CLICK ON THE
BOOK’S TITLE TO LINK TO amazon.com TO PURCHASE YOUR FAVORITE BOOKS.
NOTE: RECENTLY ADDED TITLES
APPEAR IN RED.
NOTE: TITLES ADDED WINTER 2008/2009 APPEAR IN BLUE.
Realistic Fiction:
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Buck,
P.S. (1986). The
big wave. |
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His family and village swept away, Jiya learns to live
with the ever-present dangers from the sea and volcano. (card catalog) |
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Bunting, E. (1998). So
far from the sea. Illustrated by C. K. Soentpiet. |
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Laura Iwasaki’s father was interned along with thousands
of other American citizens of Japanese heritage during World War II. When her
grandfather died he was buried in the internment camp and now that the family
is moving this will probably be their last visit to Grandfather’s grave. (amazon.com) |
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Friedman, |
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An American sailor courts a Japanese girl and each
tries, in secret, to learn the other’s way of eating. (card catalog) |
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Johnston, T. (1996). Fishing
Sunday. Illustrated by B. Root. |
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A young boy, originally embarrassed by the traditions of
his Japanese grandfather, comes to an understanding one day as he observes
him during a fishing trip and notes that the old man and his ways are not
silly at all but are actually rather magical. (amazon.com) |
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Kadohata, C. (2004). Kira-kira.
Atheneum. (5-8) |
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In
Cynthia Kadohata’s lively, lovely, funny and sad novel -- winner of the 2005
Newbery Medal -- the Japanese-American Takeshima family moves from Iowa to
Georgia in the 1950s when Katie, the narrator, is just in kindergarten.
Though her parents endure grueling conditions and impossible hours in the
non-unionized poultry plant and hatchery where they work, they somehow manage
to create a loving, stable home for their three children: Lynn, Katie, and
Sammy. Katie’s trust in, and admiration for, her older sister Lynn never
falters, even when her sisterly advice doesn’t seem to make sense. Lynn teaches
her about everything from how the sky, the ocean, and people’s eyes are
special to the injustice of racial prejudice. The two girls dream of buying a
house for the family someday and even save $100 in candy money: "Our
other favorite book was Silas
Marner. We
were quite capitalistic and liked the idea of Silas keeping all that gold
underneath the floorboards.” When |
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Kroll,
V. L. (1996). A
carp for Kimiko. Illustrated by K. Roundtree. |
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Although the tradition is to present carp kites only to
boys on Children’s Day, Kimiko’s parents find a way to make the day special
for her. (card
catalog) |
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Nomura, T. (1995). Grandpa’s
town. |
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A young Japanese boy, worried that his grandfather is
lonely, accompanies him to the public bath. (card catalog) |
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A simply told, understated story of young Sachiko’s
acceptance of her grandmother’s Alzheimer’s disease is illustrated in warm,
sunset tones, with insets featuring traditional Japanese motifs. Touching and
unsentimental, the book is a boon for those looking for contemporary images
of Asian-American children. (Horn Book, 1991) |
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Say, A. (1997). Allison.
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When Allison tries on the red kimono her grandmother has
sent her, she is suddenly aware that she resembles her favorite doll more
than she does her mother and father. When her parents explain that she is
adopted, Allison’s doll becomes her only solace until she finds a stray cat
in the garden and learns the true meaning of adoption and parental love. (amazon.com) |
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Say,
A. (1996). Emma’s
rug. |
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Emma, who is gifted with immense artistic talent and
whose favorite possession is a shaggy old rug, faces an unexpected challenge
when her mother puts the rug in the washer, in a story of the inspirations, both
simple and profound, that combine to make up the creative visual mind. (amazon.com) |
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Say,
A. (1992). The
lost lake. |
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A young boy and his father become closer friends during
a camping trip in the mountains. (card catalog) |
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Say, A. (1991). Tree
of cranes. |
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A Japanese boy learns of Christmas when his mother
decorates a pine tree with paper cranes. (card catalog) |
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Uchida, Y.
