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Yokai Stories
Sixteen mythical monsters and spirits from Japanese folklore take children on fantastical adventures in this first-ever children’s storybook about yokai . Young readers will meet baku the dream eater, mischievous kappa sprites, a ghost child who lives in a hotel, and many more. Yokai have a rich history dating back centuries in Japan, and today, they can be found in monstercatching video games and animated films. Yokai Stories is the first book to weave Japan’s monster mythology into English-language stories for children. Each tale is accompanied by a haunting, modern portrait of the yokai by Swiss artist Eleonora D’Onofrio.
- GenresFantasyShort StoriesAsia
64 pages, Hardcover
Published October 30, 2018
4 people are currently reading
126 people want to read
About the author
Zack Davisson
63books95followersZack Davisson is an award-winning translator, writer, and folklorist. He is the author of YUREI: THE JAPANESE GHOST, YOKAI STORIES, and KAIBYO: THE SUPERNATURAL CATS OF JAPAN, and the translator and curator of Shigeru Mizuki’s famous folklore comic KITARO, Matsumoto Leiji’s CAPTAIN HARLOCK, and Go Nagai’s DEVILMAN.
Davisson lectured on translation, manga, and folklore at Duke University, UCLA, University of Washington, Denison University, as well as contributed to exhibitions at the Wereldmuseum Rotterdam and Henry Art Museum. He has been featured on NPR, BBC, and The New York Times, and has written articles for Metropolis, The Comics Journal, and Weird Tales Magazine.
As a manga translator, Davisson was nominated for the 2014 Japanese-US Friendship Commission Translation Prize for his translation of the multiple Eisner Award-winning SHOWA: A HISTORY OF JAPAN. Other acclaimed translations include Satoshi Kon’s OPUS and THE ART OF SATOSHI KON, Mamoru Oshii’s SERAPHIM: 266613336 WINGS, Leiji Matsumoto’s QUEEN EMERALDAS, Kazuhiro Fujita’s THE GHOST AND THE LADY, Go Nagai’s CUTIE HONEY, and Gou Tanabe’s Eisner Award-nominated HP LOVECRAFT’S THE HOUND AND OTHER TALES.
He lives in Seattle, WA with his wife Miyuki, a dog, two cats, and several ghosts.
Davisson lectured on translation, manga, and folklore at Duke University, UCLA, University of Washington, Denison University, as well as contributed to exhibitions at the Wereldmuseum Rotterdam and Henry Art Museum. He has been featured on NPR, BBC, and The New York Times, and has written articles for Metropolis, The Comics Journal, and Weird Tales Magazine.
As a manga translator, Davisson was nominated for the 2014 Japanese-US Friendship Commission Translation Prize for his translation of the multiple Eisner Award-winning SHOWA: A HISTORY OF JAPAN. Other acclaimed translations include Satoshi Kon’s OPUS and THE ART OF SATOSHI KON, Mamoru Oshii’s SERAPHIM: 266613336 WINGS, Leiji Matsumoto’s QUEEN EMERALDAS, Kazuhiro Fujita’s THE GHOST AND THE LADY, Go Nagai’s CUTIE HONEY, and Gou Tanabe’s Eisner Award-nominated HP LOVECRAFT’S THE HOUND AND OTHER TALES.
He lives in Seattle, WA with his wife Miyuki, a dog, two cats, and several ghosts.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
October 3, 2020
I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked up Yokai Stories, but I like anything having to do with Asian folklore/mythology/etc. so I know I wanted to give it a read. What's inside is a number of reimagined stories, some which take from source material some which are inspired by the Yokai and their legends. The artwork included by Eleonora D'onofrio was a perfect companion to these short stories. Though the stories may not be 100% the original legends/folklore, I really loved the modernization and reimaginings that were applied to these creatures, making them accessible for people today.
June 18, 2020
This was a really cute collection of short stories for children, that even some adults can enjoy. Personally I'm not a huge fan of the art style of the illustrations but they are pretty, colourful and no doubt children will like them.
I wish the author would translate and/or rewrite more Yokai stories, his book on Yurei was amazing and this one shows major storytelling ability.
I wish the author would translate and/or rewrite more Yokai stories, his book on Yurei was amazing and this one shows major storytelling ability.
October 9, 2024
I got this book at an invention when I listened to the author speak about Japanese ghosts and his life story. It was a fun little read, interesting but also a bit funny. Actual rating 3.5 stars
December 20, 2018
A nice junior read for anyone looking for yokai, Japanese culture, or folklore and mythology. These are just short stories based on yokai legends, they are a quick read. The only thing that is just a tad baffling is that sometimes it has a modern touch here and there, I don't care much for it myself.
Although, if you looking for a nice read with some charming illustrations this is the book to read!
~Ashley
Although, if you looking for a nice read with some charming illustrations this is the book to read!
