Junko Tabei
A Life in the Mountains
A TRUE TALE WITH
A CHERRY ONÂ TOP
Clarion Books
(Harper Collins Publishers)
(pub. 9.24.2024)
48 pages
Ages 4 - 8
Author: Anita Yasuda
   Illustrator: Yuko Shimizu
Character: Junko Tabei
Overview:
" Junko Tabei dreamed of a life climbing mountains. But men refused to climb with her. Sponsors told her to stay home. And gloves were not made to fit her hands. Junko, eager and unstoppable, wouldn’t let these obstacles get in her way.
Instead, she planned an expedition to summit Mount Everest with an all-women team. Battling icy peaks, deep crevasses, and even an avalanche, Junko refused to give up. She climbed step by step . . . up, up, ever up!
After summiting the world’s tallest peak, Junko took on a new challenge: protecting the wild spaces she loved for future generations."
Tantalizing taste:
"Junko stood on Everest's summit, where earth met sky:
silvery domes
and icy peaks
unfurled as far as she could see.
On a snowy patch, no larger than a tatami mat, she gazed upon a landscape untouched by people. Just two small climbers in a cloud of white."
And something more: Anita Yasuda, in the Author's Note, explains that "Concerned about the impact of climbing on the environment, Junko campaigned for sustainable mountaineering... Junko also organized an annual Mount Fuji hike for high school students [from the Fukushima region], teaching them the importance of conservation and rebuilding their love of nature.
In 2016, three months after hiking with students on the annual Mount Fuji hike, Junko passed away. It was her last climb. But Junko's commitment to mountain environments lives on... Junko's remarkable life inspires others to pursue their dreams, step-by-step, up, up, and ever up."
I'm quite touched by this book, so beautifully written and illustrated. I recently travelled to Japan for the first time and was enthralled when I saw the snow-topped Mt. Fuji, just as I always envisioned it. And now my appreciation of Mt. Fuji and Japanese culture is enhanced by knowing this inspiring story of Junko Tabei and her perseverance and dedication to protecting mountains and helping others value the beauty of nature.