からすのパンやさん

Summarised from reader feedback

Why children love it

Reviews on 絵本ナビ and reader letters on Kaisei's own page describe children lingering over the bread spread, choosing the one they would eat, pretending to take a bite, and sometimes designing breads of their own. The four chicks and their food-inspired names are firm favourites, and the bustling scene near the end often gets a laugh. Some children enjoy looking at the pictures well before age two.

What parents may appreciate

A great many parents and grandparents say they loved this book as children and are now sharing it with the next generation. Parents also relate to the crow parents juggling a business and small children, and they enjoy the cheerful way the whole family pulls together. The pictures are full of detail, with every crow showing its own expression, so readers keep noticing new things.

Things to consider

The text is longer than in many picture books for this age, and several parents felt it was a lot for a 4-year-old. Younger children mostly enjoy the pictures. The palette is muted and the pages are busy, and one reader's child never warmed to it, so even a classic won't click for everyone. One reviewer found the early part, where the shop falls on hard times, a little stark, though the story turns bright.