In this surreal collection of short vignettes, we are transported to the world of Sato the Rabbit: a world very much like our own, yet one that is imbued with an added dimension of wonder and curiosity, in which ordinary objects and everyday routines become magical encounters.
A 2022 Mildred L. Batchelder Honor Book
A 2021 Horn Book Fanfare Best Book of 2021
A Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Book of 2021
A 100 Scope Notes Most Astonishingly Unconventional Book of 2021
A Bank Street College of Education Best Book of 2022
“One day, Haneru Sato became a rabbit. He’s been a rabbit ever since.”
With these surrealist, yet matter-of-fact opening lines, we are transported to a world very much like our own, yet one that is imbued with an added dimension of wonder and curiosity. In Sato’s world, ordinary objects and everyday routines can lead to magical encounters: a rain puddle, reflecting the sky, becomes a window that can be opened and peered through. A walnut is cracked open to reveal a tiny home, complete with a bathtub and a comfy bed. During a meteor shower, Sato catches stars in a net, illuminating the path home for a family taking an evening walk.
This whimsical tale is the first in a trilogy from Japan.
In this surreal and poetic collection of short vignettes, we are invited into the quietly magical world of Sato the Rabbit-a world that mirrors our own, yet shimmers with wonder, curiosity, and transformation.
"One day, Haneru Sato became a rabbit. He's been a rabbit ever since."
With these matter-of-fact yet dreamlike opening lines, the story unfolds into a series of gentle adventures where the ordinary becomes extraordinary. In Sato's world, a puddle reflecting the sky becomes a window to another realm. A walnut cracks open to reveal a cozy home, complete with a bathtub and bed. During a meteor shower, Sato catches falling stars in a net, lighting the way for a family's nighttime walk.
Rendered in soft watercolors and spare prose, these stories celebrate imagination, solitude, and the quiet magic of everyday life. Sato the Rabbit is the first in a beloved series from Japan that invites readers of all ages to slow down, look closely, and rediscover the world through new eyes.
Honors and Recognition:
- A Mildred L. Batchelder Honor Book
- A Horn Book Fanfare Best Book of the Year
- A Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Book of the Year
- A 100 Scope Notes Most Astonishingly Unconventional Book of the Year
- A Bank Street College of Education Best Book of the Year
The Sato the Rabbit books:
- Sato the Rabbit
- Sato the Rabbit, The Moon
- Sato the Rabbit, A Sea of Time
- Sato the Rabbit, Morning Light
A 2022 Mildred L. Batchelder Honor Book
“In seven short imaginative tales, Sato’s imagination transforms the details of ordinary life into fanciful antics that embrace and enhance the natural world.” —American Library Association
“Gentle lighthearted humor throughout the text delights the reader and endears them to the imaginative and ingenious Sato.” —Dr. Marie A. Lejeune, 2022 Batchelder Chair