~Ashley
October 11, 2019
A cool book overall! There are a dozen or so different yokai (monster) stories from Japan in here, but they don't feel like old stories because they are written in a modern setting and with modern language and characters that a kid today could easily relate too. I also love that the characters in the different stories have overlap with each other so the character in one goes to school with the two from two other stories, for example. There are some cool spooky illustrations, but the stories are really not that scary and most (MOST but not all) end happily. A good mid-grade chapter book, probably for kids 10-12 and up. A creative and fun and interesting little collection of yokai stories!
December 29, 2019
I've been hungrily making my way through works that contain even a hint of Japanese folklore and culture (as research and inspiration for a novel I'll hopefully finish one day), and I'm glad I came across this one in particular. I will admit that I wasn't expecting it to be geared to such a young audience, but I suppose I should have figured that when I saw its cover. Still, I did enjoy the short stories featuring a handful of Japanese yokai - some familiar, and some I'm glad to have been introduced to in such a simple, yet charming way. I'd have liked for more substance, either through more stories or perhaps, even a bit more touch of the creepy that I was really looking for, but I enjoyed this read all the same.
I picked this book up from the Japan Foundation library shortly after attending a talk by Zack Davisson himself. He's a really cool guy who seems to know his stuff, and given that I did enjoy this short collection, I'll consider picking up some of his other works in the future!
I picked this book up from the Japan Foundation library shortly after attending a talk by Zack Davisson himself. He's a really cool guy who seems to know his stuff, and given that I did enjoy this short collection, I'll consider picking up some of his other works in the future!
September 29, 2019
Not what I expected. I thought it would be more of a "field guide" kind of book with more traditional illustrations. Instead it is a collection of reimagined stories about different yokai written for younger kids and illustrated by a Swedish artist. I planned to give this to my monster-loving teenager but it seems too young for him.
I'm pretty sure the author is an expert on yokai and especially in anime and manga so I'm not sure why he chose this approach. It's attractive, and I did like it, but not really what I hoped for.
I'm pretty sure the author is an expert on yokai and especially in anime and manga so I'm not sure why he chose this approach. It's attractive, and I did like it, but not really what I hoped for.
March 5, 2019
A wonderful collection of original ghost stories inspired by the yokai of Japan, in the same vein as Lafcadio Hearn's Kwaidan, though perhaps with a younger audience in mind. All the stories are short enough to tell around a campfire or during a game of hyakumonogatari, but connected enough to make reading the entire thing in one sitting worth it. Would recommend to those interested in folklore and monsters.
October 29, 2023
I found this book to be very entertaining and engaging. What I appreciated was that the author and illustrator seemed to really admire the culture and they put their own spin on it. I think it is neat how you could read the stories and see it set in different time periods. So it doesn't have to be a specific era.
I think this would be good for maybe 10-11 year olds. It reminded me of when I was younger and enjoyed reading goosebumps.
I think this would be good for maybe 10-11 year olds. It reminded me of when I was younger and enjoyed reading goosebumps.
January 19, 2019
Nice stories with supernatural creatures that kids can read. It's just that there seems "too little Japan" left. Also, a story may lack an ending but I think a good story shouldn't be without a purpose.
October 24, 2024
A very interesting collection of tales both wicked and amusing, of monsters both well known, and some unheard of, among Japanese lore. And like the author confessed, these tales are stories of a picture indeed! Because most of the credit goes to the illustrations that accompany each tale!
January 12, 2019
If you're an otaku parent and looking to introduce your kids to the more traditional form of yokai in a way that won't make them scared to go to bed at night, this is the book.
April 24, 2019
Absolutely delightful.
May 2, 2019
I read a few of these stories but not all. The ones I read would be good for grads 2-4 *very* gentle monster/scary stories. The illustrations may be a bit scary
August 17, 2019
A very endearing and pleasant read. Zack Davisson really knows how to make people not only fear, but love Yokai!
October 9, 2020
This is a cute book with sixteen short yokai stories. It hasn't given me the spooks, but it's alright anyway.
May 22, 2022
An anthology of short stories about Yokai with painted illustrations throughout. The stories are pretty standard stories for kids. The artwork was very nice.
July 31, 2022
Picked up this book because of the Yokai exhibition at the International Folk Art Museum in Santa Fe. The exhibit and the book are both wonderful.
September 29, 2022
Original stories about yōkai with some influence from classic yōkai tales.
May 6, 2020
3.5 stars.
I'm very interested in Japanese mythology and Yokai culture, so I decided to start finally reading about it. This is the first of many. It was very short and sweet and several of the stories really captured the sense of wonder that were all looking for when we read these kinds of books. Very enjoyable but not mind blowing.
I'm very interested in Japanese mythology and Yokai culture, so I decided to start finally reading about it. This is the first of many. It was very short and sweet and several of the stories really captured the sense of wonder that were all looking for when we read these kinds of books. Very enjoyable but not mind blowing.
February 24, 2019
A charming collection of Japanese folklore, with beautiful artwork.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
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