Satomi Ichikawa

is a Japanese children's literature illustrator and author who has lived in Paris since 1971. She has illustrated more than seventy picture books in over a dozen languages, but is best known for creating the Nora series (1986–1994) and for illustrating the You Are My I Love You collection written by Maryann Cusimano Love.

Biography Ichikawa was born on January 15, 1949, in Gifu, Japan. She was raised by a pair of teachers, Harumi and Nobuko Ichikawa, in the Gifu region. In later interviews, Ichikawa mentioned feeling unfulfilled and bored in her hometown, which encouraged her to leave Japan and travel elsewhere.

Ichikawa moved to Paris, France in December 1971 when she was twenty-two, after graduating college in Japan but without a job and unable to speak a word of French. She accepted a job working with children as an au pair while studying the language. Ichikawa had no artistic experience, but began drawing immediately after she saw the work of painter Louis-Maurice Boutet de Monvel (1850–1913) in a bookshop window. Ichikawa remembered falling in love with the artist's work and searching for his books in second hand shops, unsure whether he was alive. By 1979, she was recorded in The Horn Book Magazine as responsible for keeping Boutet de Movel's memory alive. In a 2020 interview with the French magazine Télérama, she recalled her arrival in Paris with wonder: In need of a job to finance her determination to remain in Paris, Ichikawa visited a bookstore while on vacation in London and copied the names and addresses of the publishing houses of popular children's books. Many of her titles include depictions of two of her biggest hobbies: dancing and doll collection.

Ichikawa has traveled internationally for several weeks annually to study children or animals. The publications follow her trips, are both stories for children and travel diaries of her journeys and experiences. Many of Satomi's original stories serve as records of her travels to the rainforests of the Amazon, the markets of Morocco,

In 2001, Ichikawa created the watercolor illustrations for the book You Are My I Love You written by Maryann Cusimano Love and published by Penguin Random House.

Translations Nearly all of Ichikawa's publications have been translated to at least two of more than a dozen popular languages. Her work is most commonly published in Dutch, English, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish, though it is not uncommon for her books to be translated to Italian, Korean, Norwegian, and Swedish. Several of her books have even been published in Catalan, Chinese, Danish, and Finnish. The majority of Satomi's English-language original books and translations have been published by Philomel Books, now an imprint of Penguin Random House. The publishing house was created in the early 1980s to share poetic books that were "beautiful in concept and form, and fine enough to be celebrated as gifts." Patricia Lee Gauch served as editor-in-chief from 1985 until 2003, making her the editor in charge of the company when most of Satomi's English works were published. In addition to publishing many of Satomi Ichikawa's books, Philomel Books was also responsible for the publication of popular titles like Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Brian Jacques' Redwall series, and Owl Moon by Jane Yolen and John Schoenherr at around the same time.

Harriët Laurey (1924–2004) singlehandedly translated more than half a dozen of Ichikawa's books to Dutch, including all of the books in the Suzanne and Nicholas series. The popular series has been translated to six languages, with the main characters' names shifting accordingly to be more recognizable to children. Though the sibling pair are known as Suzanne and Nicholas in English, they were named Nikkie and Sanne in Dutch, Timm and Tina in German, Annette and Nicolai in Norwegian, and Suzanne became Suzette in French.

One of Satomi's first original children's books, a 32-page book titled Friends (1976), was rediscovered decades after its initial (unknown) release and republished in English, French, German, and Italian in 2019.

Media Satomi's work has been reviewed in hundreds of literary magazines, newspapers, websites, and more. Some of the more notable English publications to have discussed her work are Booklist, The Horn Book Magazine, Kirkus Reviews, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, and School Library Journal. A review of Nora's Surprise written by Jacqueline Elsner for School Library Journal in May 1994 specifically commended Satomi's illustrations, saying that everything she drew "whether animal, toy, or person, is full of life, humor, and expression in every gesture." Satomi Ichikawa was interviewed by Publishers Weekly for a full-page biographic article that was shared on June 7, 1993. In 2015, Satomi's French publisher L'école des loisirs interviewed the artist about her recent work and published a video of the discussion.

