This accessible picture book teaches the value of mindfulness in a delightful and engaging way.

Even monks can get angry sometimes. That’s when it’s time to pause and reflect.

The monk is usually calm and serene. But when a pesky fly keeps buzzing around his head and landing on his nose day after day, he becomes very angry. This unexpected anger makes him confused and sad. One day, he decides to take a closer look at the irritating fly, and that’s when he sees something truly wonderful!

The Angry Monk and the Fly teaches children (and adults) to pause and reflect on the people and things that annoy us or make us angry—a valuable lesson for everyone. With bright, colorful illustrations, this book will leave readers feeling calm and more prepared to face everyday challenges. At the end of the book, various animals share simple instructions on how to meditate and breathe, adding an extra layer of mindfulness practice.

Stories about yokai are used in Japan to explain mysterious and magical events. These mythical creatures give a name and a form to the strange and uncanny things happening all around us.

This colorful guide in picture book format is a funny, fast and slightly spooky introduction to the stars of the Japanese yokai world.

The classic tales and descriptions by Fleur Daugey combine with Sande Thommen’s delightful illustrations to introduce over 30 wild and supernatural creatures, including:

• The Kitsune, a freaky fox with paranormal powers
• The Kasa-obake, a one-eyed one-legged umbrella with a long, slithery tongue
• Kurokamikiri, a shaggy bearlike beast that sneaks up on you and cuts your hair
• Nuppeppo, a flabby, wrinkly blob that lives in graveyards and smells of rotten meat
• Hanako, a bathroom-dwelling ghost girl
• And many more!

Yokai are out there, lurking among us—creating mischief and mayhem, or in some cases helping us or just having fun. With Japanese Yokai, the next time something eerie or strange happens, you’ll know who’s responsible!

Embark on an exciting manga pop-up adventure through Tokyo—the world’s largest city!

Follow Chico, a young American boy, and his mischievous cat Neko as they navigate the streets and famous sights of Tokyo. On arriving in Tokyo, while visiting the city’s famous Senso-ji Temple, Chico nods off due to jetlag. Neko gets bored and decides to go sightseeing on her own. Then, the race is on—as a panicked Chico chases his cat across the city! In the process, they pass through Tokyo’s most iconic landmarks, each with its own interactive and manga pop-up fun:

• POP-UP Senso-ji in Asakusa—Tokyo’s ancient Buddhist temple, where the adventure begins.
• POP-UP A rousing Sumo match still in progress.
• POP-UP Bustling Shinjuku Station, where riders get stuffed into subway cars by professional “pushers.”
• POP-UP Tokyo Skytree tower, the tallest structure in Japan, where poor Neko has a very close call!
• The base of iconic Mt. Fuji, where the adventure has a happy conclusion!

Educational and entertaining in equal measure, this delightful manga pop-up book will be treasured by young and old readers alike. It makes a fantastic gift or carry-on for anyone planning a visit to Japan.

Pick up where Tokyo Pop-Up Book left off, as Chico and his mischievous cat Neko visit Japan’s most famous landmarks. The chase is on as naughty Neko slips away yet again—this time becoming a stowaway on a Japanese bullet train!

Using his phone to track his runaway cat, Chico follows Neko to some of Japan’s most iconic places:

• Mt. Fuji and the Big Buddha at Kamakura
• Serene Kinkaku-ji, the Temple of the Golden Pavilion
• Himeji Castle, an ancient Samurai fortress with its formidable stone ramparts
• A sushi train restaurant, where an endless parade of fish is truly a cat’s dream!
• The Children’s Peace Memorial in Hiroshima, where Chico pauses to reflect
• The famous “floating” Torii gate at Itsukushima
• “Cat Island” (Tashirojima), where Neko finds a few new friends and the adventure comes to a happy conclusion!

Educational and entertaining in equal measure, this exciting manga pop-up book will be treasured by readers of all ages.

Embark on a captivating journey with Japanese Myths, Legends & Folktales—a beautifully illustrated bilingual collection of Japan’s most beloved stories. This edition presents 12 classic tales in both English and Japanese, making it perfect for classrooms, libraries, and families looking to introduce children to Japanese culture while supporting language learning.

The classic folktales include:

• The Tongue-Cut Sparrow
• The Peach Boy
• The Strong Boy
• The Marriage of a Mouse
• The Fisherman and the Tortoise
• The Luminous Princess
• 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

Each story, retold by author Yuri Yasuda and richly illustrated with 98 vibrant color illustrations by two of Japan’s leading children’s book artists, brings to life the whimsical characters and timeless wisdom of Japanese folklore. Presented in English alongside Japanese text with furigana, this collection is ideal for young Japanese language learners and cultural explorers alike.

Whether it’s the magical turtle-back ride to the underwater palace of the dragon princess or the adventures of a “tea kettle” that’s actually a mischievous badger, these stories are designed to spark imagination and curiosity, while fostering language skills and a deeper appreciation of Japanese culture.

My First Book of Haiku Poems introduces children to this ancient poetry form that’s still a favorite among teachers, parents and children. These concise poems are easy for readers of all ages to understand and appreciate.

Each of these 20 classic poems by Issa, Shiki, Basho, and other great haiku masters is paired with a stunning original painting by award-winning illustrator Tracy Gallup—which children will want to dive into and adults will want to frame.

A fully bilingual children’s book, My First Book of Haiku Poems includes the original versions of the Japanese poems (in Japanese script and Romanized form) on each page alongside the English translation to form a complete cultural experience.

Commentaries offer parents and teachers ready-made “food for thought” to share with young readers and stimulate a conversation about each work.

From singing turtles and flying farmers to a weeping dragon and rice bags that replenish themselves, readers of all ages will find engaging characters and moments of magic in these beloved Japanese folk tales.

The stories in this collection include:

• The Magic Mortar—A tale that explains why the sea is salty
• How to Fool a Cat—A funny story about a clever woodworker
• The Rolling Mochi Cakes—Good food, a beautiful song and a lesson on the benefits of sharing with others
• The Dragon’s Tears—A sweet tale about first impressions, kindness and inclusivity

Broken up into 16 folk tales, this book will become a go-to for bedtime and storytime. Kids (and adults!) will have the opportunity to learn more about Japanese culture in a fun, accessible way.

Welcome to a fantastic world populated by mischievous monkeys, a dragon king and a host of other beloved characters who have lived on for centuries in the traditional tales of Japan.

Drawn from folklore passed down from generation to generation, the ten enchanting stories collected in this Japanese children’s book have been lovingly retold for today’s readers. Vibrantly illustrated in full color and packed with thrilling adventures, funny discoveries, and valuable lessons, they’re sure to become story time favorites and serve as an introduction to Japanese culture.

Included are some of Japan’s classic folktales:

• The Spider Weaver
• Little One-Inch
• The Badger and the Magic Fan
• Mr. Lucky Straw
• Why the Jellyfish Has No Bones
• The Old Man Who Made Trees Blossom
• The Crab and the Monkey
• The Ogre and the Rooster
• The Rabbit Who Crossed the Sea
• The Grateful Statues

Readers of any age and background will find much to love and return to time & again in Little One-Inch And Other Japanese Children’s Favorite Stories.

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.