Author: Atsushi Komori
Illustrator: Masayuki Yabuuchi
Translator: Robert Campbell
Synopsis
How do animal mothers carry their children? This book realistically depicts 13 types of animal mothers that children love, showing how they carry their children. Whether it's a mother carrying her young in her mouth, a mother allowing her young to cling to her belly, or a mother carrying her young on her back, the methods vary widely depending on the animal. Each mother's deep love for her young is delicately portrayed, allowing readers to sense the strong bond between mothers and their children.
About the author: Atsushi Komori
Atsushi Komori, a writer and zoo employee.
Born in Bombay, India, and raised in Nagasaki Prefecture, he graduated from Tokyo Metropolitan Ueno High School's evening division in 1947. He began working at Ueno Zoo while still in school. In 1964, he joined Tama Zoological Park, eventually becoming the head of the animal care department before transferring to the same position at Ueno Zoo in 1979. He retired in 1984 and became the secretary-general of the Japanese Zoo Association. He later served as the executive director and then as an advisor to the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
In 1966, he received the Mainichi Publishing Culture Award for his co-authored work "Contemporary Records: The World of Animals" (with Hideo Ohara and Masanori Uramoto).
About the illustrator:
Yabuuchi Masayuki is self-taught in artistic techniques but acquired the basics of specimen drawing under zoologist Yoshinori Imaizumi. He's so committed to detailing, capturing every single feather and strand of fur on birds and animals. This makes his illustrations for reference books not only meticulous but also warmly inviting. He has created illustrations for numerous field guides, picture book guides, and picture books, totaling over 10,000 pieces. In 1973, he won the second part of the Asahi Advertising Awards for the "Bird-Loving Campaign" newspaper ads by Suntory. In 1983, he received the 30th Sankei Children's Publishing Culture Award for "Bats," the 9th Yoshiko Yoshimura Memorial Japan Science Reading Award in 1989 for "Dinosaurs of Japan," and in 1992, he won the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) Honor List Award for "Field Guide to Wild Birds."
