Yashima, Tarō, 1908-1994

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Japanese children's author/illustrator, born in Kagoshima, Japan in 1908. Moved to the United States in 1939 where he began creating children's books. These books were inspired by telling his daughter happy memories of his own childhood in Japan.

From the description of Papers, 1953-1974. (University of Southern Mississippi, Regional Campus). WorldCat record id: 26792307

Japanese born, American illustrator and author of children's books.

From the description of Momo's kitten : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62436130

From the description of Crow boy : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62423584

From the description of The new sun : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62423585

From the description of Umbrella : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62489212

From the description of Plenty to watch : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62731782

Taro Yahima (the pseudonym for Jun Atsushi Iwamatsu) was born in September 21, 1908 in Kagoshima, Japan, and immigrated to the United States in 1939. He studied art in Tokyo at the Imperial Art Academy from 1927 to 1930 and later at the Art Students League in New York City, from 1939 to 1941. He first used the pseudonym Yashima during his service with the Office of Strategic Services in World War II. Yashima began writing and illustrating books in the 1940s. His first work, autobiographical in content, The New Sun, was published in 1943. Yashima's first book specifically for children, The Village Tree, came out in 1953. Like several of his later works, it would focus on his and his collaborator's (and wife), Mitsu Yashima, experiences growing up in Japan. Yashima also wrote several books based on his daughter, Momo, including Umbrella (1958) and Momo's Kitten (1961). Yashima's works have been widely praised by critics for their simplicity and vivid colors that convey movement and feeling, and for his sensitivity to children's concerns, a first umbrella and kitten, the torments of being different and teased for it. Three of Yashima's works have been Caldecott Medal runners-up, Umbrella , Crow Boy , and Seashore Story .

From the guide to the Taro Yashima Papers, 1943-1961, (University of Minnesota Libraries Children's Literature Research Collections [clrc])

Japanese born, American illustrator and author of children's books; 3 time Caldecott Honor Book recipient.

From the description of Papers, 1943-1961. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62489211

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Yashima, Tarō, 1908-. Momo's kitten : production material. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
creatorOf Taro Yashima Papers, 1943-1961 University of Minnesota Libraries Children's Literature Research Collections
creatorOf Yashima, Tarō, 1908-. Plenty to watch : production material. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
creatorOf Yashima, Tarō, 1908-. Papers, 1953-1974. University of Southern Mississippi, Regional Campus, Joseph Anderson Cook Library
creatorOf Yashima, Tarō, 1908-. The new sun : production material. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
creatorOf Yashima, Tarō, 1908-. Crow boy : production material. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
referencedIn Yaddo records, 1870-1980 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Yashima, Tarō, 1908-. Umbrella : production material. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
creatorOf Yashima, Tarō, 1908-. Papers, 1943-1961. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Behrens, June. person
associatedWith Bulla, Clyde Robert. person
associatedWith Jewett, Eleanore Myers. person
associatedWith Muku, Hatojū, 1905- person
associatedWith Taylor, Mark, 1927- person
associatedWith Yaddo (Artist's colony) corporateBody
associatedWith Yashima, Mitsu, 1908- person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Japan
Japan
Japan
Subject
Cats
Cats
Children's literature
Children's literature
Children's literature, American
Children's literature, Japanese
Japanese Americans
Pets
Pets
Rain and rainfall
Umbrellas and parasols
Occupation
Illustrator
Activity

Person

Birth 1908-09-21

Death 1994

Japanese

Information

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SNAC ID: 19845718