Purchase to Support Our Program

“Origami is put to unique uses in this lighthearted story and instructional guide…Ita’s pleasantly rough-edged illustrations depict origami as a playful art more than a precise craft, and Aya…is a sarcastic but relatable protagonist, even for the origami unenthused. A quirky, fun introduction to the art of folding paper.”

—Kirkus Reviews

“Original, clever, and a fun read from start to finish”

—Midwest Book Review

Aya and Her Magic Cat: A Graphic Novel

Written by Sam Ita
Illustrated by Sam Ita
Published by Tuttle Publishing

The Girl Who Folds Enchanted Origami!

This exciting graphic novel tells the story of Aya Wada, a teenage girl who visits her relatives in Japan and unknowingly adopts a powerful feline Kami spirit named Neko, who follows her home to America. Each chapter tells an amusing story about how Neko brings Aya’s folded origami paper models to life—literally!

Follow along as Aya and Neko create magic, memories and a little mayhem wherever they go:

  • Neko reveals her existence on the return trip from Japan, helping Aya conjure up her first enchanted origami
  • Aya folds a paper cockroach that scuttles across the floor of the school cafeteria, creating utter chaos!
  • A paper dove pulled from a magician’s hat during a talent show becomes an attacking bird demon!
  • An origami fortune-teller model projects weird and wonderful images on Aya’s bedroom ceiling
  • Neko produces an animated paper puppet to illustrate how the spirit world can intersect with origami
  • Aya and Neko team up to use their magical-origami talents to comfort a distraught preschooler at the playground

Each chapter includes instructions for a simple origami model that readers can fold using the illustrated tear-out folding papers that are included at the back of the book.

Primary ISBN:
Publication Date: May 2026
Available As: Paperback
Young Adult, Graphic Novel, Age 08 or older

Community Represented:

Themes: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Setting: United States

Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: 1st Generation

Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience

Click here for details about how we define our titles.

Engagement Projects & Resources:

Share your favorite resources for this book with info@imyourneighborbooks.org.