Wishing to have good fortune in the new year, an old man tries to trade his wife’s kimono for rice cakes. Characters from the Japanese alphabet are incorporated into the text.

• ISBN: 9780517592724
• Published: 1993 , Knopf Books for Young Readers
• Themes: Compassion and kindness, Generosity and sharing, Japanese tradition, New Year's Day, religious belief
• Descriptors: Folklore and Fairy Tales, Japan, Picture Book, Primary (ages 6-9)
• No. of pages: 350