Description
Book SynopsisHere, beautifully illustrated and presented in both English and Japanese, are 12 of the best Japanese folktales—shared with generation after generation of Japanese children. These charming tales engage your imagination as you're carried on turtle-back rides, brought to the underwater palace of the dragon princess, and discover a temple with a "tea kettle" that is really a cunning badger in disguise.
Stories include:
- The Tongue-Cut Sparrow
- The Strong Boy
- The Marriage of a Mouse
- The Fisherman and the Tortoise
- The Luminous Princess
- The Peach Boy
- The Kachi Kachi Mountain
- The Old Men With Wens
- The Old Man Who Made Trees Blossom
- The One-Inch Boy
- The Lucky Cauldron
- The Monkey and Crab Fight
These stories are all richly illustrated, with 98 color illustrations by two of Japan's foremost children's books illustrators. Executed with great skill and imagination, they bring to life the charming characters of these heartwarming tales of old Japan.
The tales were originally written in English by author Yuri Yasuda based on her interpretations of traditional Japanese stories. Here they are fully bilingual—each one accompanied by Japanese text. The Japanese versions of each tale include simple kanji with
furigana pronunciations to help learners recognize the characters.
Japanese Myths, Legends & Folktales is accessible to both English and Japanese-speaking children, as well as to older language learners who wish to enhance their reading ability. This multicultural children's book will entertain, inspire, and educate in equal measure.
Trade Review"The tales told in this book…are now retold here by Mrs. Yasuda with exquisiteness…They will be, I am sure, read by Western children with the same delight and the thrill as by the children of this country."
--Shinzo Koizumi, Advisor for the Education of the Crown Prince of Japan"With her extraordinary command of English and great love of children, no one could have been better suited for the work than Mrs. Yasuda, and I know lovers of fairy tales all over the world…will welcome her contribution to their collection."
--Mrs. Takakichi Aso, Daughter of Mr. Shigeru Yoshida, former Prime Minister of Japan"In these delightful folk stories as told by the gifted author Yuri Yasuda, there are revealed for our better understanding the old traditions and customs, the aspirations and innermost feelings of the Japanese."
--Dr. Francis B. Sayer, former U.S. Undersecretary of State
