The Fluffy Futon
Yuichi Kasano
Gecko Press

On the opening spread we see a rather rotund Grandma spreading a futon on the porch to air in the sun. Slightly closer observation reveals several animals lurking nearby: there’s a curly porcine tail, a pair of curved horns, a wing, tail feathers and two yellow claws. Almost as soon as the futon has been placed in the sun, up wanders a cat. She opens her mouth wide and ‘Yw-aahhn’, out comes a big yawn, and flat out onto the futon lies the moggy.The sight of the sleeping cat induces a great big yawn from Grandma and she immediately flops down onto the futon too. As she snoozes along come three little chicks and their mother hen;

more Yw-aahhns and ploffs as down they drop and fast asleep they go.

It’s not long before the fluffy futon is full and then flinging her arms wide, Grandma rolls over and her fellow snoozers are flung hither and yon, all except the black cat that is reluctant to move.

Yuichi Kasano’s simple scenes of the sleepers are delightfully droll and adults and young children will enjoy sharing the story, at bedtime or any other time. The latter will love joining in with the oft repeated ‘ploff’ and ‘Yw-aahhn’ sounds as the ever increasing cast of characters take advantage of the opportunity to snooze.