Totto-Chan

Known by its other title, The Little Girl at the Window, Totto­–chan seems to be a collection of Tetsuko Kuroyanagi's childhood memories in the Tomoe Gakuen elementary school.

Based on the dates mentioned in the book, the author must have been in first grade in the year 1943. This was a turbulent time as Japan was engaged in world war with Asia and the US. However, the author is able to divert much of the reader's focus to the happenings within the local scenes of her childhood life without entailing too much on the international conflicts. This has helped to preserve the innocence and simplicity that radiate from each chapter, which makes it hard to put down once you start reading (it took just two evenings to complete the 200 or so pages).

I am quite sure that every reader of this book will find chapters that he or she likes, just as it did for me. The ones that touched my heart are The Headmaster, "Put It All Back!", Totto-chan's Name, The Great Adventure, "We Were Only Playing!", The Hair Ribbon, Health Bark, and "Yasuaki­–chan's Dead". Of course, there are chapters that bring a chuckle or smile as you read, such as "Chew It Well!", The School Song, "Look before You Leap!", "And then...Uh...", His Bride, and "Shabby Old School".

All in all, I find reading this book to be a refreshing experience; at the least, it stirs up the childhood memories we all had, and allows us to withdraw (for a moment) into the inner sanctuary of our souls where we once again discover the innocence and simplicity that we seem to have lost as we grow up.

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This is a wonderful book to read, and for reminding us that every child is special. It matters not whether they are born healthy or handicapped, but whether we are willing to accept them and give them room to grow to their potential.