Japanese author/artist Yuichi Kasano combines an invitingly simple narrative with delightful, fully saturated color illustrations in his undeniably humorous picture book The Fluffy Futon, smoothly translated byCathy Hirano.
"On a warm, sunny day, Grandma spread a futon on the porch to air." Left out there so soft, and fluffy, and empty, it beckons a kitty-cat who lets out "a great big yawn" then drops down--"plofff!" After her initial surprise, Grandma, too, releases "a great big yawn" and joins the kitty. Their comfy "ploff!"s and soporific "yw-aahhn"s prove contagious: hen and three little chicks snuggle in, then a little boy and his dog, then the goat, and finally the pig and her piglets, until the entire menagerie is cozily entangled on the fluffy futon. When Grandma rolls over and stretches "long and wide," she doesn't notice she's scooched everyone off--except her still-drowsy feline. "Ah, what a lovely nap!" Grandma contentedly announces.
Even before the title page, Kasano's whimsical art--reminiscent of a charming woodblock Pied Piper scene--cleverly introduces the cast, as Grandma carries the futon ahead of her anticipatory companions. Kasano effectively varies viewpoints: at a distance above, as Grandma and kitty bask in the weather; a straight shot of the traditional Japanese home (with a few peeks of the furry and feathery friends lurking). Most of his spreads feature that fabulous futon getting ever more crowded as the pages turn, while the onomatopoeic sleeping noises ("hnym-nyam-nyam," "rff-rff-rff," "prrrrrrr") enhance the comical energy. Note to readers: such rollicking fun may not induce much slumber. --Terry Hong