What a fantastic coming-of-age story!

I'll be honest: I adore Hayao Miyazaki's adaptation of Kiki's Delivery Service and I'm ashamed to admit that before I saw it listed here on Netgalley, I had no idea that the story had begun as a book. I can't thank Random House enough for giving me the chance to read a translation of the original work.

Thanks to the movie adaptation, Kiki will always hold a very special place in my heart, but it was wonderful to see how the story began, and how it was intended. In the e-ARC, there is a fantastic letter from the author discussing her inspiration for the story, which I think gives the book a very personal touch.

Though the book is different from the Studio Ghibli adaptation, I highly recommend the original work to fans of the movie.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Reading the book that was one of my favorite movies? Perfection. I had so much fun reading about Kiki's journey into becoming a witch and moving out of her house. The magical feeling that the movie had was perfectly portrayed within these pages. I really loved discovering a new town with Kiki and her foray into starting her own business. The charming aspects of the story were great and this was an excellent read for fans of the movie!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's for providing an eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review!

On a witch's thirteenth birthday it's time for them to choose if they'd like to follow their family's tradition and set out on their own. For half-witch Kiki it isn't any different, but unlike her mother she doesn't have a knack for brewing medicine. Kiki loves to fly.

Kiki settles on a bustling seaside village that is wary of having a witch among them, but still decides to take odd delivery jobs running Kiki's Delivery Service.

Let me preface this saying that I never saw the movie, but now I'm going to change that fact. This story inspired the movie, and it is precious!

I'm not entirely sold on the whole premise of a thirteen year-old witch moving to an entirely different city on her own, but it's still so sweet and magical. The whole story is about learning to find your way in the world and find what makes you happy. It's also a lot about growing up. Kiki is already a very mature young woman before she sets out on her adventure, but still it's so great to see her continue to grow and learn from her experiences.

This would be an amazing read for any middle graders, fans of the movie or not. It has a sense of magic to it that is unique and sweet. I loved it. The illustrations were beautiful and everything was so sugary sweet. I'm going to be picking up a copy for myself.

If you are a fan of the movie you will love these short stories about KiKi. While the story is laid out in sequential each chapter had its own problem and solution. A different take on magic for new and old fans alike. The letter from the author in the beginning felt very personal. Children ages 8 and up.

I’d like to thank Delacorte Press for providing me with an early edition. My review is 100% honest. 

Kiki’s Delivery Service is one of those vague memories you have from childhood, but you don’t exactly remember it. You just remember the image of a red, blue and a little girl flying with a cat. At least, that’s how it is for me. However, when I was offered the chance to read the English translation early, I was all for it.

On her thirteenth birthday, Kiki is eager to choose a new home for the year as she grows as a witch, taking on the task of being a delivery girl at the seaside village of Koriko. There, she builds friendships and builds her own confidence to be herself.

This is obviously a book for grade school children, but it’s definitely a book they would enjoy and one they can connect to. Kiki may be a witch, but she is still a little girl that is building her confidence and going on adventures. She’s a lot more mature for her age and I admired that. She was so determined and, as a young child, that’s important to have; determination for your goals and what you want. 

Though I don’t remember ever seeing the film, I’ve noticed from other reviewers that there are differences between the book and the film. Regardless of personal opinion people may have about both, I’d encourage parents and kids to pick up this book for a fun read or the need for an inspiration character. It’s a wonderful addition to add to a reader’s growing shelf.

A heart-warming story and such a fun read!
Loved how, despite being a children’s book, this book contained life lessons about self-confidence and independence
I enjoyed reading about Jiji’s sarcastic comments
Overall, it was such a cute and cheerful story!! Highly recommend! [ More to this review on my Instagram story]

Kiki is witch, and her magical talent is the ability to fly. When she comes of age at thirteen, she sets off from home to start her new life. She finds a town by the sea without a resident witch and starts a delivery service, relying on her magic and her wits to succeed. This is a fun, enjoyable story.

In a seaside town called Koriko, where the residents aren't used to having a witch around, Kiki has to prove her usefulness. She sets up a delivery service shop and uses her everyday magic of flying to bring joy to the residents of the town. Kiki goes through ups and downs and problem solves her way through delivery requests that take her on an adventure of a lifetime.

