A Rainbow in the Desert: An Anthology of Early Twentieth Century Japanese Children's Literature

This anthology compiles a diverse collection of Japanese children's literature from the early 20th century, showcasing a range of stories from adventure tales to heartfelt family narratives. A collection of Japanese children's literature in translation spans three decades with contributions by major authors as well as familiar lullabies. It includes eleven stories, a play, and five poems. All the featured authors were influenced by Akai Tori (Red Bird), a Tokyo children's literary magazine, and wrote for both children and adult audiences. The pieces are notable for their similarity in style and content to literature written for adults.