Those bicycling siblings (twins, perhaps?) return in this follow-up to their first adventure from Japanese author/illustrator Kaya Doi, Chirri & Chirra. Here they explore the world of the meadow in front of their house, following various creatures - a bumblebee, some flower chafers, and a lizard - home and witnessing the creation of various delectable treats. After a full day of fun, they return home in the dark, their path lit by a sparkle of fireflies...

Every bit as charming as its predecessor, Chirri & Chirra: In the Tall Grass pairs an engrossing naturalistic fantasy story with beautiful artwork. Children will enjoy the glimpse given, through the girls' experiences, into the various creatures' miniature homes. I found the bumblebee's house particularly winsome, although the scene with the fireflies was also quite lovely, and brought me back to my own childhood, when I would, together with my sisters, chase after these bioluminescent creatures (which we called lightning bugs). Highly recommended, both to those who read and enjoyed the previous title, and to anyone looking for children's stories that show the beauty and enchantment of the natural world. ( )

Recommended by Stephanie T.

Soft, charming illustrations (in what appears to be colored pencil) center twins(?) Chirri and Chirra on their bicycles in a green landscape. When they ride their bikes into the tall grass, they seem to become miniature, and able to follow a bumblebee to its house and eat honey sponge cake balls wrapped in flower petals. They taste other sweet, fresh treats made by other creatures as well, but when at last they emerge from the tall grass, their fluorite candies go "poof! and disappear."

Chirri and Chirra, and most of the other characters and shapes, have a little white space around them, like an aura. The world of the story is gentle and self-contained. Translated from the Japanese.

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Re-read January 2019 ( )