Mai and the Missing Melon

Mai and the Missing Melon

$24.95 Sale Save
An exploration of Japanese food, culture, and history that celebrates the special relationship between a child, her grandmother, and the power of kindness, for kids 3-7, by the author of Japanese Home Cooking, Sonoko Sakai.

This charming story invites the reader on a journey through rural 1960s Japan following a little girl named Mai on the Enoden train, past the oceanside populated with fishers, and to the classic shrine-like home of her grandmother, or obachama. Loosely based on an event in Sonoko’s childhood, Mai wishes to share the gift of a sweet muskmelon with her grandmother but loses it on the train along the way. Obachama shares the Japanese folktale of The Stone Buddhas as an example of the power of good intentions to cheer Mai up. After the story, Mai hears from the train station master that the melon has been found, and she and her obachama are able to enjoy the sweet muskmelon together. This sweet story explores the cherished relationship between a young girl and her grandmother–two great friends despite the age gap–while the expressive art takes the reader through the Japanese countryside, past the sea, bamboo forests, and temples, drawn from the author’s own childhood memories.

Ages 3-7
Hardcover

SHIPPING RATES

CANADA

Estimated arrival 1-5 business days.

CAD $12 standard shipping to all provinces except NU, NT, and YT, and free shipping on orders within Canada over CAD 200 before tax for all provinces except NU, NT, and YT.

CAD $15 standard shipping for the provinces of NU, NT, and YT, and free shipping on orders over CAD $300.

CAD $25 2 DAY EXPEDITED shipping to all provinces except NU, NT, and YT, and CAD $35 EXPEDITED shipping to the provinces of NU, NT and YT.

Local pickup option is available at checkout during store business hours (if you need to pick up your order outside of store hours,
please email us at hello@parkette.ca and we’ll do our best to accommodate your needs). An email will be sent when your order is ready for pickup. Please have your order confirmation email with you when you come. 

UNITED STATES

Estimated arrival 2 business days.
$25 CAD standard shipping.

EUROPE

Estimated arrival 3-7 business days
$35 CAD standard shipping.

Please contact us at hello@parkette.ca for international shipping outside of the US and Europe, or if you require expedited international shipping. We will do our best to meet your needs. For more details on shipping, please refer to our Shipping & Returns page here.

Some items have non-standard dimensions and may incur additional shipping charges. If needed, we will contact you after your purchase to inform you.

RETURNS

Online orders can be returned within 14 days of initial receipt. If more than 14 days have gone by since the initial receipt of your purchase, unfortunately we can’t accept your return or exchange.

Please contact us at hello@parkette.ca with your request before returning an item. We will provide you with a return authorization number. A return authorization number must be included in your return. All returned purchases will either be issued a store credit or exchange minus the initial shipping charge. We are a small family-owned business and unfortunately cannot offer any refunds at this time.

To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in its original packaging. Items must be unworn, and tags still attached. All footwear must have no creasing or damage to the soles to be returned. Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food or magazines cannot be returned.

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