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My neighbor Totoro

Hayao Miyazaki - Author

The sisters’ countryside explorations bring them into contact with Totoro, a forest spirit who takes them on magical adventures through trees and clouds.

More about this book

The companion book to the beloved animation classic My Neighbor Totoro, by legendary Studio Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki. Featuring artwork taken directly from the movie, this updated edition will allow parents and children to relive Totoro's magical adventures with scene-by-scene illustrations and character dialogue. Eleven-year-old Satsuki and her sassy little sister Mei have moved to the country to be closer to their ailing mother. While their father is working, the girls explore their sprawling old house and the forest and fields that surround it. Soon, Satsuki and Mei discover Totoro, a magical forest spirit who takes them on fantastic adventures through the trees and the clouds - and teaches them a lesson about trusting one another.

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Book Analysis

At a Glance

Discover

Sisters· ExplainedTrust· Explained

Consider

Family disruption

Personalised Fit

Beyond the Cover

sisterstrust

FictionPicture book

Themes in Context

Sisterly trust

Satsuki and Mei share adventures that teach them about trusting one another.Exploratory / explanatory

How the book presents it: The sisters’ adventures develop the story’s focus on trusting one another.

Talk about: What do the sisters do that helps them trust one another?

Why It May Be Worth Reading

Artwork taken from the film and scene-by-scene dialogue make this a visual retelling, so it may appeal to a child who enjoys following a story through pictures as well as words.

What Deserves Attention

The family is dealing with the mother’s illness, and the sisters are sometimes without their father while he works. These family circumstances may prompt questions or feelings.

A Conversation Worth Having

What do you think the sisters learn about trusting one another, and what helps you see that in the story?

Reading Approach

Look through the illustrations together and invite your child to describe what they notice; pause if the mother’s illness raises questions, and follow their lead.

Confidence & Basis

Theme indicators describe how the book presents a topic; they are not a verdict on the whole book or your family's values. Confidence reflects how much book-specific material was checked. Only part of the book information was available, so some details remain unconfirmed.

What remains unconfirmed

Sisterly trust: The focus is trust between the sisters.

My Neighbor Totoro Picture Book: New Edition - Hayao Miyazaki - Google Books

Limited information

Checked: 1 October 2026.

Relevant to: Sisterly trust

My neighbor Totoro by Hayao Miyazaki | Open Library