Anna is a Japanese-American girl whose grandparents live in Japan. They have been sending her adorable Kokeshi dolls made of painted wood each year for her birthday since she was very small. The dolls, like people, are all different— and beautiful!

In this charming children’s book by award-winning author Tracy Gallup, we watch Anna grow up as her Kokeshi collection grows bigger, and we see how these dolls bring Anna and her grandparents closer together as the years pass.

Part counting book, part visual narrative, this beautifully-illustrated bilingual picture book shows how simple objects can serve as a bridge between people and cultures on opposite sides of the globe. It also introduces these beautiful dolls and the ways in which they are formed and painted.

The story is in Japanese and English, with a free audio recording available online.

A note at the end gently explains the history of Kokeshi dolls and why they are made the way they are.

When wily animals, everyday people and magical beings come together in a collection of Japanese fairy tales, wonderful things are bound to happen!

Each story is brilliantly illustrated by a different talented Japanese artist. The tales recounted here are among Japan’s oldest and most beloved stories. Entertaining and filled with subtle folk wisdom, these retold stories have been shared countless times in Japanese homes and schools for generations. Like good stories from every time and place, they never grow old. Kids (and their parents!) will enjoy hearing these stories read aloud on the accompanying audio recordings.

The fairy tales and classic stories in this collection include:

• The Wife Who Never Eats—the story of a man who learns the hard way the evils of stinginess.
• The Mill of the Sea—the story of how a greedy man was responsible for the saltiness of seawater.
• The Monkey and the Crab—the crabs teach a tricky monkey a lesson in fairness and honesty.
• The Magical Hood—an act of kindness reaps great rewards.
• Sleepyhead Taro and the Children—a story about what can be accomplished at the right time, and with the right help and the right spirit.
• The Fox and the Otter—how a fox pays the price of deceit and selfishness.
• The Gratitude of the Crane—a story about the rewards of kindness and the danger of curiosity.
• The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter—a girl who starts life very tiny turns out to be big in many ways.

This delightful collection of beloved Japanese nursery rhymes, Japanese and English Nursery Rhymes is the perfect introduction to Japanese language and culture for young readers ages 4 to 8.

This beautifully illustrated bilingual children’s book features songs and rhymes in both English and Japanese. Access to online audio is included and contain recordings of all the rhymes by native Japanese speakers. It’s impossible not to sing along!

The popular Japanese songs and rhymes include:

• My Hometown
• Bubbles
• The Rabbit Dance
• The Cradle Lullaby
• And many more!

“Did You Know” notes about Japanese culture are included throughout the book, with an introduction to Japanese for parents, teachers, and librarians at the back.

A girl with grit, determination, passion and a paintbrush—can achieve amazing things!Whether working in his studio or out in the field, Japanese artist Hokusai had a constant companion—his youngest daughter, Eijo. Wherever they went, Eijo brought along her own bag of brushes and the same artistic brilliance and passion as her dad. Hokusai’s Daughter tells the story of a clever girl who refuses to believe that only men can create great works of art.

Told that she can’t become an artist because she’s a girl, Eijo sets out to prove everyone wrong. She’s determined to become the proverbial koi that swims up the waterfall and becomes a mighty dragon—fighting against the current to be the person she is meant to be. Katsushika Oi, called Eijo, created many remarkable artworks and had a hand in her illustrious father’s later work.

This beautifully illustrated bilingual story book celebrates the power of grit and artistic expression, as it introduces young readers to a trailblazing figure who, like her famous father, left a lasting impression in the world of art. Hokusai’s Daughter is a timeless tale that teaches kids to believe in themselves and follow their passion. Includes an appendix to help parents share information with their kids about Hokusai—his influence and style—and his daughter Eijo, as well as traditions about koi and how woodblock prints are made.

Samples of Eijo’s work will include images from the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, the Menard Art Museum, and the Tokyo National Museum.

Featured words are set off with individual illustrations and definitions to help learners at various levels build vocabulary. It includes an index and glossary of all the individually illustrated words. This is an ideal selection of first word books for parents and teachers who want to encourage second language acquisition.

Readers can hear how to pronounce all the words by listening to a native speaker on the Usborne Quicklinks website.

Our dedicated First Words website features a free audio pronunciation guide where you can hear each word spoken out loud.

Also available in a board format:

• First Words English
• First Words French
• First Words Spanish
• First Words Italian
• First Words Mandarin

Don’t miss our First Words collection for older readers, which feature 100 words with accompanying pronunciation guides and illustrations.

• First Words English
• First Words French
• First Words Spanish
• First Words Italian
• First Words Japanese
• First Words Mandarin 

Each word is accompanied with a bold illustration and a simple pronunciation guide to make the vocabulary fun and easy to learn. Plus, its small size makes it a handy addition to any trip to Japan.

Also included is a free audio pronunciation guide. Scan the QR code on the back cover or visit our First Words website to hear each word spoken by a native child.

Also available:

• First Words French
• First Words Spanish
• First Words English
• First Words Italian
• First Words Mandarin

Press each button on the side of the book to hear the numbers in each language, then practice saying them yourself!