(1993). A
jar of dreams. Aladdin. (4-6) |
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A
young girl grows up in a closely-knit Japanese American family in |
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Uchida,
Y. (1985). The
happiest ending. |
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When twelve-year-old Rinko learns that a neighbor’s
daughter is coming from |
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Uchida,
Y. (1993). The
best bad thing. |
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At first dismayed at having to spend the last month of
the summer vacation helping out in the household of recently widowed Mrs.
Hata, Rinko discovers there are pleasant surprises for her, but then bad
things start to happen. (card catalog) |
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Yashima, T. (1976). Crow
boy. |
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No synopsis available. |
NON-FICTION:
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Allan-Meyer,
K. (1995). I
have a new friend. Photographs by M. Spinelli. |
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Saki is a little Japanese girl whose best friend is
Lisa. Lisa learns about Japanese customs, Saki learns about American ways,
and language is no barrier to their friendship. Spinelli’s candid
black-and-white photos transform the book into a kind of photo album. (amazon.com) |
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Brenner, B. &
Takaya, J. (1999). Chibi:
A true story from Japan. Illustrated by J. Otani. |
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Based on actual events, this dramatic story follows a
mother duck and her ten babies as they move from one location in |
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Brown, T. (1995). Konnichiwa!
I am a Japanese-American girl. Photographs by K. Arai. |
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Presents the activities of Lauren Kamiya and her family
as they prepare for and participate in the Cherry Blossom Festival in |
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Chin,
S. A. (1995). When
justice failed: The Fred Korematsu story. Illustrated by D. Tamura. |
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When
the |
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Doran, C. (1995).
The Japanese. |
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Color
photographs of original artifacts, including tapestries, mosaics, armor,
architecture, and maps, among other items, reinforce a succinct historical
perspective of two great warrior civilizations. Societal structure, religious
practices, transportation, and the arts during the medieval |
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Fremon, D. K. (1996). Japanese-American
internment in American history. |
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Includes personal accounts to describe the period in
American history when Japanese Americans were detained in internment camps;
also discusses the issues and controversy surrounding the decision. (card catalog) |
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Galvin, |
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Discusses the history,
geography, daily life, culture, and customs of the island nation of |
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Hamanaka, S. (1995). The
journey: Japanese Americans, racism, and renewal. |
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Text
and photographed details of a mural depict the history of the Japanese people
in |
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Haskins, J. (1988). Count
your way through Japan. Illustrated by M. Skoro. |
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Presents the numbers one through ten in Japanese, using
each number to introduce concepts about |
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Heinrich,
A. (1998). Japan:
Enchantment of the world series. |
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Describes the history and culture of the island nation
of |
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Hoobler,
D. & Hoobler, T. (1996). The
Japanese American family album. |
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Introduction by George Takei. Six chapters illustrated
with black-and-white photographs cover the immigration experience, from
leaving the Old Country to becoming part of |
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Kalman,
B. (2000). Japan:
The land. |
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This beautifully designed book covers every aspect of |
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Kalman,
B. (2000). Japan:
The people. |
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This distinctive blend of traditional and modern traits
in the daily lives of the Japanese are revealed as they are seen at home,
work, school, and play. (amazon.com) |
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Kitano,
H. (1995). The
Japanese Americans (Immigrant experience). |
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After
first arriving in the |
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Knorr, R. (1995). If
I lived in Japan. Illustrated by J. Knorr. |
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Young readers are invited
to join in the daily activities of their peers in Japan – their schooling,
cultural experiences, outdoor activities, etc. –while learning some basic
vocabulary in Japanese. Playful illustrations and rhyming verse. (Asia
for Kids 2000-2001 Educational Catalog, p. 26) |
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Lee,
L. (1996). Japanese
Americans. |
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Provides a history of Japanese immigration to the |
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Littlefield, H. (1997). Colors
of Japan. Illustrated by H. Byers. |
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Ten colors are used to introduce readers to |
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MacMillan, D. M. (1997).
