Japanese Traditions

Gr 2—5—The authors regale readers with memories from Broderick's childhood in rural Japan 50 years ago. Two spreads per month describe activities such as the New Year celebrations in January, and feature felines rather than humans in the illustrations. The picture for November shows how to set up a futon and keep warm while sleeping on it and explains the traditions involved in Inoko Matsuri, a celebration of children's good health and prosperity, and in Shichi-Go-San (7-5-3), a festival celebrating girls who are seven, boys who are five, and boys and girls who are three. While the text includes factual information about customs, food, games, festivals, and other cultural topics, the narrative is conversational. Soft, appealing cartoon illustrations of the cuddly, expressive cats dressed in traditional Japanese clothing are full of detail and humor. Each month is represented by a full-page illustration, with the name of the month written in Japanese characters. The last page gives a list of items to look for in the pictures, and poses related questions. Though this is an enjoyable work, most of the cultural information can be found elsewhere, making it an additional purchase.—DeAnn Okamura, San Mateo County Library, CA