Tsubame the Ninja

By Mayumi Ichikawa

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0982441126
• ISBN13: 9780982441121
• Release Date: January 2009
• Publisher: Prinny Books
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 11.5" x 0.5" x 8.8"

Customer Reviews

Filled with inspiration, surprise and a lacing of humor and fun

"Tsubame the Ninja" is a fabulous story about an ordinary boy in an ordinary home who lives as a ninja during the night, a normal human boy during the day. His secret life includes all the members of his family and he excitedly prepares for the special secret Ninja Olympics, held in the crater at the top of Mt. Fuji. Amazing events are displayed, but Tsubame the Ninja learns his finest lesson not from winning a competition, but from overcoming his fear of heights and inventing a spectacular new move that becomes known as "Flying Bird." "Tsubame the Ninja" is a fast moving, action packed book filled with adventure and challenge, enfolded into everyday disguises in regular living. The secret is out, Tsubame the Ninja is the greatest! Filled with inspiration, surprise and a lacing of humor and fun, "Tsubame the Ninja" will appeal to ages 4-8.

I have a new ninja fan

My 5 year old daughter was thoroughly intrigued by the secret ninja family. I read this book to her today; she asked me to read it to her again. Then, she sat at the dinner table entranced by the illustrations, which are bold and eye-catching. The whole story fascinated her. She kept asking question after question about the secret ninja family. I admit, I am surprised by her reaction. Some things did stand out for me initially. The phrasing of the sentences sounds foreign -- at times a little awkward -- but I realized that it adds to the appeal of the book. It is, after all, set in Japan. I imagined we have traveled to Japan and someone there is telling us the story in English. This is a terrific book for the young reader -- boys and girls alike. Be prepared to be thrilled.

A NINJA STORY THAT OUTSHINES OTHERS

Here's a ninja story to outshine all others! Illustrations are full-page, eye-popping bright and fun. Artist Takashi Yamamoto gave concentrated attention to facial expressions, which are small treasures in themselves. I'm looking at a trio whose faces are a scant 3/4 of an inch yet the features are impeccably drawn and smile-provoking. When TSUBAME's face looms large on a page - look out! After a first reading I find myself returning to TSUBAME THE NINJA to again enjoy Yamamoto's artistry and humor. Speaking of Tsubame, he's a force to be reckoned with as is his entire ninja family. Yes, an entire family of ninjas. Night time is ninja time when they train, practice the "Fox sprint," and hide and seek in which they conceal themselves in the most amazing places. However, despite all of his skills there is one thing Tsubame lacks - "Jiori, heights terrify him although he has repeatedly tried to conquer his fear. Then one night Tsubame and his family go to the crater at the top of Mt. Fuji for the secret Ninja Olympics. It is there that Tsubame will face his rival, Gama. Unbelievable challenges await them both. Young readers will thoroughly enjoy Tsubame's adventures and be especially delighted with this Japanese picture book. It's the first from Prinny Books, and we look forward to more. - Gail Cooke

My boys LOVED this book

Tsubame and his little brothers Karasu and Kakamo are a family of ninjas (although this is a closely guarded secret from the rest of the world). When Tsubame gets home from school, they do their training: throwing ninja stars at a target, running in a straight line on their tippy toes (following the footsteps of the person in front of you), playing hide and seek using secret hiding places (like on the ceiling). Tsubame excels at it all, apart from gliding. The training is practice for the Ninja Olympics, to be held in the crater of Mt Fuji. A crazy Ninja obstacle course - where it will all come down to the gliding... My sons are aged 9 and 5. They loved Kung Fu Panda and they really, really loved this book. The 9 year old is really too old for it, but the idea of training to be a ninja has such huge appeal for them both - as did all the crazy events at the Ninja Olympics. The illustrations are also terrific, colorful and appealing with plenty of fun details. I love the way that all the individual faces in the crowd are picked out, for example. It's evident that this book is translated from Japanese. Occasionally the cadence is a little uneven for reading aloud and at times the tense switches from the past to the present tense. However while this bothered me, it didn't worry my children at all. Recommended for 3-6 year olds.

It will fire the imagination of every child that is a secret ninja

Normal kid by day and powerful ninja by night is the fantasy of many a child, and this has been expressed in many forms, including the comic book characters of Batman and the Green Hornet. That fantasy is expressed once again in this book; only in this case Tsubame's entire family, mother, father and two siblings are all ninjas. They have been training very hard for the secret Ninja Olympics that are being held in the crater of Mount Fuji. Tsubame is competing in the ninja obstacle course and the crowd is wildly cheering the contestants. It is a very difficult course, full of challenges and painful consequences if you fail. At the end of the competition all of the contestants and spectators execute the "Ninja Vanish!" command and blend back into Japanese society. Colorfully and effectively illustrated, this is a book that will stimulate the imagination of all children that harbor the belief that somewhere inside of them is a brave and powerful ninja warrior.