In many Asian restaurants around my city (and probably yours) you will find the Lucky Cat, a figurine of a cat with it’s paw raised in a wave. I’ve always wondered what it was about and my friends would always say that it brings luck.

I am Tama, Lucky Cat, tells the tale of the Lucky Cat. It is beautifully illustrated and the story itself is sweet and charming. It is based on the Maneki Neko, and illustrates one of the many stories of origin of the sculpture. It is a great way to understand the legend (or at least one of the many legends) behind the familiar icon.

This is a very quick read for parents and children to read together. I would recommend it for all children, especially as a tool for broadening cultural boundaries. ( )

I Am Tama, Lucky Cat Traditional Fantasy
Written by Wendy Henrichs, Illustrated by Yoshiko Jaeggi

“I am Tama, Lucky Cat” is a popular Japanese Ledged about a cat who sought refuge at an old temple on a cold winters night. The monk inside said he was very lucky to be visited by a Japanese bobtail and named the cat Tama. Tama and the monk became very closed and lived a happy life. One day Tama left the temple during a thunderstorm and came across a warlord. The warlord noticed Tama and asked if she was a beckoning cat. As he moved closer, a tree snapped and fell in the place he once stood. The warlord appreciated Tama as a lucky cat as well. I had actually seen the beckoning cat in Asian food resturants and always wondered what they stood for or how they became a thing. This book, “I am Tama, Lucky Cat” answered my question. I also loved the illustration page during the thunderstorm of Raijin, the g-d of thunder and Raiju, the g-od of lightning. The illustrations depicted two evil looking creatures striking down upon a tree. This picture really caught my attention because the creatures looked so fierce and mythical. Finally, I liked the onomonopia. Henrichs wrote sounds such as “CRACK!”, “CREAK!” and “THUD!” that gave the reader the sounds in their head. Overall, I thought this was a good Japanese Ledged. The main idea was how Tama became a Lucky Cat and saved a warlord’s life. If the cat had not come out during the thunderstorm, the warlord would have been crushed by the tree. This is why Tama is known as a lucky cat and there are often statues of the lucky cat in the Japanese/Asian culture. ( )

This is a Japanese legend about, Tama, Lucky Cat. She is a homeless cat that finds refuge at a temple with a very poor Monk. When Tama lures a samurai warlord away from a cherry tree right before it is struck by lightning and collapses, she brings great fortune for the monk and the temple. The samurai being so grateful of the little cat made the temple his family’s place of honor, an restored the building.

Beautifully illustrated retelling of the Japanese legend of Maneki Neko. ( )

This book contains richly detailed illustrations that accurately portray life in an ancient Japanese village and monastery. There is also an author's note at the end that explains the origins of the Tama cat legend. This book could be used in the classroom to spark a discussion about giving and the concept of "what goes around, comes around."