"What a treasure trove of cultural information about Japan for kids!! This book is packed with activities and descriptions of geography, celebrations, everyday life, language and more. This interactive reference guide has so many great ideas that would be perfect for a Japan unit of study or to investigate different aspects of Japanese culture—a must have for libraries and schools looking for multicultural references." —Kid World Citizen blog
"All About Japan: Stories, Songs, Crafts and More is a wonderful introduction to Japan! It includes an astonishing amount of information considering it is a fairly thin book, including holidays for every month of the year! If you want to teach your children a unit about Japan, either as a homeschooler or an afterschooler, this book is an excellent place to start. The illustrations are very engaging and the book is full of interesting activities to accompany all of the information in the book." —Mama Smiles blog blog
"In this treasure-trove of information, two children, one a Tokyo urbanite and the other from a rural village, introduce readers to their country and its culture, including geography, language, traditional arts, costume, etiquette, sports, and festivals. The scope of this book is remarkably comprehensive, covering almost anything a child would want to know, from traditional folktales to contemporary video games and anime." —School Library Journal
"A book for families to treasure together. You'll dive into stories, try new crafts, play some games from Japan, learn Japanese songs...it's the next best thing to being there." —Japan Today
"Enjoy a fresh view of what makes Japan special." —Mizuhito Kanehara, Dean, University of Tokyo
"All about Japan is a pearl, a treasure among children's literature." —Bob on Booksblog
"A wonderful introduction to the culture, history, geography and language of Japan, this book packs it all in with recipes, stories, games and activities. If your child is studying about Japan either at home or at school, this one book can do it all!" —PragmaticMom.com blog
"This book helps us center our exploration of Japan. It shares traditional stories, holidays, life in the city as well as the country (told by children who live there), recipes, crafts, dance, music, poetry, and so much more. All About Japan is the perfect book for anyone who wants to learn more about Japan, its history, culture, etc." —Crafty Moms Share blog
Gr 2–5—In this treasure-trove of information, two children, one a Tokyo urbanite and the other from a rural village, introduce readers to their country and its culture, including geography, language, traditional arts, costume, etiquette, sports, and festivals. The dual narrators' conversational descriptions of their homes and daily routines will engage young readers while highlighting the differences between the Westernized big-city existence and the traditional way of life in Japan's countryside, deftly demonstrating the rich variety of lifestyles within this island nation. The scope of this book is remarkably comprehensive, covering almost anything a child would want to know, from traditional folktales to contemporary video games and anime. Tactile learners will enjoy the recipes and craft projects, and can even try their hand at the multiple writing systems of the language. Information is consistently presented in a kid-friendly way, enhanced by cheerful, vivid illustrations and colorful text that draws attention to important concepts. The pleasantly meandering structure of the book makes it ideal for leisurely browsing, more than a source for school reports, although the presence of an index ensures that this book can be used for academic purposes as well. Despite a rather abrupt ending with no conclusion, this book will serve as excellent preparation for a visit to Japan, a school project, or simply as a delightful resource to enjoy learning about the country and its traditions.—Allison Tran, Mission Viejo Library, CA