Kiki is coming of age in this classic Japanese children's book that inspired the Miyazaki film. Kiki's Delivery Service is getting revamped with a new cover and illustrations that will allow kids of this generation and the one before to enjoy such a sweet witchy story. I'm pleased that I read the author's note at the start of the book because it laid out the reasoning the author first wrote the story. She got the idea from one of her daughter's drawings. She wanted to make Kiki have only one type of power in order for her to be as ordinary as possible. This way her magic can be thrilling for those who read her story but she also faced realistic obstacles that she had to solve. This author's note started off my reading right. I truly enjoyed getting to know Kiki. She was a dreamer but also determined. She could get easily worried or annoyed by something but she could also be hardworking. She sounded and acted like a twelve-year-old girl just with some extra magic in her. I enjoyed seeing her relationship with her parents especially her mother at the beginning of the story. I also thought that the whole atmosphere and the way everyone spoke took me back to why Miyazaki chose this story. It's whimsical, sweet, and with a little adventure. The talking cat made this special too. Their bond and conversations with each other were lots of fun and provided some light humor into the story. Jiji is an admirable sidekick who is as dedicated to seeing Kiki succeed as long as it doesn't interfere with a nap.

I loved that each chapter followed a day in Kiki's life. Who she was helping, what obstacles she had to face, and what new person she would meet. In some cases, this might be a downfall to the story. It is slower-paced so kids might not want to patiently follow along with Kiki's story. On the other hand, fans of the movie might delight to get a chance to read about Kiki. I think this would be a great read-aloud story for parents to read to their children. A chapter a day will keep this children's classic a light and fun read to enjoy amongst family.

Kiki's Delivery Service is a classic that meshes the everyday simplicity of life with a magical adventure.

A sweet, moving coming of age story that’s relevant in so many ways. While we may not let our children go out fully independent 13 is the age at which we start letting them make their own decisions AND their own mistakes. KIKI’S reminds us how important those opportunities are and how much more capable our children are than we believe them to be.

Kiki sounds very familiar to me, maybe I had the chance of watching the animated series back when I was a kid or maybe I stumbled upon its book version before but no matter how or when I knew of Kiki’s character I was immediately hooked to the story.

Kiki is still a 13-year-old kid, and her thoughts and ideas were very refreshing for me in my mind now as an adult. I enjoyed her adventure – both in the world and within her self discovery. The book actually introduces us to a world where witches are rare because their magic was disappearing and the bloodline is ending. In the world of Kiki, ordinary people interact with the witch kind in a way that they do accept that there are doctors in the world. It is a different take to the usual witch/wizard story wherein the mundane are barely aware of their existence.

I cannot imagine how Eiko Kadono was able to write a fun light-hearted read inside a 13-year-old mind, but this is a great adventure to be part of. I cannot wait to discover more and see Kiki grow up into a full-fledged witch, hopefully, I get another chance to read the other books in the series.

This is a gorgeous fantasy story about a little witch, Kiki, coming into her own as she leaves home and finds a purpose in life. Her blunders, creativity, and banter with friends makes this story so charming. This is a great middle grade or YA read to be included in a classroom library. Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley!

3.5 stars, rounded up because it's very charming. The story is super gentle and it would be a really good family read aloud. Basically Kiki comes of age, moves to a new town, and opens a delivery business. She learns some lessons and flies around. I'm guessing more things happen in subsequent books, but also maybe not! I had a conversation about which section to put this book in (general fiction vs. science-fiction) and even though Kiki is a witch, I think it belongs in fiction. Tonally and stylistically this book reminds me a lot of the Moomin novels or Pippi Longstocking, so it makes sense to catalog & shelve it in the same section as those.

I really liked this book. I had heard about it many times and decided it was time to check it out. I love the art and the characters. It is a great mix of fantasy and relationships. This would be a great addition to any library.

It was an absolute delight to be able to read the original novel for the beloved Studio Ghibli classic! Kadono's Kiki is different from Miyazaki's; Kadono's is more slow-moving and in it for the beauty of life as it goes along. I highly suggest for any collection where Ghibli movies are popular and for most middle grade collections in general!

