Debbi Michiko Florence, illustrated by Jim Caputo,
Japan: A Kaleidoscope Kids Book
Williamson Books, 2009.

Ages 8-13

Just as she did with her earlier Kaleidoscope title, China, Debbi Michiko Florence has teamed up with illustrator Jim Caputo and book designer Jenny Eber Hancock to bring kids a fun and accessible entrée into life in another country with Japan.  This time Florence, a third-generation Japanese American who spent childhood summers in Japan, writes about a place that is more a part of her personal history.

Each page features either a color photograph or whimsical, comic-style illustrations. Three or four concise paragraphs on each spread are arranged to grasp and hold a child’s interest.  Graphics and sidebars offer succinct lessons on volcanoes, plate-tectonics, religion, and food.  Among the more than 40 hands-on activities are instructions for making kokeshi dolls, paper fans, and origami goldfish, for performing the tea ceremony, writing haiku, and creating ikebana flower arrangements.  Referrals to web sites and other resources for further learning are spotlighted every few pages. 

About one fifth of the book is an overview of Japan’s complicated history.  Information about feudalism, fascism, foreign invasion, empire building, and occupation is integrated throughout this section, giving readers a broader education in history and government using Japanese examples.  Other sections cover local traditions, holidays, art, sports, dress, architecture, geography, music, and more.

Readers learn how to count to ten in Japanese as well as several important phrases, written phonetically in the Roman alphabet.  Japan’s three distinct writing systems, kanji, katakana, and hiragana are all explained, and Japanese vocabulary boxes relevant to each section run throughout the book.

A section on Japan’s native animals, including the raccoon dog, the red-crowned crane and the Japanese macaque (aka snow monkey), will bring the natural world of the country to life.  Kid-friendly recipes for such delights as microwave mochi, omsubi sandwiches (rice balls), and cold soba noodles with dipping sauce will inspire kids to cook and eat Japanese cuisine, maybe even using chopsticks and practicing good Japanese table manners!

Many of the activities are designed for larger groups, but at least as many would be equally fun with only one or two children.  The book’s appeal will span generations, and children will enjoy educating their parents about all the amazing things they learn.  Japan provides a great window onto Japanese life and will join other Kaleidoscope titles as a useful and fun tool for improving multi-cultural literacy.

Abigail Sawyer
November 2009