Biography
Akiko Miyakoshi was born in Saitama, on the island of Honshu in Japan. She began creating picture books while studying visual communication design at Musashino Art University. Her first picture book, The Storm, won the Nissan Children’s Storybook and Picture Book Grand Prix.~In 2009, after living in Berlin, Germany, she launched her career creating picture books for young children. Her anticipated follow-up, The Tea Party in the Woods, was her first book translated into English and was received with critical acclaim. She has since been featured in solo exhibitions in Tokyo and has published numerous picture books, which have been translated into French, Spanish and Chinese. She currently lives and works in Tokyo, Japan.
Awards
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Little Shrew
2024 - Best Illustrated Children’s Books of 2024, The New York Times/New York Public Library, Joint winner
2024 - Chicago Public Library’s Best of the Best, Chicago Public Library, Joint winner
2024 - Kirkus Best Middle Grade Books of the Year, Kirkus Reviews, Joint winner
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The Tea Party in the Woods
2016 - Great Lakes Great Books Award, Michigan Reading Association, Winner
2015 - 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing 2015, New York Public Library, Winner
2015 - Best Picture Books of 2015, Kirkus Reviews, Winner
2015 - Elizabeth Bird's 100 Magnificent Children's Books of 2015, School Library Journal, Winner
2015 - The Huffington Post's Best Picture Books of 2015, Huffington Post, Commended
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I Dream of a Journey
2021 - Best Children’s Books List, Bank Street College, Winner
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The Piano Recital
2019 - Best of the Best books of 2019, Chicago Public Library, Commended
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The Way Home in the Night
2018 - Best Children’s Books of the Year, Outstanding Merit Selection, Bank Street College, Winner
2018 - Outstanding International Book, honor book, USBBY, Winner
2017 - Best Books for Kids, New York Public Library, Winner
2017 - Best Illustrated Children's Book Award, The New York Times/New York Public Library, Winner
2017 - Best Picture Books of 2017, Kirkus Reviews, Winner
2016 - Bologna Ragazzi Award (Japanese Edition), Bologna Book Fair, Commended
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The Storm
2016 - The Globe 100: Best Books of 2016, The Globe and Mail, Winner
First Readers
Little Shrew, 2024Picture Books
I Dream of a Journey, 2020
The Piano Recital, 2019
The Way Home in the Night, 2017
The Storm, 2016
The Tea Party in the Woods, 2015