he story is set in Tokyo, Japan, during the years leading up to World War II. It follows Totto-chan (the author's childhood nickname), a cheerful, fiercely curious, and hyperactive seven-year-old girl. At her traditional primary school, Totto-chan’s constant energy—such as opening and closing her desk lid hundreds of times or standing at the window to talk to street musicians—is seen as d…
Totto-chan's Children: Anak-anak Totto-chan, the deeply moving non-fiction narrative written by Tetsuko Kuroyanagi, the celebrated author of the modern classic Totto-chan: The Little Girl at the Window. Serving as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF, Kuroyanagi chronicles her transformative journeys across various regions devastated by war, famine, and systemic poverty—including African nations,…