Up, Up, Ever Up! Junko Tabei: A Life in the Mountains

Yasuda opens this biography of Junko Tabei (1939–2016), the first woman to summit Everest, with a description of a childhood trip to a mountain, where she first awakens to the excitement of climbing “up, up, and ever up!” Evocative, simile-rich prose (mountains are “whitecaps on a deep-deep sea”) follows Tabei to university in Tokyo, where most mountaineering clubs won’t accept women. Later, Tabei plans a women’s group trip to Everest, sewing some of her own clothing when mountaineering gear proves sized for men. Dazzling, visually complex spreads by Shimizu give the artwork the feel of woodblock prints; the daring of Tabei’s expedition is conveyed in part by an image of the climber striding through midair as she waves goodbye to her family before the trip. Both suspenseful tale and portrait of mountain stewardship, it’s a memorable story about living life on the edge of possibility. An author’s note, timeline, and glossary conclude. Ages 4–8. (Sept.)