is a children's picture book by Kiyo Tanaka (田中清代 Tanaka Kiyo), published in 2018 by .[1] David Boyd wrote the English translation, published in 2021 by Enchanted Lion Books.[2]
The book involves a little girl who sees a creature and goes on an adventure with it, before meeting her father at the end of the book.[2]
It was published in French, as La petite chose noire, with translation by Alice Hureau.[3]
The book and its author won the "Purple Island Award",[4] of Nami Island International Picture Book Illustration Concours 2019.[5] It also won the 25th edition Grand Prize,[6] [7] and the .[8]
Kirkus Reviews stated that for the most part the work is "poignant and engrossing narrative" although it argued the aspect of her going into a closet at the creature's request "gives serious pause".[2]
Kimberly Olson Fakih of School Library Journal stated that the art style illustrates "a timeless quality."[9]
(東雅夫 Higashi Masao) of Asahi Shimbun gave a positive review, praising the "fine copper engraving technique".[10]