The Big Wave  •  Pearl Buck LITERATURE •  1986 •  PAPER  • 57 PAGES • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) Pearl S. Buck's children's classic, in which a Japanese boy escapes a tidal wave that destroys the rest of his village. Ages 9-12. (JPN96, $4.99)
Buddha  •  Demi RELIGION •  1996 •  HARD COVER  • 48 PAGES • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) Beautiful, intricately detailed, full-color illustrations make this life of the Buddha an excellent choice for children. Demi tells the story of the sheltered upbringing of Indian prince Siddhartha, his first encounter with death and human suffering, and his subsequent search for enlightenment. Intended for children age 7-10. (ASA17, $21.95)
Buddha Stories  •  Demi RELIGION •  1997 •  HARD COVER  • 32 PAGES • YOUNG READERS (Age 4-8) Intended for ages 4 to 8, this book tells 10 of the author's favorite "jakatas," or moral tales of the Buddha. She has sumptuously illustrated the volume in gold printed on deep, dark blue (in the tradition of an ancient Buddhist text). Gorgeous (at least in very good light!), and a compelling introduction to Buddhism for children. (ASA16, $20.00)
Commodore Perry in the Land of the Shogun  •  Rhoda Blumberg HISTORY •  2003 •  PAPER  • 144 PAGES • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) A culturally aware account of Commodore Matthew Perry's expedition to Edo-era Japan, illustrated with 19th-century Japanese prints. It was Perry's naval expedition that opened Japan to the West after centuries of isolationism, and now the Commodore introduces Old Japan to a new generation of readers (ages 9 to 12). Children will not soon forget the chapter about the Japanese feudal system. A 1986 Newbery Honor Book. (JPN98, $8.99)
Grass Sandals, The Travels of Basho  •  Dawnine Spivak  •  Demi BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1997 •  PAPER  • 40 PAGES • YOUNG READERS (Age 4-8) A many-layered picture book based on the journeys of Basho, the 17th-century haiku poet who criss-crossed Japan by foot. The story, as told by Dawnine Spivak, communicates the simplicity of Basho's life and much of the ethos of daily life in old Japan. The illustrations, painted in colored ink on rice paper by the wonderful artist Demi, give a visual life to Spivak's text, as well as to the haikus which appear throughout the book. Ages 4-8. (JPN97, $18.99)
Japanese Children's Favorite Stories  •  Florence Sakade  •  Yoshio Kurosaki LITERATURE •  1990 •  HARD COVER  • 120 PAGES • YOUNG READERS (Age 4-8) A refreshing, enchanting collection of traditional Japanese children's stories complemented by lavish illustrations. Ages 4-8. (JPN77, $16.95)
Japanese Tales  •  Royall Tyler LITERATURE •  1989 •  PAPER  • 340 PAGES • FAMILY A much-acclaimed translation of 220 Japanese folk tales, featuring Buddhists, dragons, emperors and peasants. It's worth cherishing. (JPN95, $19.00)
One Day in Japan with Hokusai  •  Christopher Wynne  •  Julia Altmann ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2001 •  HARD COVER  • 30 PAGES • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) Illustrated with color reproductions of Hokusai's prints, this storybook for 9-12 year-olds recounts Kiku and Yoshi's visit to their grandfather's house in Edo. Their grandfather just happens to be Hokusai (1760-1849), the famous Japanese artist! A Prestel "Adventures in Art" book. (JPN103, $14.95)
Picture the World, Children's Art Around the Globe  •  Tracy V. Spates ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2002 •  HARD COVER  • 68 PAGES • FAMILY A unique book, written by an art teacher who traveled the world in search of culturally significant art by children. This full-color book, illustrated with artworks and documentary photographs, highlights eight nations: Japan, Vietnam, India, Turkey, Russia, Kenya, the United States and Ecuador. Each chapter includes a cultural overview of the featured country, photographs of schoolchildren, descriptions of traditional handicrafts and a hands-on art activity inspired by the country's artistic tradition. It's a globally aware, multicultural book for children ages 6 and up. (WLD31, $24.95)
Shipwrecked! The True Adventures of a Japanese Boy  •  Rhoda Blumberg BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2003 •  PAPER  • 80 PAGES • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) The fascinating life story of Manjiro, a boy from Nakahama who was rescued from death by an American whaling crew and in 1843 became the first Japanese person to enter the United States. Adopted by a whaling captain and educated in Massachusetts, Manjiro later became a diplomat and samurai in Japan. Rhoda Blumberg, who previously wrote "Commodore Perry in the Land of the Shogun", is a talented writer of nonfiction for children. This book, for ages 9-12, is nicely illustrated with woodblock prints and Manjiro's own drawings. (JPN104, $8.99)