendship and truth, perfect for reading aloud to young children.

明治时代，一位13岁的少年决心使煤油灯在晚上照亮整个村庄。但是村民并不太能接受新事物…… 明治時代，一位13歲的少年決心使煤油燈在晚上照亮整個村莊。但是村民並不太能接受新事物……

It is a gentle and poetic story by beloved children’s author Nankichi Niimi. A tiny, transparent baby snail rides on its mother’s back, just beginning to discover the world. Through a quiet conversation between mother and child, the newborn learns little by little about life, nature, and perhaps even things the mother herself does not yet know. It is a tender tale of growth and curiosity, perfect for bedtime reading and ideal for sharing with young children.

This Very Short Fairy Tale by beloved children's author Nankichi Niimi begins with a simple scene: rapeseed growing outside the window of a stable. Though not yet in bloom, its buds are full of promise. As the story unfolds, a skylark, a horse, a butterfly, and the rapeseed gradually come to understand the world around them—gaining awareness and beginning to see it with new eyes. A gentle and poetic tale, perfect for reading aloud to children, it quietly explores the moment when life begins to notice itself.

This charming story, written by beloved children's author Nankichi Niimi, is a very short fairy tale about a kind-hearted girl named Michiko. When she sees a mother struggling with her baby, Michiko steps in to help. As she tries to soothe the baby, something extraordinary happens—the baby smiles at her instead of crying. It's a simple yet heartwarming moment that will leave readers smiling, too. Perfect for reading aloud to young children.

This is a short fairy tale by renowned children's author Nankichi Niimi. On a summer day, a group of boys eagerly prepare for their annual mock battle against children from the neighboring village. But their "enemies" seem different this year, leaving the boys confused. What has happened? It is a story based on childhood memories, perfect for reading aloud to children.

This is a poignant and sorrowful fairy tale written by Nankichi Niimi. A giant and his mother, a fearsome witch, live deep in a forest cave. One moonlit night, a lost princess and her two maids arrive at their cave. The witch, with a gentle voice, invites them inside... By morning, the giant awakens to find that the witch has turned the two maids into blackbirds and the princess into a white swan. Moved by pity, the giant secretly begins to care for the swan. It is a sad and touching story of a giant and a princess. A short, moving tale—perfect for reading aloud to children.

This rare and insightful essay by renowned Japanese children's author Nankichi Niimi offers a thoughtful critique of the limitations placed on creative storytelling—particularly in broadcast media. In the essay, Niimi reflects on the rigid conditions imposed on writers when submitting radio plays: the story must be completed in 30 minutes, include a specific number of characters, be cheerful and wholesome, express national identity, and—though vaguely defined—must also be artistically excellent. Niimi questions how true inspiration can flourish under such constraints, touching on the ...

This charming tale by Nankichi Niimi tells the story of a young girl in a red ribbon hat who meets a red dragonfly during her summer stay at a fabulous retreat. The dragonfly grows fond of the girl. As summer ends, the girl must return to Tokyo—what will happen to the red dragonfly? Perfect for children's storytelling, this brief yet heartwarming fairy tale captures the fleeting beauty of summer and the bond between the girl and the dragonfly.

The Day I Return from the Sea is a rare and introspective essay by beloved Japanese children's author Nankichi Niimi, best known for his fairy tales. In this poetic and deeply personal reflection, Niimi explores his past's uncertainties and the present's quiet clarity. He writes of the unshakable truth that one's heart and life belong to oneself alone, beyond the reach of others, even emperors like Nero. He affirms a renewed sense of hope and personal determination through vivid imagery and gentle conviction. This essay offers readers a rare window into the inner world of a writer wrestling...

The trumpet is a heartwarming tale by beloved Japanese children’s author Nankichi Niimi. An elderly man lived alone in the countryside. As his hearing worsened, he asked his son in the city to find a machine to help him hear again. The son searched everywhere but couldn’t afford a proper device. Instead, he sent his father a trumpet with simple instructions: “Hold it upside down to your ear and listen from the back.” What happened next? This touching story of love, creativity, and the bond between a poor father and son is perfect for reading aloud to children.

Transforming into Geta is a playful and imaginative tale by famed Japanese children’s author Nankichi Niimi. In a quiet village beside a flowing river, a mother raccoon sat beneath the alders, teaching her baby the art of transformation. “When you become a monk,” she said, “you must wear the proper robe. When you become a samurai, wear a topknot, grow a beard, and carry a sword.” But what happens when the little raccoon tries to transform… into a pair of wooden clogs? This whimsical tale brings traditional Japanese folklore to life with humor and heart. Perfect for reading aloud...

Whose Shadow Is It? is a quiet and curious story by renowned Japanese children’s author Nankichi Niimi. In the center of a town square, a mysterious round shadow appeared. Two children walking by stopped and looked at it. “What kind of shadow is this?” one asked. “I wonder what it could be,” said the other. And so begins a gentle journey of discovery. Perfect for reading aloud to spark curiosity and imagination.

One day, a green frog and a yellow frog happened to meet in the middle of a field. “You’re yellow—what a dirty color,” said the green frog. “You’re green—do you think that’s beautiful?” replied the yellow frog. Their words led to a quarrel, and soon, they were fighting. What happened next? This short, thoughtful story gently explores themes of prejudice, pride, and learning to understand one another. Perfect for reading aloud to children.

The Snail Song is a gentle and nostalgic tale by beloved Japanese children’s author Nankichi Niimi. The king noticed a snail slowly crawling along a stone wall one morning. As he watched, he remembered a song he sang as a child about snails. “Snail, snail, stalk out your horn, I think...” But try as he might, he couldn’t remember the rest of the song. So he turned to his servants and asked, “Do you know the snail song?” What happened next? This story stirs childhood memories and gentle curiosity—a perfect read-aloud for children.

"Gon the Fox" is Nankichi Niimi's most famous children's book. It is often included in textbooks at elementary schools in Japan. He published this work at 18, and like Gon, he had a lonely childhood. Therefore, it is thought that he may have depicted the meaning of his existence through this little fox.

The Fox’s Messenger is a whimsical short story by beloved Japanese children’s author Nankichi Niimi. In Japanese folklore, foxes are magical creatures capable of transforming into humans, often appearing as beautiful women. They can be clever tricksters, mysterious visitors, or even kind-hearted protectors. But the fox in this story is slightly different—perhaps a bit foolish and certainly amusing. Filled with charm and gentle humor, this tale is perfect for reading aloud to children and offers a lighthearted take on one of Japan’s most famous mythical animals.

This is a heartwarming micro-story by beloved Japanese children’s author Nankichi Niimi. Three stars quarreled high in the sky on a cold winter night as the wind howled around them. Though they were usually the best of friends, the middle star kept saying, “It’s cold, it’s cold,” which led the other two to start teasing him. Down below, in a frozen rice field, a night heron cried out. Then, without a sound, the middle star quietly began to fall. What happened next? It is a gentle, imaginative tale perfect for bedtime reading. Ideal for young children, this very short fairy tale ...