Sato the Rabbit, A Sea of Tea

Born in Yokohama, Yuki Ainoya studied Japanese painting at the Tama Art University Faculty of Art and Design. She was the winner of the the Crayon House Children's Book Grand Prize in 1990 and the 12th Japanese Children's Book Award in 2007 for the original Japanese edition of Sato the Rabbit (Shogakukan). In her spare time, she likes playing the accordion and hula dancing. A Seattle native with a life-long connection to Japan, Michael Blaskowsky spent seven years living on the Japanese island of Hokkaido after graduating from Eastern Washington University. His translations cover a wide range of topics, with a focus on literature, the arts, gaming, and the sciences.

Selected for the Society of Illustrators 2022 Original Art Show


"At times embodying Lewis Carroll's absurdity, Ainoya's stories also evoke the quiet pleasure of Arnold Lobel's Frog and Toad series. Alternating vignettes and full-page illustrations immerse the reader in each boldly illustrated scene, with a lush, eye-catching palette that deserves repeat viewings to observe varying textures and lines in the artwork... Sato's adventures will resonate with young readers who imagine their rooms and backyards to be brand-new worlds filled with fantastical elements. These readers will find a kindred spirit in Sato. And the digestible stories are the perfect length for bedtime. Bright, playful tales for bold young adventurers in a world of make-believe." -Kirkus

"The third and final book about Sato the Rabbit takes readers on more fantastical adventures... Reality gives way to gentle trips of the imagination, into worlds conjured by shapes and colors... Each short chapter with simple descriptive text is a foray into Sato's unique imagination. Lovely watercolor-like jewel tone colors in soft shapes make each imaginative adventure a happy event, free of danger. I love the elemental objects that kick off each journey, and the surprise where each one takes the reader... There is no overarching story, but for those who enjoy pure whimsy, it is a fun journey. For older fans of imaginative picture books, ages 4-8, who enjoyed Kaya Doi's Chirri & Chirra series." -Youth Services Book Review

"A surreal symphony of vibrant colors and images, Sato the Rabbit is a whimsical trilogy of picture books for readers age 4-8... All three books in Sato the Rabbit are a satisfying ode to the deep power-and beauty-of the imagination." -Nanette McGuiness, World Kid Lit