Japan's myths are full of sun goddesses, storm gods and spirits hiding in every mountain and river. This volume introduces the kami of Japanese mythology as gentle, playful little characters perfect for coloring.
Every little god below comes from real Japanese mythology. Each story ends with a link to the book so you can meet them all.
Amaterasu, the sun goddess, once got so upset she hid inside a cave and plunged the whole world into darkness. It took the other gods throwing a wild party right outside to finally coax her back out.
Tsukuyomi is the moon god and Amaterasu's own brother, but the two had such a serious falling-out that, according to legend, that's exactly why the sun and moon never share the sky at the same time.
Susanoo, the storm god, was banished from the heavens for his wild temper — but he redeemed himself by defeating a monstrous eight-headed serpent and discovering a legendary sword hidden inside its tail.
Inari is the god (sometimes goddess!) of rice, prosperity and foxes, often shown with loyal fox messengers called kitsune. To this day, thousands of fox statues stand guard at Inari shrines across Japan.
Hachiman is the god of archery and war, but he's also honored as a protector of ordinary people — over the centuries, more shrines have been built for Hachiman in Japan than for almost any other kami.
Benzaiten is the goddess of music, art, water and wisdom, often shown playing a biwa, a traditional Japanese lute — legend says a divine serpent still follows her wherever she goes.