Once he had grand dreams of seeing the world, but now he is known as “Tapicero Tap Tap,” after the sounds that come from his humble furniture workshop. The war robbed him of his dreams of travel and he stayed in his small Spanish village making fine sofas and chairs.

But Tapicero Tap Tap is far from bitter: he has found and shared the treasures of a productive life lived among family and good friends. And besides, it’s never too late to travel.

Warabé Aska’s stunning art and moving text combine in a story that transcends time and place.

“The paintings are dreamy and mysterious.... Well-written and evocative.”

—Canadian Book Review Annual

He produced several successful books in his native Japan before immigrating to Canada in 1979. His first book with Tundra, Who Goes to the Park, won several prizes including the City of Toronto Book Award, which was given to a children’s book for the first time. Warabé has had solo exhibitions of his art in Japan, England, the U.S., and Canada. His art has also achieved global acclaim in exhibitions staged in the Czech Republic, Germany, Spain, Italy, France, Yugoslavia, and Iran. His works are part of the permanent collections of Japan’s Imperial Family as well as in many prominent private collections. Warabé Aska lives in Toronto.