Horn Book (Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2019)

Little Kunoichi, her baby bro, and her bunny are getting bored during summer vacation until her parents decide that they need to visit Ba-chan, the kids' "scientist/inventor, recycling genius, cha-cha dancer, [and] artist" grandmother. From Ba-chan's island, they descend to "the Treasure Trove" to explore what's most important: "Curiosity, resourcefulness, kindness, love, [and] imagination!" The fantastical watercolor paintings are full of details about Japanese life.

Kirkus Reviews

When Little Kunoichi gets bored during the summer, she's sent to her ninja grandma, who leads them on an adventure of the heart and mind in this intergenerational tale. It's summer, and even though they live in a supersecret ninja village, Little Kunoichi and Bunny are bored. The pigtailed girl's solution is a long wish list of material toys to break the doldrums. In response, she's sent to Ba-chan's (her jack-of-all-trades, kooky, creative grandma) for the rest of the summer. Fantastical adventure awaits, as they travel to Ba-chan's underwater amusement park, full of fun, slyly referential rides (the World Bank Arcade, the Cha-Ching Train, etc.); but Kunoichi soon learns that it's a person's inner magic—"Curiosity, / Resourcefulness, kindness, love, / Imagination!"—that makes life interesting. Water-based illustrations done in a primary palette are delightfully appealing, and Ishida's playful vignettes, full of hidden gems and cultural references, beg for repeat visits. Applied in simple washes, the detailed brushwork highlights the artist's control of intricate shapes and patterning. Text and art display a playful spontaneity; however, at times the storytelling becomes a bit too loose. That said, Ishida excels at creating a fascinating world that combines the real (ninja water spider shoes!) and imaginative, and Kunoichi is a charismatic heroine with heart and gumption that parents and children can celebrate. Delightful. (Picture book. 4-8)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Little Kunoichi lives with her ninja family in a nifty tree house complete with a -Nin-Jutsu training room.- Summer vacation is ending soon, and Little Kunoichi and her pet, Bunny, are bored and beginning to ask for spendy amusements. Little Kunoichi, Bunny, and -Baby Bro- are sent to visit their scientist and inventor grandma, Ba-chan, on Kame Shima (-Turtle Isle-). There, they embark on a submarine adventure to Ba-chan-s underwater amusement park, which-with attractions such as a -Rat Race--showcases currency-s limitations. Ishida illustrates in intricate watercolor art that creates the feeling of a world in miniature, and Ba-chan-s message about finding abundance through -Curiosity,/ Resourcefulness, kindness, love, /Imagination!- may well reboot summer for ennui-suffering fans of Little Kunoichi the Ninja Girl. Ages 5-9. (Sept.)

School Library Journal (Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)

PreS-Gr 1 It's summer vacation and Little Kunoichi has exhausted all her favorite activities. Rather than having her laze around their ninja treehouse, her parents decide to send her, her brother, and her pet rabbit to their grandmother. Ba-chan ("Grandma") has all sorts of amazing talents: gardener, poet, inventor of the Kame ("turtle") Submarine, creator of an entire underwater amusement parkthere isn't anything that she can't do, and this makes visits with her terribly fun. The entire story is just about their time spent together, eating, and playing. Almost every page is stuffed with the narrated text, extra dialogue, and watercolor illustrations with little details (sometimes several images within its confines). This visually mirrors how busy their schedule is. Kids can learn a lot of neat tidbits about Japanese culture from this latest addition to the series, and it is something that the author encourages. Ishida incorporates a number of Japanese words into the text, only pausing to explain those needed to follow the story; the others are defined in a glossary. Readers unfamiliar with Japanese should be prepared for an irregular use of in-text pronunciation aides. Also, while the words are used correctly, there are several instances in which the author applies the English rules for pluralization. VERDICT A wonderful family adventure; purchase where intergenerational picture books are in demand. Rachel Forbes, Oakville Public Library, Ont.