Japanese
Children’s Day and the Obon Festival. |
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Describes the
history, significance, and traditions of Japanese Children’s Day and the Obon
Festival, and the ways they are celebrated in |
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McKay, S. (1997). Japan
(Festivals of the world). |
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Describes how
the culture of |
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Say, A. (2004). Music
for Alice. Lorraine/Houghton. (4-6) |
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As a girl, |
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Stanley, J. (1996). I
am an American: A true story of the Japanese internment.
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With stunning intensity, |
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Stefoff,
R. (1998). Japan.
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An overview of the history, geography, economy, government,
people, and culture of |
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Takabayashi,
M. (2001). I
live in Tokyo: A Japanese calendar. |
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Colorfully detailed illustrations will draw readers to
this lively introduction to |
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Tunnel, M. & Chilcoat,
G. (1996). The
children of Topaz: The story of a Japanese American internment camp based on
a classroom diary. |
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The diary of a third grade class of Japanese American
children being held with their families in an interment camp in Topaz, |
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Turner, P. S.
(2004). Hachiko:
The true story of a loyal dog.
Illustrated by Y. Nascimbene. Houghton. (1-4) |
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Imagine
walking to the same place every day, to meet your best friend. Imagine
watching hundreds of people pass by every morning and every afternoon.
Imagine waiting, and waiting, and waiting. For ten years. This is what
Hachiko did. Hachiko was a real dog who lived in Tokyo, a dog who faithfully
waited for his owner at the Shibuya train station long after his owner could
not come to meet him. He became famous for his loyalty and was adored by
scores of people who passed through the station every day. This is Hachiko’s
story through the eyes of Kentaro, a young boy whose life is changed forever
by his friendship with this very special dog. Simply told, and illustrated
with Yan Nascimbene’s lush watercolors, the legend of Hachiko will touch your
heart and inspire you as it has inspired thousands all over the world. (amazon.com) |
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Welch, C. A. (2000). Children
of the relocation camps. |
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Explores the experiences of Japanese American children
who were moved with their families to relocation centers during World War II,
looking at school, meals, sports, and other aspects of camp life. (Borders.com) |
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Wells, R. (1992). A
to ZEn: A book of Japanese culture. Illustrated by Yoshi. |
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An illustrated
alphabet book introduces children to |
Traditional:
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Baker, K. (1997). The
magic fan. |
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Despite
the laughter of his fellow villagers, Yoshi uses his building skills to make
a boat to catch the moon, a kite to reach the clouds, and a bridge that
mimics the rainbow. (amazon.com) |
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Bodkin, O. (2001). The
crane wife. Illustrated by G. Spirin. |
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A
retelling of the traditional Japanese tale about a poor sail maker who gains
a beautiful but mysterious wife skilled at weaving magical sails. (amazon.com) |
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Coatsworth, E. (1990). The
cat who went to heaven. |
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A little cat comes to the home of a poor Japanese artist
and, through humility and devotion,
brings him good fortune. (card catalog) |
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French, F. (2001). Little
Inchkin: A tale of old Japan. |
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A
unique young man named Inchkin--so named because he is only several inches
tall--finds himself face-to-face with two fiery demons, with only his skill
and bravery to defend himself. From decorative edges that make the adventure
unfold like scenes from a play to the characters' stark white faces, French's
full-color paintings capture the style of 18th-century Japanese prints. (amazon.com) |
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Johnston,
T. (1990). Badger
and the magic fan: A Japanese folktale. Illustrated by T. DePaola. |
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In this retelling of a Japanese folk
