Japan

by Gina DeAngelis

Nonfiction

Japan, is just one of the books found in the Many Cultures, One World series.  It is a wonderful resource geared towards readers on a 4th grade reading level.  The author breaks this book into chapters in which readers can easily find different topics involving the study of Japan.  The chapters include: Welcome to Japan, A Japanese Legend, City and Country Life, Seasons in Japan, Family Life in Japan, Laws, Rules and Concerns in Japan, Pets in Japan, and Sites to See in Japan.  The pictures found on each page are so valuable because it really allows readers to see a glimpse into another place and another culture.  Each page was filled with factual information that is both accurate and reliable.  I honestly studied this book pretty closely, having been to Japan the past summer and the summer before that, I wanted to make sure that the information was correct. It is so important to have reliable resources in the classroom that teachers can trust will provide factual information for his/her student.  The text is written in a way that is comprehendible for students who may struggle with reading; and at the same time offers readers who are above grade level, a chance to explore a new country through a brief overview. The pages are filled with maps and other helpful tools for students to gain a better understanding of where Japan is.  I really enjoyed how each chapter had a craft or activity students can do to place themselves further in the culture they are studying.  The activities included making traditional Japanese desserts, playing Japanese games such as "Fuku Warai," and creating Origami.  The book also offers pronunciations along with the Japanese words to aid the readers by implementing the actual Japanese language in the text.  This book is so valuable to have in the classroom. I plan on having a "Let's Travel To..." section in my classroom in which students can go and pick out books or other items to learn more about a particular country of the world. This book would be a perfect addition to that section in my classroom.  I would love to use this book when introducing world geography or possibly just using this book as a resource for a project I create in which students explore diversity by picking a country of interest on to write a report.