'The Steadfast Tin Soldier in the Land of the Yokai' is the tragic story of a toy soldier's love for a maiko doll. When he finds himself on the shelf of an extraordinary antique toy store in Japan, the tin soldier is warned against gazing at the doll by a jealous yōkai, but he persists. Spurred on by supernatural forces, he is propelled head first into a chain reaction of terrifying events that even the most steadfast tin soldier surely couldn't survive.
Told entirely with photographs by award-winning visual story-tellers Jules and Pierre-Jacques Ober, nothing is lost of the poignancy of the original, nor of the mystery and magic. This is not only a heartbreaking love story and a great adventure, it's also an excellent tool for learning. It explores themes such as persistence through adversity, jealousy, love and ultimately, transformation: nothing is ever lost but changes shape and continues anew.
'Extraordinary... remarkable... gives a special depth to this classic Andersen tale transposed into the Japanese landscape, culture and imagination.'
Laura Legros, Atoutlivre
This special edition contains bonus content with 'making of' images from Kyoto. It is printed in lush colour on ultra premium paper and has a QR code to access an audio file of the author reading the story.
Ober, Jules: - Jules Ober is a photographic illustrator and co-author of numerous children's books. She and Pierre-Jacques Ober have developed a unique visual storytelling style using photographs of miniature figurines. Sometimes these figurines are placed in miniature sets that have been constructed for the story, and sometimes they are integrated into our everyday surroundings. Whether exploring the vagaries of war, the feeling of being small in a big world, our interconnectedness with nature, or simply embarking on a fantastical journey, these stories help us to see the world differently. Jules has been a photographer for 40 years and has a special passion for the way that light and colour bring emotion to the page. Her images feature in exhibitions across Europe, showing a fresh approach to photographic storytelling in children's literature. Her books have been published and awarded internationally, including winning the NSW Premier's History Award for Children's Literature, The French Prix Sorciere for most beautiful picture book of the year, The French Prix HIP for best photographic book for children, and have been included in the shortlist and notable books in the Children's Book Council of Australia Picture Book of the Year. Images from her books will tour Europe in 2025 through the French Institut de le Photographie. See more at https: //littlesoldierstories.com or Instagram @littlesoldierstories
Ober, Pierre-Jacques: - Pierre-Jacques Ober is the co-author, researcher and model-maker for this story. He brings his extensive experience as a film maker and a passion for history, philosophy and cultural studies to each project. His work has been awarded internationally, including the NSW Premier's History Award for Children's Literature, The French Prix Sorciere for most beautiful picture book of the year and in Australia, on the shortlist and notable books for the Children's Book Council of Australia Picture Book of the Year. His work is regularly supported by the French Centre National du Livre.
