Elementary Library Services
Monadnock Regional School District
Charlotte Lesser, Director of Elementary Library Services
Monadnock Regional School District
600 Old Homestead Hwy.
E. Swanzey, NH 03446
(603) 352-6955 x.422
Recommended books to buy on Japan
- Easy/Picture Books
- Baker, Keith. The magic fan. Harcourt Brace. 1989.
Despite the laughter of fellow villagers, Yoshi uses his building skills to make a boat to catch the moon and more.
- Kajikawa, Kimiko. Yoshi's feast. DK Ink. 2000
When Yoshi's neighbor, the eel broiler, tries to charge him for smelling the wonderful aromas, Yoshi comes up with a clever plan.
- Luenn, Nancy. The dragon kite. Harcourt Brace. 1982.
A clever thief makes a magnificent kite that he hopes will allow him to reach some golden dolphins on a roof.
- Yashima, Taro. Crow boy. Puffin. 1983.
A shy Japanese boy is ignored by his classmates until their teacher shows them Crow Boys talents. (Caldecott Honor Book)
- Fiction/Chapter books
- Coatsworth, Elizabeth. Cat who went to heaven. Simon & Schuster. 1958.
A cat watches an artist as he paints animals doing homage to Buddha. (Newbery)
- Haugaard, Erik. Boy and the samurai. Houghton Mifflin. 1991.
Set in 16th century Japan, an orphan seeks the help of a samurai to rescue his wife.
- Merrill, Jean. The girl who loved caterpillars. Philomel. 1992
This is a retelling of a 12th century story. A young woman resists social pressures as she befriends caterpillars and other creatures.
- Paterson, Katherine. The sign of the chrysanthemum. Harper. 1988.
A teen-ager comes to know himself while searching for his father. Set in medieval Japan.
- Paterson, Katherine. The master puppeteer. Harper. 1975.
Set in 18th century Osaka. A boy tells about the world of puppetry and puppeteers in which he lives.
- Yumoto, Kazumi. The friends. Bantam. 1998.
Three 6th grade boys befriend an old, dying man that they were spying on.
- Folklore
- Hodges, Margaret. The boy who drew cats. Holiday House. 2002.
A young boy's obsession with cat changes his life.
- Kimmel, Eric. Three samurai cats: a story from Japan. Holiday House. 2003.
A feudal lord finds a samurai cat to rid his castle of a rat, but finds that violence is not always the best way to solve problems.
- McDermott, Gerald. Stonecutter. Puffin. 1978.
A stonecutter's foolish longing for power brings him more trouble than he imagines.
- Mosel, Arlene. Funny little woman. Puffin. 1986.
While chasing a dumpling, a woman is captured by the wicked Oni. (Caldecott)
- Paterson, Katherine. The tale of the mandarin ducks. Penguin. 1995.
A pair of ducks reward a couple who risk their lives to reunite them.
- Say, Allen. Once under the cherry blossom tree. Houghton Mifflin. 1997.
A cherry tree that grows from the top of a wicked landlord's head is the beginning of his problems and a happier life for his villagers.
- Sierra, Judy. Tasty baby belly buttons. Dragonfly books. 1999.
A girl born in a melon fights the onis who steal babies to eat their belly buttons.
- Snyder, Dianne. Boy of the three year nap. Houghton Mifflin. 1988.
A poor woman tries to change her son's lazy habits. (Caldecott Honor)
- Poetry
- Mannis, Celeste. One leaf rides the wind: counting in a Japanese garden. Viking. 2002.
In this combination counting/haiku book, a young girl walks through a garden.
- In the eyes of the cat: Japanese poetry for all seasons. Henry Holt. 1994.
A collection of poetry organized by seasons, illustrated with paintings.
- Informational Books
- Beatty, Theresa. Food and recipes of Japan. PowerKids Press. 1999.
- Blumberg, Rhoda. Commodore Perry in the land of the Shogun. Lothrop. 1985.
Details Commodore Perry's role in opening Japan to world trade in the 1850's. (Newbery Honor)
- Blumberg, Rhoda. Shipwrecked!: the true adventures of a Japanese boy. HarperCollins. 2001.
A 14 year old Japanese boy is rescued in 1841 by an American whaler, and becomes the first Japanese person to set foot in the US.
- Boraas, Tracey. Japan. Bridgestone. 2002.
Overview of geography, history, culture for grades 3-6.
- Harvey, Miles. Look what came from Japan. Watts. 1999.
Describes many things which originated in Japan including food, art, inventions, toys, sports and more.
- Haskins, James. Count your way through Japan. Carolrhoda Books. 1987.
Presents the numbers one through ten.
- Heinrichs, Ann. Japan. Children's Press. 1997.
Overview of geography, history, culture for grades K-3.
- Schomp, Virginia. Japan in the days of the samurai. Benchmark. 2002.
Describes the Japanese way of life during the samurai eras.
- Takabayashi, Mari. I live in Tokyo. Houghton Mifflin. 2001.
A 7 year old girls describes her life and daily activities.
- Temko, Florence. Traditional crafts from Japan. Lerner. 2001.
Eight traditional crafts with instructions.
- Wells, Ruth. A to Zen: a book of Japanese culture. Simon & Schuster. 1992.
Introduces Japanese words from a-z. The book is designed to be read from back to front and right to left.
Send suggestions or comments to Charlotte Lesser, Director of Elementary Library Services, Monadnock Regional School District
email to:clesser@mrsd.org
Last revised: 5/19/03