In this beautiful new edition of "Kiki's Delivery Service", the book that inspired the Studio Ghibli film of the same title, a whole new generation gets to know Kiki. Follow Kiki and her loyal black cat, Jiji, on their journey as take part in their coming-of-age ritual (leaving home to live in a different town for a year), from their preparations to Kiki making a name for herself and her business, Kiki's Delivery Service, and learning what it means to be a witch. From deliveries that make someone's day to daring escapades that save the day, and a whole cast of interesting friends to make along the way, "Kiki's Delivery Service" is a fun read for the entire family and anytime of the year!

This was a fine little read. I think young readers who are still building stamina will like the short story feel of the chapters that make it a little easier to digest. I think some of the smoothness of the story may have been lost in translation because it sometimes felt like some scenes and some of Kiki’s reactions and thought processes were not well explained and felt a little off. Overall a cute story and one I’ll strongly consider purchasing.

So, I can't say I found this as enjoyable as I would've liked, and that's pretty much down to how irritating I found Kiki and Jiji. They were both a bit off-putting as characters for me. But it should be said that I am 100% not the target audience for this book and readers closer in age to Kiki may find her incredibly relatable. The story itself is sweet and soothing, and is probably the kind of escapism everyone needs right now.

Thank you to Random House Children's, Delacorte Books for Young Readers, NetGalley, and Eiko Kadono for the opportunity to read this amazing new translation of Kiki's Delivery Service in exchange for an honest review.

Kiki's Delivery Service was originally published in Japan in 1985 with the title translating to Witch's Express Home Delivery. Soon after, the Miyazaki film many of us know and love was released in 1989. As with most Miyazaki films, I find out later that there was a book that came first. I had no idea this was a book! And a second translation, too. There was an original English translation that came out in 2003 with a very...unattractive cover (and since it is long out of print, it's ridiculously expensive).

This new cover is absolutely adorable and the illustrator also has original images throughout the novel as well. This is a very attractive cover that will draw new and old fans alike. This translation itself is also excellent! I have read a number of translated books where something happens during the translation process and the magic of the story gets lost somewhere along the way. Not this book! Kiki's Delivery Service is eloquently written and translated to portray the adorable story of a young witch named Kiki.

Witches get to leave home at the age of thirteen. With nothing but a few belongings, a broom, and a cat raised alongside the child, a witch of age is ready to set out into the world and find a place where they can be useful.

Kiki sets out for a coastal town with her trusty cat, Jiji, in tow. Her magic is that of flying, and it doesn't take long for her to gain the trust of the city-folk and run a delivery service. She claims she will deliver anything (aside from pranks). She delivers love letters, bread, clothes--all kinds of things! Kiki will find some way to get the item to who it needs to go to. Her payment? Anything the person has to offer!

Kiki's Delivery Service is a fun, quick, light-hearted read that I would recommend to anyone of any age. I know friends, family, and students who would love to read this book. There is a nostalgic enjoyment to this book that takes the reader back to a time when they may have been discovering the world for the first time themselves, no matter what age that may have been.

There are also sequels that the author wrote to this series, and it would be awesome if Random House and Delacorte Press could get the same translator and illustrator to take on that project! Wishful thinking, or future reality? ;p

More like 3.5 stars, but I have to round up because this was adorable. I really did enjoy the short story feel of this book, with a large chunk of it being interconnected little stories. As a fan of the Miyazaki film since I was a small child it was fun to read this and notice the differences. I still really like the movie and while I think I'd have loved this as a kid, I still really enjoyed it as an adult. I really wish it had been available sooner, but I can't wait to see a finished copy and look at the final illustrations. I'd recommend it for a sweet young middle grade book that reads quickly, especially if you have a child to share it with.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Random House Children's, for this eARC. All opinions are my own, this book releases July 7, 2020.

Sweet and simple enough. It was a very quick read and definitely not what I was expecting as a Miyazaki fan. The novel was more a series of vignettes with the overarching coming of age storyline.

Kiki is a young witch in a world where witches are increasingly rare. She has to leave home for an entire year and persuade her newly adopted town to accept magic. The characters, mostly Jiji the black cat, were fun and quirky. I would recommend this to fans of the movie, manga readers (whose parents request that they read a "real book"), and reluctant readers because it's so easy to stop and pick up again.