Just as Chirri and Chirra perceive nature as beautiful art in this scene, the whole story is packed with exciting, magical imagery that will keep any young reader on their toes and ready to embrace their next rainy day. Upon drinking tea in ‘Café Umbrella,’ the two characters admire painting-covered walls, only to realise the paintings are actually framed windows to the imagery of rain falling outside.

David Boyd fruitfully translates Japanese author Kaya Doi’s fantastical story of two children’s adventure out and about via bicycle in the seventh volume of the ‘Chirri & Chirra’ series, Chirri & Chirra, The Rainy Day. “Dring-dring, dring-dring! It’s already starting to rain.” For Chirri and Chirra, taking a raincheck on any magical excursions for the day is unthinkable they celebrate a rainy day, complete with cafés only open on days when it rains, rain that falls upside-down, and balloon-sized gummy gumdrops. Country of Origin: Japan Chirri & Chirra: The Rainy Day by Kaya Doi

Chirri and chirra the rainy day