Children's Room Show me where

j952.135/Takabayashi
1 / 1 copies available
Location Call Number   Status
Children's Room j952.135/Takabayashi Checked In
Subjects
Published
Boston : Houghton Mifflin 2001.
Language
English
Main Author
Mari Takabayashi, 1960- (-)
Physical Description
unpaged : col. ill
ISBN
9780618077021
Contents unavailable.
Review by Booklist Review

Ages 6-8. Takabayashi offers little ones a child's-eye view of life in suburban Tokyo, along with a chance to roll some Japanese words and phrases around on their tongues. For each month, seven-year-old Mimiko supplies a description of a holiday celebration or other family activity, new or traditional, shown in vignettes drawn with fresh, childlike simplicity. After putting down newspapers to protect the tatami (straw floor mat), Mimiko and her mother roll out special paper to practice shodo (calligraphy); Mimiko studies pictographic kanji in school (several characters are shown and translated), dons a beautiful but uncomfortable kimono for a Juichigatsu (November) holiday, and helps to decorate a small Christmas tree (because "Even though we don't celebrate this holiday, it is still a fun tradition" ). The Japanese vocabulary is reprised, with pronunciation and definitions, at the end. Whether her audience is driven by interest or assignment, Mimiko makes a lively guide with a distinct voice. --John Peters

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

According to PW, "Bright, bustling illustrations abound in this pictorial peek at Japanese life and customs through the eyes of a schoolgirl." Ages 4-8. (Nov.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review

K-Gr 2-Seven-year-old Mimiko leads readers through a year highlighting the festivals, activities, food, and her family's daily routine. The name of each month is written along the left border in phonetic Japanese, English, and Kanji (Chinese characters used in Japanese writing). January begins with oshogatsu, a New Year celebration. The illustration depicts the family having a special meal, and various holiday items. The facing page is about calligraphy, or shodo. The illustration shows mother and daughter practicing their brushwork (January 2nd is said to be perfect for writing), as well as the Japanese zodiac, and a racket used for Japanese badminton, which seems out of place. Other festivals included are setsubun, celebrated the day before the first day of spring (February 3rd); the Bon Festival in July; and school field day (undokai) in October. Readers learn that Valentine's Day is celebrated, and although Christmas is not, Mimiko observes the tradition of decorating a tree. The last page lists the months again, with a pronunciation guide, as well as common words and phrases. This book's gentle, childlike watercolor illustrations capture an array of special and mundane events in one youngster's life. An appealing browsing item rather than fodder for reports.-DeAnn Tabuchi, San Anselmo Public Library, CA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review

(Preschool, Primary) Colorfully detailed illustrations will draw readers to this lively introduction to Japan. Seven-year-old narrator Mimiko takes readers on a month-by-month tour of contemporary Tokyo, briefly describing one or two festivals, customs, or facets of life each month. The narrative remains consistently childlike throughout: kimonos make Mimiko Òfeel like a princess,Ó but they also itch, and while her grandmother finds the tea ceremony relaxing, Mimiko notes that itÕs long and boring and Òmy feet fall asleep.Ó The book focuses on the stuff of daily lifeÑa kidÕs daily life, including information such as MimikoÕs ÒTop Ten Favorite MealsÓ and the fact that on ValentineÕs Day in Japan itÕs girls who give chocolate to boys. The child-friendly focus doesnÕt prevent the book from accurately reflecting the way in which the ultra-modern and the ancient, the high-tech and the low-tech, comfortably co-exist in Japan: one month finds the youngster doing calligraphy (ÒShodo makes me feel calmÓ), while another month she travels to her grandparentsÕ house via Òone of the fastest trains in the world.Ó As with many things Japanese, this book is a model of efficiency and elegance, cramming numerous details into a small space in a compact and attractive manner. j.m.b. From HORN BOOK, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review

Here is a charming-and accurate-introduction to Tokyo as seen through the eyes of a fictional seven-year-old girl. Mimiko takes readers month-by-month through the year, highlighting foods, festivals, and family and school activities. The left edge of each month's double-paged spread names the month in English, in Japanese characters, and in transliteration. Takabayashi (born and raised in Tokyo) has painted many small, lively vignettes, all informatively labeled, to extend her more general text and larger pictures. The vibrant watercolors elegantly combine childlike simplicity with a wealth of detail. We see school texts and uniforms, Japanese writing, the Japanese zodiac, Mimiko's top ten favorite meals, a bullet train passing Mt. Fuji, and more. A painted map of Japan provides a frame of reference, and the final page includes pronunciations for the months, the numbers from one to twelve, and a few Japanese words and phrases. (Picture book/nonfiction. 4-8)

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.