tale, a wicked badger steals a magic fan that makes noses grow and shrink. He
uses it to trick a rich man’s beautiful daughter into marrying him but is
foiled in the end by mischievous goblin children. DePaola’s characteristic
art aptly complements the simple humor of the story. (Horn
Book, 1990) |
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Kajikawa, K. (2000). Yoshi’s
feast. Illustrated by Y. Heo. |
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Text,
illustrations, and the book’s design are all marvelous here. Heo’s dazzling
collages of painting, pencil, and handmade papers bring out the outrageous
action and humor in Yoshi and Sabu’s conflict, extending the lively dialogue
and rich text. (Booklist) |
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Kimmel, E. A. (2004). Three
Samurai cats: A story from Japan. Illustrated by M. Gerstein. |
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An adaptation of a Japanese folktale in
which a feudal lord seeks a samurai cat to rid his castle of a savage rat,
but soon discovers that violence is not always the best way to accomplish
things. (card catalog) |
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Kudler, D. (1997). The
seven gods of luck. Illustrated by L. Finch. |
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In this story adapted from a Japanese folktale, two
penniless young siblings are generously rewarded when they thoughtfully brush
off the piles of snow covering the statues of the seven gods of luck. A brief
note describes the Japanese New Year celebration, and the wintry setting is
effectively realized in detailed watercolors that match the light tone of the
story. (Horn Book,
1998) |
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Lachenmeyer, N. (2008). The
origami master. Illustrated by
A. Sogabe. Albert Whitman. (2-4) |
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Shima the
Origami Master lives on a mountain in |
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Levine,
A. A. (1994). The
boy who drew cats: A Japanese folktale. Illustrated by F/ Clement. |
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In an intriguing book, Levine retells the story of a
frail, artistic boy whose drawings of cats come to life in a temple one
night, vanquishing the terrible Goblin Rat. The unembellished, smooth
narrative nicely complements Clément’s elegant acrylics. A source note is
included, as well as a chart giving the pronunciation and meanings of the
Japanese characters that appear at the top of each page of text. (Horn Book, 1994) |
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Long, J. F. (1996). The
bee and the dream: A Japanese tale. Illustrated by K. Ono. |
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As he watches his friend Tasuke sleeping and dreaming of
buried treasure, Shin sees a bee fly from Tasuke’s nose. Convinced by this
odd sign that Tasuke’s dream is true, Shin investigates, and though
unsuccessful at first, he soon becomes the owner of the treasure. The
illustrations, created by a Japanese artist contribute considerably to the
atmosphere of the book. (Horn Book, 1996) |
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Melmed,
L. K. (1997). Little
Oh. Illustrated by L. Lamarche. |
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Illustrated
with exquisite paintings, this original fairy tale about an origami girl who
comes to life is a tender and exciting adventure. From her wild river ride
aboard a teacup boat to her escape from an angry dog to her flight home on
the neck of a crane to her transformation into a real little girl, Little Oh
is sure to capture readers’ hearts. (amazon.com) |
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While chasing a dumpling, a little lady is captured by
wicked creatures from whom she escapes with the means of becoming the richest
woman in |
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Nishimoto, K. (1999). Japanese
Fairy Tales ( Classic Japanese fairy tales, Vol. I). Illustrated by
Y. Imoto. Heian International Publishing Company. (K-3) |
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These collections of
stories include some of |
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Palazzo-Craig, J. (1996). The
magic peach: A story from Japan. Illustrated by M. Nagano. |
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An
extraordinary Japanese boy sets out to destroy the ogres who have terrorized
his village for years. (amazon.com) |
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Paterson,
K. (1995). The
tale of the Mandarin ducks. Illustrated by L. & D. Dillon. |
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A pair of Mandarin ducks, separated by a cruel lord who
wishes to possess the drake for his beauty, reward a compassionate couple who
risk their lives to reunite the ducks. (card catalog) |
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Sakade, F. (1958). Peach
Boy and other Japanese children’s favorite stories. Illustrated by Y.