Awards and honors Satomi Ichikawa's books and illustrations have received numerous international awards, many highlighting her portrayals of diverse characters and stories. For example, her 2006 original book My Father's Shop was the recipient of several awards for her informed representation of a young Moroccan boy learning how to speak the languages spoken by his neighbors. The following list is a small selection of the recognitions and honors received by Satomi Ichikawa, her stories, and her illustrations. 2014 Selection Award –You Are My I Love You (2001), El día de los niños/El día de los libros, Association for Library Service to Children. 2007 Honor – My Father's Shop (2006), Children's Africana Book Awards, Africa Access. 2007 Grades K-2 Selection Award – My Father's Shop (2006), Outstanding International Books, United States Board on Books for Young People. 2007 Selection Award – My Father's Shop (2006), Cooperative Children's Book Center, University of Wisconsin–Madison. 2005 Selection Award – La La Rose (2004), Cooperative Children's Book Center, University of Wisconsin–Madison. 1992 Selection Award – Bravo, Tanya (1992), Cooperative Children's Book Center, University of Wisconsin–Madison. Satomi Ichikawa Heinemann Dutch, English, German, Japanese, Swedish 1975 Friends Satomi Ichikawa Heinemann English, French, German, Italian 1976 From Morn to Midnight Elaine Moss Crowell English 1977 Suzanne and Nicholas in the Garden Satomi Ichikawa Scholastic Dutch, English, French, German, Spanish March 1977 Suzanne and Nicholas at the Market Satomi Ichikawa Scholastic Dutch, English, French, German, Norwegian, Spanish 1978 Keep Running, Allen! Clyde Robert Bulla Crowell Danish, English, French, German, Swedish 1978 Suzanne and Nicholas and the Four Seasons Satomi Ichikawa Hodder Dutch, English, French, German, Spanish 1978 Suzanne and Nicholas at the Children's Circus Satomi Ichikawa Gautier-Languereau (French) Dutch, English, French, German 1979 Under the Cherry Tree Cynthia Mitchell Heinemann English, German 1979 Let's Play Satomi Ichikawa Philomel Books Dutch, English, Finnish, German October 1981 Suzanne and Nicholas at the Zoo Robina Beckles Willson Philomel Books English, German, Italian 1983 The Wonderful Rainy Week Martine Jauregulberry Philomel Books English, French, German, Italian 1983 Suzanne and Nicholas Travel the World Cynthia Mitchell Philomel Books English 1985 Nora's Castle Satomi Ichikawa Philomel Books English, French, Japanese, Spanish April 1986 Happy Birthday: A Book of Birthday Celebrations Elizabeth Laird Collins Dutch, English, French, German 1987 Butterfingers Sylvia Clouzeau Aladdin Books English, French 1988 Nora's Stars Satomi Ichikawa Philomel Books English, French, Japanese, Korean March 1989 Dance, Tanya Patricia Lee Gauch Philomel Books Catalan, English, Korean, Spanish 1989 Tanya Loved to Dance Patricia Lee Gauch Heinemann Danish, English 1989 Rosy's Garden: A Child's Keepsake of Flowers Elizabeth Laird Philomel Books Chinese, Dutch, English, German, Japanese March 1990 Nora's Duck Satomi Ichikawa Philomel Books Chinese, English, French, Japanese, Korean January 1991 Bravo, Tanya Patricia Lee Gauch Philomel Books Catalan, Dutch, English, French, Spanish 1992 Fickle Barbara Satomi Ichikawa Philomel Books English 1993 Nora's Roses Satomi Ichikawa Philomel Books English, Korean June 1993 Nora's Surprise Satomi Ichikawa Philomel Books English, French, Korean, Spanish April 1994 Please Come to Tea! Satomi Ichikawa Heinemann English 1994 Isabela's Ribbons Satomi Ichikawa Philomel Books English, Spanish September 1995 Grandpa's Soup Eiko Kadono Eerdmans English, Japanese 1997 Rosy's Winter Elizabeth Laird Heinemann English 1997 Tanya and the Magic Wardrobe Patricia Lee Gauch Puffin Books English, French, Spanish 1997 Tanya and Emily in a Dance for Two Patricia Lee Gauch Penguin Group English 1998 Y a-t-il des ours en Afrique? (Are There Bears in Africa?) Satomi Ichikawa L'école des loisir (French) French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish 1998 Presenting Tanya, the