Ryoji Arai

Ryôji Arai was born in Yamagata, Japan in 1956. He has an illustrative style all of his own: bold, mischievous and unpredictable. Arai studied art at Nippon University. His art is at once genuine and truly poetic, encouraging children to paint and to tell their own stories. He took the Japanese picture-book world by storm in the 1990s. Since then, he has one multiple awards, including the international Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award in 2005.

Ryoji Arai's Titles

Almost Nothing, yet Everything A Book about Water

Almost Nothing, yet Everything

Existing in myriad forms, containing multitudes in its reflection, and coursing through each and every one of us, water sustains the world around...


Every Color of Light A Book about the Sky

Every Color of Light

A Publishers Weekly Best Picture Book of 2020A Kirkus Best Book of 2020A Shelf Awareness Best Children's Book of 2020Best Illustrator...


What What What

What What What

"What happened? What's up? What's going on?" Pan, a third grader, is bursting with questions.