Kurosaki. |
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Stories that delight children of one land are sure to delight
children everywhere. In this charming collection of stories, twenty of |
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San Souci, R. D.(1997). The samurai’s
daughter: A Japanese legend. Illustrated by S. T. Johnson. |
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A Japanese legend about the brave daughter of a samurai
warrior and her journey to be reunited with her exiled father. (card catalog) |
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San Souci, R. D. (1993). The snow wife.
Illustrated by S. T. Johnson. |
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When a Japanese woodcutter breaks his promise and
describes his encounter with a terrifying snow woman, he loses his wife and
must make a dangerous journey to win her back. (card catalog) |
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Say,
A. (1974). Once
under the cherry blossom tree: An old Japanese tale. |
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No synopsis available. |
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Schroeder,
A. (1997). Lily
and the wooden bowl. Illustrated by Y. Ito. |
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A young girl who wears a wooden bowl over her face to
hide her beauty overcomes a variety of trials and finally finds love, riches,
and happiness. (card
catalog) |
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Snyder,
D. (1993). The
boy of the three year nap. Illustrated by A. Say. |
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A poor Japanese woman maneuvers events to change the
lazy habits of her son. (card catalog) |
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Tompert,
A. (1993). Bamboo
hats and a rice cake.
Illustrated by Demi. |
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Wishing to have good fortune in the new year, an old man
tries to trade his wife’s kimono for rice cakes. Characters from the Japanese
alphabet are incorporated into the text. (card catalog) |
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Uchida,
Y. (1993). The
magic purse. Illustrated by K. Narahashi. |
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After
facing danger to help a young woman, a poor farmer receives a magic purse
that always refills itself with gold. (card catalog) |
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Uchida,
Y. (1987). Two
foolish cats. Illustrated by M. Zemach. |
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Two foolish cats go to the old monkey of the mountain to
settle their quarrel.
(card catalog) |
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Uchida,
Y. (1994). The
wise old woman. Illustrated by M. Springett. |
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A dramatic Japanese folktale that tells the story of a
cruel overlord and a young farmer’s elderly mother. The overlord threatens to
destroy the farmer’s village unless the young lord can perform three
seemingly impossible tasks. How the elderly mother accomplishes the tasks and
saves the village is a satisfying story brought to life with remarkable
full-color paintings.
(Borders.com) |
Biography:
|
Blumberg,
R. (2003). Shipwrecked:
The true adventures of a Japanese boy. |
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In the 1800s, the
Japanese government had strict isolation laws. By decree, foreigners and
ideas from outside |
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Coerr,
E. (1999). Mieko
and the fifth treasure. |
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Staying with her grandparents after the atomic bomb has
been dropped on |
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Coerr,
E. (1997). Sadako.
Illustrated by E. Young. |
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Hospitalized with the dreaded atom bomb disease,
leukemia, a child in Hiroshima races against time to fold one thousand paper
cranes to verify the legend that by doing so a sick person will become
healthy. (card
catalog) |
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Coerr,
E. (1999). Sadako
and the thousand paper cranes. Illustrated by R. Himler. |
|
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Hospitalized with the dreaded atom bomb disease,
leukemia, a child in Hiroshima races against time to fold one thousand paper
cranes to verify the legend that by doing so a sick person will become
healthy. (card
catalog) |
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Emery,
V. & Stuart, L. (1998). I
am Japanese American (Our American Family Series). |
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No synopsis available. |
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Gold,
A. L. (2000). A
special fate: Chiune Sugihara: Hero of the Holocaust. |
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Award-winning author Alison Gold presents the
little-know story of Chiune Sugihara (1900-1986), a Japanese diplomat who
risked everything to save the lives of thousands of Jews during the
Holocaust. Sugihara chose to issue visas to Jews escaping Lithuania, despite
the fact that his superiors strictly forbade him to do so. (amazon.com)) |
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Gollub,
M. (1998). Cool
melons – turn to frogs!: The life and poems of Issa. Illustrated by
K. G. Stone. |
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Born in 1763 on a farm in central |
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Mochizuki,
K. (1997). Passage
to freedom: The Sugihara Story. Illustrated by D. Lee. |
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Here is the authorized true story of Chiune Sugihara,
the “Japanese Schindler”, who saved thousands of Jews during World War II.
