Kai and the Kappas in Bloomington, MN

BookLife Editor's Pick: Lively modern fairy tale of the excitement and power of storytelling.
In this modern twist on
Japanese folklore
, Kai's love for storytelling creates suspense and a lesson he'll never forget.
Kai loves sharing spooky stories about mythical creatures with the children in his village, just as his grandmother once did for him. But when his wild imagination begins to blur the line between reality and fiction, he angers the grown-ups in his village. Suddenly, Kai comes face-to-face with a mischievous Kappa-a legendary creature straight out of his own stories. With no one to help, Kai must outwit the Kappa using the lessons hidden in the books he knows so well.
Or is this just another story in the making?
With its spooky storytelling and a touch of mystery,
Kai and the Kappas
is perfect for fans of Jon Klassen, Brothers Grimm, Júlia Sardà and readers who love
folklore-inspired adventures
.
The illustrations in
blend digital art with hand-drawn and scanned text and textures woven into the scenes. With this mix of traditional and digital media, this book takes a stance against AI-generated imagery, celebrating the timeless art of human creativity.
A book for kids 6-9 years-and the ones buying it for them: "Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again." (C.S. Lewis)