Books That Take You There: Japan

Feeling the urge to see far off places, but having to armchair travel instead? Wanting to experience the delights to be found in the country of Japan? Well, you're in luck because these books will help you feel like you've traveled there yourself:

Natsumi's Song of Summer

Written by Robert Paul Weston

Illustrated by Misa Saburi

Toronto: Tundra Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House Canada Young Readers, 2020. Picture Book.

Natsumi celebrates her favorite things about summer in Japan with her cousin who is visiting from America.

The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirota's Garden

Written by Heather Smith

Illustrated by Rachel Wada

Victoria, British Columbia: Orca Book Publishers, 2019. Picture Book.

A young Japanese boy processes his grief over his father's loss during a tsunami through the use of a disconnected phone in his community.

The Perfect Sushi

Written by Emily Satoko Seo

Illustrated by Mique Moriuchi

Concord, MA: Barefoot Books, 2023. Picture Book.

A little girl wants to make the perfect sushi for her grandmother's birthday, but becomes frustrated by her attempts not coming out perfectly. However, through working with her grandfather she learns the importance of cooking from the heart or "koroko" in Japanese.

Folk Tales from Japan: Fables Myths, and Fairy Tales for Children

Written by Florence Sakade

Illustrated by Yoshio Hayashi

North Clarendon, VT: Tuttle Publishing, 2020. Informational. 79 pages.

Beloved folk tales from Japan featuring everything from singing turtles to flying farmers that will be sure to captivate all ages.

My First Book of Haiku Poems: A Picture, a Poem, and a Dream

Translated by Esperanza Ramirez-Christensen

Illustrated by Tracy Gallup

Tokyo; Rutland, Vermont: Tuttle Publishing, 2019. Informational. 47 pages.

A book of classic haiku poems composed by Japanese masters of the craft that have been translated into English, Japanese script, and Romanji characters.

Comments

Review: Umami

Umami By Jacob Grant New York: Viking, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2024. Picture Book. Umami is a little penguin who is sick of eating the same thing everyday, cold fish --ugh! She becomes determined to find new foods and flavors, so Umami begins a journey across the sea in search of something different to eat. She reaches a place with a plethora of delicious options, and tries bitter, sweet, sour, and foods with umami (just like her name!) among others. Umami decides to bring all these delicious new flavors back for the other penguins to try in a feast. But, will the other penguins enjoy this new experience? Filled with charm and humor, Umami is a diverse romp through a universal experience --am I willing to try something new? What will it be like? The idea of trying new foods and flavors make it especially relatable, and the appealing illustrations will have many readers ready to hop out on a culinary adventure. A humorous and sweet ending, caps off this delig...

Review: Faker

Faker By Gordon Korman New York: Scholastic Press, 2024. Fiction. 214 pages. 12-year-old Trey is used to starting over at a new school -- he has the routine perfectly memorized: make new friends, introduce his dad to the wealthy parents of his new friends, and "Houdini" themselves out of there before they get caught running their latest scam. Trey's dad is a master con artist, and Trey has just been promoted to full-partner. Their new scheme for the next big score brings them to the affluent suburb of Boxelder, TN where Trey's dad has cooked up a fake electric car company for investors to buy into. The only problem is that Trey is starting to grow tired of moving around and never putting down roots, especially after forming a fast friendship with Logan and developing a crush on Kaylee, a socially conscious girl in his class. As Trey longs for a normal life, is there any way he can convince his dad to get out of the family business? Gordon Korman is a perennial favorit...

Five Faves: Picture Books with Festive Treats

In my family, December marks the beginning of the holiday season, where we get to spend time together and do all of our favorite traditions. And, of course, eat lots of yummy food. I love that holidays look different for different families, but so many families have special foods they eat during the holidays. These are some of my favorite picture books about families making (and eating!) special holiday treats. These books might even give you new ideas of festive treats to try! The Last Tamale Written by Mendiola Orlando Illustrated by Teresa Martinez New York: Harper, 2024. Picture Book. Once a year, Luis' whole family gets together for their annual tamalada -- a party where they make tamales using a super-secret recipe. It's all love, family, and tradition until there is only one tamale left. Who will get it? It's an all-out family battle to decide who gets the last tamale. Colorful and humorous, this story is perfect for the holidays or whenever your family likes to enjo...

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