Passage to Freedom tells Sugihara’s heroic story, highlighting his courageous
humanity. (amazon.com) |
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Rambeck, R. (1994). Kristi
Yamaguchi. |
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A biography of the young ice skater who won the gold
medal in women’s figure skating in the 1992 Olympics. (card catalog) |
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Savage, J. (1996). Kristi
Yamaguchi: Pure Gold. |
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A biography of a young Japanese-American skater who won
the Gold Medal in women’s figure skating at the 1992 Winter Olympics. (card catalog) |
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Say, A. (1999). Tea
with Milk. |
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With elegant watercolors, Say has created a moving tribute
to his parents and their path to discovering where home really is. The story
of his mother and her journey as a young woman is heartfelt. Vividly
portraying the graceful formality of |
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Spivak,
D. (1997). Grass
sandals: The travels of Basho. Illustrated by Demi. |
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An evocative portrait of the great Japanese haiku poet
describes Basho’s many experiences as he traveled throughout his beloved
native |
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Uchida, Y. (1995). The
invisible thread: An autobiography. |
|
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|
Children’s author, Yoshiko Uchida, describes growing up
in |
|
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Yamaguchi, K. &
Brown, G. (1998). Always
dream. Illustrated by D. Keith. |
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|
Two-time world champion and Olympic gold medalist Kristi
Yamaguchi has won the hearts of millions of fans. In “Always Dream”, Kristi
reveals how her determination, ambition and love of skating keeps her going,
even in the midst of obstacles and tragedy. (amazon.com) |
Historical Fiction:
|
Denenberg,
B. (1999). The
journal of Ben Uchida: Citizen 13559 Mirror Lake Internment Camp (My name is
America). |
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|
Heartbreaking
and humorous, this is the story of a twelve-year-old prisoner in one of |
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|
McCully, E. A.
(2008). Manjiro:
The boy who risked his life for two countries. Farrar.
(3-5) |
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|
In 1841, |
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Mochizuki,
K. (1995). Baseball
saved us. Illustrated by D. Lee. |
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A Japanese American boy learns to play baseball when he
and his family are forced to live in an internment camp during World War II,
and his ability to play helps him after the war is over. (card catalog) |
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Mochizuki, K. (1997). Heroes.
Illustrated by D. Lee. |
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From the author of Baseball Saved Us comes an
intergenerational story that describes how a Japanese-American family deals
with the painful legacy of war. Set against the backdrop of the 1960s and
talk of |
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Nishizuka, K. (2009. The
beckoning cat: Based on a Japanese folktale. Illustrated by R. Litzinger. Holiday.
(K-2) |
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This charming retelling of a Japanese
folktale explains the good-luck symbolism behind the waving white cat, whom
kids may recognize in the ubiquitous white statues that sit with paws raised
on business counters. Young Yohei, a poor, hardworking door-to-door fish
monger, finds his life transformed after a muddy white cat comes begging.
Yohei shares his meager dinner with the feline visitor, and the next day he
is astonished when customers begin to come straight to him. The reason, he
soon discovers, is the grateful white cat, who lures people to Yohei’s door
with his beckoning paw and stays on to help Yohei create a prosperous fish
business. In her children’s book debut, Nishizuka writes in captivating,
simple, easily paced language that is well suited for storytime, as are
Litzinger’s watercolor, pencil, and gouache pictures. In petal-soft shades
and textures, the uncluttered compositions feature appealingly rounded,
expressive figures, and children will enjoy following, and then talking
about, the mysterious, prominently placed green-eyed cat to the book’s happy
conclusion. (Booklist) |
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Noguchi, R. & Jenks, D. (2001). Flowers
from Mariko. Illustrated by M. R. Kumata. |
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Mariko’s family has been freed from a
Japanese-American internment camp, but the transition hasn’t been easy.
