Japan
Once Upon a Time in Japan
By Roger Pulvers and Juliet Winters Carpenter (Translators), Manami Yamada. Tomori Taniguchi. Nao Takabatake and Takumi Nishio (Illustrators)
Once Upon a Time in Japan. NHK World. Translated by Roger Pulvers and Juliet Winters Carpenter. Illustrated by Manami Yamada, Tomonori Taniguchi, Nao Takabatake, and Takumi Nishio. Includes CD of stories read aloud by Yuko Aotani. Published by Tuttle Publishing in cooperation with NHK Japan Broadcasting Corporation, 2015. Originally part of a special series produced by Radio Japan, NHK World’s radio service in 18 languages. ISBN 9784805313596. 120 p. (Ages 8-12). Picture book with CD.
Collection of eight Japanese folk and fairy tales gives a good introduction to non-Western storytelling. Stories include animals, everyday people and magical beings who learn a lesson through their actions. A 2015 Gelett Burgess Award for Best Multicultural Children’s Book. [all]
My First Book of Haiku Poems: A Picture, a Poem, and a Dream
By Esperanza Ramirez-Christensen (Translator), Tracy Gallup (Illustrator)
My First Book of Haiku Poems: A Picture, a Poem, and a Dream; Classic Poems by Japanese Haiku Masters. Translated by Esperanza Ramirez-Christensen. Illustrated by Tracy Gallup. Tuttle Publishing, 2019. ISBN 9784805315156. 48 p. (Ages 5-9). Picture book.
An introduction to haiku with 20 bilingual haiku, in Japanese text, romaji, and English. An illustration accompanies each, along with commentary, inviting the reader to contemplate each poem more deeply. Winner of 2020 Northern Lights Book Award for Poetry and chosen for 2020 NCTE Notable Poetry Books and Verse Novels List. [all]