Japanese Yokai: Explore a Mythical World of Monsters, Demons and Magical Creatures

Have you ever seen a yokai?

Stories about yokai are used in Japan to explain mysterious and magical events. These mythical creatures give a name and a form to the strange and uncanny things happening all around us.

This colorful guide in picture book format is a funny, fast and slightly spooky introduction to the stars of the Japanese yokai world.

The classic tales and descriptions by Fleur Daugey combine with Sande Thommen’s delightful illustrations to introduce over 30 wild and supernatural creatures, including:

• The Kitsune, a freaky fox with paranormal powers
• The Kasa-obake, a one-eyed one-legged umbrella with a long, slithery tongue
• Kurokamikiri, a shaggy bearlike beast that sneaks up on you and cuts your hair
• Nuppeppo, a flabby, wrinkly blob that lives in graveyards and smells of rotten meat
• Hanako, a bathroom-dwelling ghost girl
• And many more!

Yokai are out there, lurking among us--creating mischief and mayhem, or in some cases helping us or just having fun. With Japanese Yokai, the next time something eerie or strange happens, you’ll know who’s responsible!

Fleur Daugey trained in psychology and ethology, working at several NGOs before turning to writing. She has published numerous books for young people, including Animals of Japan, Animal Dads and The Love Lives of Animals.

Sande Thommen studied at the Ecole Estienne in Paris then entered the illustration workshop at the Ecole Superieure des Arts Decoratifs in Strasbourg. He has illustrated numerous works for children including Animals of Japan, Globe-Trotting Birds and Waking Volcanoes.