Yōko Sano facts for kids

Yōko Sano (Japanese: 佐野洋子（さのようこ）, 28 June 1938 - 5 November 2010) was a famous Japanese writer and artist. She created many wonderful children's books. She also drew pictures for other authors. Her stories and art have touched many hearts.

About Yōko Sano's Life

Yōko Sano was born in Beijing, China, on June 28, 1938. She was a very talented writer. She wrote and illustrated many children's books. Her most famous book is The Cat Who Lived One Million Times. This book was also made into a movie.

In 1967, Yōko Sano traveled to Europe. She studied a special art technique called lithography in Berlin. Lithography is a way of printing pictures using a flat stone or metal plate.

Her first picture book, Sū-chan to neko (Su and the Cat), came out in 1973. She then created many different kinds of picture books. Some of her popular books include Ojisan no kasa (Uncle’s Umbrella) and Watashi no bōshi (My Hat). My Hat won the Kodansha Award for Picture Books. Another book, Nē tōsan (Hey Papa), won the Shogakukan Children’s Publication Culture Award.

Yōko Sano also drew pictures for other writers' books. She translated picture books into Japanese too. She even wrote a script for a children's play. The play was called Jitensha buta ga yatte kita (The Bicycle Pig Is Coming). It was performed by the Maru theater company. Yōko Sano passed away on November 5, 2010.

Awards Yōko Sano Won

Yōko Sano received several important awards for her work:

• Medal of Honour with purple ribbon (2003): This is a special award from the Japanese government. It honors people who have made great achievements in arts or academics.
• Kobayashi Hideo Prize (2004)
• Sazanami Iwaya Literature Prize (2008)

Popular Books by Yōko Sano

Here are some of the well-known books written by Yōko Sano:

• The Child Who Was Born (Umaretekita kodomo / うまれてきた子ども)
• The Cat Who Lived One Million Times (Hyakumankai ikita neko / 100万回生きたねこ) - This book was also made into a movie.
• Hey, Papa (Ne, tosan / ねえ　とうさん) - This book won the Shogakukan Children’s Publication Culture Award.
• My Hat (Watashi no bōshi / わたしのぼうし) - This book won the Kodansha Award for Picture Books.
• Su and the Cat (Sū-chan to neko)
• Uncle's Umbrella (Ojisan no kasa)

• Yoko Sano on Wikipedia (in French)