Ten Oni Drummers 
By Matthew Gollub
Illustrated by Kazuko G. Stone
9781584300113
At dusk, on a beach in Japan, a young boy falls asleep and begins to dream, but soon he has company — a tiny oni, creeping up from the sand. Throughout the night, one by one, more oni appear, until there are ten in all, and they grow bigger, too. They begin beating their taiko drums, louder and louder. They sail on a raft, play games, have a big meal, and eventually chase away the boy's scary dreams.
In this playful, rhyming story, young children find reassurance and comfort for their fears when scary dreams come their way. Through art and story, children also learn about Japanese taiko drumming and the Japanese words and characters for the numbers one to ten.
- Interest Level
- Grades PreK - 2
- Reading Level
- Grades 2 - 3
- Themes
- Asian/Asian American Interest, Beginning Concepts, Childhood Experiences and Memories
- Accelerated Reader
- Level: 2.3
Points: .5
Matthew Gollub is the author of several books for children, including Ten Oni Drummers and Cool Melons, an ALA Notable Book and a Horn Book "Fanfare" selection, published by LEE & LOW. He lives in Santa Rosa, California, with his wife and their son. To find out more about Matthew Gollub, visit his Web site: www.matthewgollub.com
Kazuko G. Stone has illustrated many books for children here in the United States and in her native Japan. She was the illustrator for Ten Oni Drummers and Cool Melons. A full-time artist, teacher, and designer, she lives in New York City with her husband and their two daughters.
