The review
In our continuing series of Anthropomorphism at its Finest, we have Toast Ninja! The same author that brought us the Rice Cake x Hot Springs book has turned her attention to fluffy fluffy bread.
The Bread Village has discovered that Rice Village has hatched a nefarious plot against them and Toast Ninja has been dispatched to get to the bottom of it! What exactly is the Rice clan after?
Once again, the self-aware nudge nudge wink wink narrative definitely breaks down part of the fourth wall: Toast Ninja springs up from under the Tatami mats and the clan leader comments, "can't you appear just like a normal person?" Toast Ninja doesn't have normal ears, the entire crust is an ear. And so on.
Without spoiling the ending, this book does have good takeaways about the importance of communication, and all's well ends well. There's also a funny (but scientifically accurate) part about Toast Ninja's weakness towards water which might be a good discussion point and experiment to conduct with your little ones.
The illustrations are very zany, and honestly I did feel a little hungry staring at all the various donburi, onigiri and pans.
This book is also in traditional Chinese.