Because her father’s truck has disappeared, he can’t start up his gardening
business, and the family must move to a trailer park. One day, Mariko’s
father gives her two seed envelopes. She plants the seeds and even serenades
them. Mariko’s father is so preoccupied he doesn’t notice her garden -- until
he hears her singing. At last he smiles. Flowers from Mariko tells of a
family striving to re-establish their lives -- through hope, perseverance,
and love. (amazon.com) |
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Otey-Little, M. (1996). Yoshiko
and the foreigner. |
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When Yoshiko befriends a charming young American Air
Force officer without her family’s knowledge, and he receives orders to
return to America and proposes marriage to Yoshiko, she must earn her
father’s blessing before their two worlds can unite, in a story based on the
author’s parents’ courtship. (amazon.com) |
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Tomikazu, a Hawaiian-born boy of Japanese descent, must
help his family survive when his father and grandfather are arrested after
the attack on |
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Savin,
M. (1995). The
moon bridge. |
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When
Mitzi and her Japanese-American family are moved to an internment camp during
the Second World War, she and her best friend, the rebellious Ruthie, plan to
meet after the war at Golden Gate Park. (amazon.com) |
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Say,
A. (1993). Grandfather’s
journey. |
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A Japanese American man recounts his grandfather’s
journey to |
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Say, A. (1989). The
bicycle man. |
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The amazing tricks two American soldiers do on a
borrowed bicycle are a fitting finale for the school sports day festivities
in a small village in occupied |
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Trottier,
M. (1999). Flags.
Illustrated by P. Morin. Don Mills, ON: Stoddart Kids. (K-3) |
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Trottier turns her vision on the plight of the Nisei
during World War II in this tender little story. The point of view here is
interesting, with the narrator as observer, and only in the end a true participant.
But it is skillfully handled. The ocean sings in these pages; the plum tree
blooms. And Mr. Hiroshi’s garden endures, if not in the unfolding events,
then certainly in the heart of young Mary. The reader carries away a sense of
warmth, of sadness at injustice, and of hope. (Borders. com) |
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Uchida, Y. (1996). The bracelet. Illustrated by J. Yardley. NewYork: Paper Star. (1-4) |
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Emi, a Japanese American in the second grade, is sent
with her family to an internment camp during World War II. The loss of her bracelet, a gift from her best friend, proves that she doesn’t
need a physical reminder of that friendship. (card catalog) |
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Uchida,
Y. (1993). A
jar of dreams. |
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Eleven-year-old Rinko grows up in a closely-knit
Japanese American family in |
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Uchida,
Y. (1992). Journey
Home. Illustrated by C. Robinson. |
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After their release from an American concentration camp,
a Japanese-American girl and her family try to reconstruct their lives amidst
strong anti-Japanese feelings which breed fear, distrust, and violence. (card catalog) |
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Uchida, Y. (1988). Journey
to Topaz. Illustrated by D. Carrick.
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Like any 11-year-old, Yuki Sakane is looking forward to
Christmas when her peaceful world is suddenly shattered by the bombing of |
Poetry:
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Cassedy,
S. & Suetake, K. (1992). Red
dragonfly on my shoulder. Illustrated by M. Bang. NewYork:
Harpercollins. (K-5) |
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Thirteen haiku about animals translated from the
Japanese and illustrated with collages and assemblages. (card catalog) |
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Demi.
(1994). In
the eyes of the cat: Japanese poetry for all seasons. |
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A collection of Japanese nature poems organized
according to the seasons, illustrated with paintings corresponding to the
themes of the poems. (card
catalog) |
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Livingston,
M. C. (1997). Cricket
never does: A collection of Haiku and Tanka. Illustrated by K.