Ugly Duckling Patricia Lee Gauch Philomel Books English, French, Spanish 1999 The Lost Flower Children Janet Taylor Lisle Puffin Books English 1999 The First Bear in Africa! Satomi Ichikawa Philomel Books English April 2001 What the Little Fir Tree Wore to the Christmas Party Satomi Ichikawa Philomel Books English, French, Japanese September 2001 Das Geheimnis des Affenbrotbaums (The Mystery of the Baobab Tree) Satomi Ichikawa Babalibri (German) Danish, French, German, Italian 2001 You Are My I Love You Maryann Cusimano Love Penguin Random House Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Spanish 2001 My Pig Amarillo Satomi Ichikawa Philomel Books English, Italian, Spanish June 2002 Shyam et Shankar Satomi Ichikawa L'école des loisir (French) French 2002 Tanya and The Red Shoes Patricia Lee Gauch Philomel Books English, Spanish 2002 The Tanya Treasury Satomi Ichikawa Philomel Books English, French 2004 You Are My Miracle Maryann Cusimano Love Penguin Young Readers English, Spanish September 2005 Ma chèvre Karam-Karam (My goat Karam-Karam) Satomi Ichikawa L'école des loisir (French) French, Korean 2005 My Father's Shop Satomi Ichikawa Kane/Miller English, French March 2006 I Am Pangoo the Penguin Satomi Ichikawa Philomel Books English, French, German, Korean September 2006 Mon plus beau cadeau, c'est toi! (My Greatest Gift is You!) Satomi Ichikawa Albin Michel Jeunesse (French) French 2006 Le papillon de Boun (Boun's Butterfly) Satomi Ichikawa L'école des loisir (French) Dutch, French 2006 Come Fly with Me Satomi Ichikawa Philomel Books English April 2008 De la glace aux pommes de terre? (Potato Ice Cream?) Satomi Ichikawa L'école des loisir (French) French, Japanese, Spanish 2009 My Little Train Satomi Ichikawa Philomel Books English, Japanese November 2010 You are My Wish Maryann Cusimano Love Penguin Young Readers English March 2010 You Are My Wonders Maryann Cusimano Love Penguin Young Readers English 2012 La fête de la tomate (The Tomato Festival) Satomi Ichikawa L'école des loisir (French) French, German 2012 Les voitures de Jibril (Jibril's Cars) Satomi Ichikawa L'école des loisir (French) French 2013 Patricio et Renata (Patrick and Renata) Satomi Ichikawa L'école des loisir (French) French 2013 Un palmier à marier (A Palm Tree to Marry) Satomi Ichikawa L'école des loisir (French) French 2015 Due eroi inseparabili (Two Inseparable Heroes) Satomi Ichikawa Babalibri (Italian) Italian 2016 Bienvenue sur mon île (Welcome to my Island) Satomi Ichikawa L'école des loisir (French) French, Japanese 2018 Le bain de Mammout (Mammout's Bath) Satomi Ichikawa L'école des loisir (French) French 2018 Mon petit cheval Mahabat (My Little Horse Mahabat) Satomi Ichikawa L'école des loisir (French) French, German, Japanese 2019 Croc-Croc Caïman Satomi Ichikawa L'école des loisir (French) French, Japanese 2020 Accroche-toi à maman! (Hold on to Mom!)'' Satomi Ichikawa L'école des loisir (French) French, Japanese 2022

Collections Satomi Ichikawa's original artwork and publications are held by numerous museums, and institutions around the world. The International Library of Children's Literature at the national library of Japan (National Diet Library) holds more than fifty of her original works, making theirs the largest known collection of Ichikawa's artwork held by a public institution. Satomi Ichikawa's work is held in thousands of international libraries, the majority of which can be found in France, Japan, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States. The following is a non-exhaustive selection of significant cultural institutions that count Satomi Ichikawa's work amongst their collections. Bookworm Children's Library, Taleigão, India. Cotsen Children's Library, Princeton University, New Jersey, United States. German National Library, Frankfurt, Germany. International Library of Children's Literature, National Diet Library, Tokyo, Japan. National Library of Korea, Seoul, South Korea. Royal Library of the Netherlands, The Hague, Netherlands. Swiss Institute for Youth and Media, Lausanne, Switzerland.