DeKiefte. |
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Divided into four sections, one for each season of the
year, an anthology of sixty-seven haiku and tanka, Japanese forms of verse,
explores the poet’s thoughts and feelings about the world and its wonders. (amazon.com) |
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Mado,
M. (1998). The
magic pocket: Selected poems. Translated by the Empress Michiko of |
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The Magic Pocket, Mado’s second collection of poetry (The Animals, 1992)
reflects with quiet intimacy children’s relationship with the natural world,
with lithe phrasing that is exquisitely pared down and precise. Minimal
language conjures striking images, “Umbrella, umbrella, The world's/Biggest
flower.'” Anno’s neutral-toned illustrations match the diminutive scale of
the poems; hailstones with little faces, smiling fingernails in a row, happy
acorns, and bounding rabbits decorate the pages. Both Japanese and English
versions of the poems appear. (Kirkus Reviews, 1998) |
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Melmed, L. K. (1995). The
first song ever sung. Illustrated by E. Young. |
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Animal and human friends provide lyrical answers to a
young boy’s musical query. (card catalog) |
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Nishimoto,
K., editor. (1999). Haiku
picturebook for children. Illustrated by K. Shimizu. Heian
International Publishing Company. (K-3) |
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Word-pictures
are complemented by charming illustrations in this unique introduction to
haiku. The haiku poems from some of |
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Shannon,
G. (1996). Spring:
A haiku story. Illustrated by M. Zeldis. |
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A collection of poems cleverly arranged to give the
young reader the feeling, through the immediate haiku moments, of one walking
through a rejuvenating spring day, is enhanced by vivid and lively folkart
paintings. (amazon.com) |
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Spivak,
D. (1997). Grass
sandals: The travels of Basho. Illustrated by Demi. |
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An evocative portrait of the great Japanese haiku poet
describes Basho’s many experiences as he traveled throughout his beloved
native |
Fantasy:
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Bang,
M. G. (1987). The
paper crane. |
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A mysterious man
enters a restaurant and pays for his dinner with a paper crane that
magically comes alive and dances. (card catalog) |
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Myers, T. (2000). Basho
and the fox. Illustrated by O. S. Han. |
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In
this fictional tale about the seventeenth-century Japanese poet, Basho
naively believes a fox who informs him that foxes are better poets than
humans. Myers’s gently humorous story uses familiar folktale and fable
elements to good effect, while Han’s watercolor paintings contain scenes
reminiscent of the simple, spare appearance of haiku. (Horn Book, 2001) |
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Say, A. (1993). A
river dream. |
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While
sick in bed, a young boy opens a box from his uncle and embarks on a
fantastical fishing trip. (card catalog) |
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Say,
A. (1998). Stranger
in the mirror. |
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Waking up one morning to discover that he has rapidly
aged overnight and become very old, eight-year-old Martin visits doctor after
doctor, who say there is nothing wrong with him, and suffers changed
relationships with his friends and family. (amazon.com) |
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Wells,
R. (1998). Yoko.
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When Yoko brings sushi to school for lunch, her
classmates make fun of what she eats--until one of them tries it for himself.
(amazon.com) |
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Wells, R.
(2008). Yoko
writes her name.
Hyperion. (K-1) |
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Yoko is so excited for the first day of
school. She’s just learned to write her name. But when Mrs. Jenkins asks Yoko
to show everyone, Olive and Sylvia make fun of her Japanese writing.
"Yoko can't write. She's only scribbling!” The teasing continues as Yoko
shares her favorite book at show and tell, and reads it back to front. That
evening, Yoko declares that she can’t go back to school. "How can I when
my reading and writing are a failure?” she asks. Luckily a little wisdom from
her Mama, a little cooperation from Mrs. Jenkins, and a lot of enthusiasm
from her classmates teach Yoko the most important lesson of the year: that
friendship can bridge cultural differences. Not only does Yoko learn to read and
write in English and graduate Kindergarten with her classmates, but everyone’s
name appears in two languages on their diploma--even Olive’s and Sylvia’s! (amazon.com) |