Japanese Children's Favorite Stories - (Favorite Children's Stories) by Florence Sakade (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

This colorfully illustrated multicultural children's book presents Japanese fairy tales and other folk stories--providing insight into a vibrant literary culture.

For 60 years, generations of English-speaking children around the world have been enchanted by Japanese Children's Favorite Stories--and for good reason. With such titles as "The Toothpick Warriors" and "The Rabbit Who Crossed the Sea," these 20 stories offer age-old lessons in kindness and goodness that are still riveting to children and parents alike. This 60th Anniversary Tuttle edition is proof that good stories never wear out.

In this treasure trove of much-beloved Japanese children's stories, you'll meet charming characters drawn from folklore and passed down for generations. These tales about playful goblins with long noses, walking statues, and a delightful hero who just happens to be one-inch tall speak of the virtues of honesty, humility and hard work. What better way for a parent to teach than through stories that thrill their children!

Author Florence Sakade, a pioneer of English-language publishing in Japan, has compiled so many enchanting stories, readers will have a difficult time deciding which is their favorite. The sparking illustrations by Yoshisuke Kurosaki are a visual treat that readers of all ages will enjoy! His original and stylized watercolors bring to life the fascinating tales of fairy cranes, eel catchers, and singing turtles, among many others. These Japanese stories shine on every page and are sure to captivate your family as they have many others.

The Children's Favorite Stories series was created to share the folktales and legends most beloved by children in the East with young readers of all backgrounds in the West. Other multicultural children's books in this series include: Asian Children's Favorite Stories, Indian Children's Favorite Stories, Indonesian Children's Favorite Stories, Singapore Children's Favorite Stories, Filipino Favorite Children's Stories, Favorite Children's Stories from China & Tibet, Chinese Children's Favorite Stories, Korean Children's Favorite Stories, Balinese Children's Favorite Stories, and Vietnamese Children's Favorite Stories.

Review Quotes

"[An] exceptional collection of stories...filled with lessons that teach students about kindness and honesty, while captivating them with enjoyable and accessible tales." --WeAreTeachers.com, 30 Fabulous Folktales to Add to Your Bookshelf

"Japanese Children's Favorite Stories is alive with characters, in illustration and in words. The characters and the stories they tell are delightful, enchanting and compelling--it's no wonder this book has been in print for so long. Children with a connection to Japan will especially love reading these stories still relevant to a modern reader." --Danielle Wright, author of Japanese Nursery Rhymes

"[A] delightful collection of Japanese tales...Twenty enchanting stories illustrated in a charming folk style." --TravelForKids.com blog

"Filled with now-familiar favorites, along with lesser-known yet equally delightful tales, this enduring collection presents stories to enchant and enlighten young readers...This collection is greater than the sum of its parts...The text [is] simple, clear, and accessible to beginning readers and storytellers alike." --School Library Journal

"The best way to come to understand another culture is to get to know its people...and the stories they tell. Stories are a primary means for transmitting cultural values, information, philosophies, and worldviews. This beautiful and engaging 60th Anniversary edition strengthens the cultural bridge between Japan and the English-speaking world for current and future generations." --Willamarie Moore, author of All About Japan

"The stories retold in this delightful book were part of my childhood and my mother's before. Who can forget the monkeys and foxes, the tricksters and makers of mischief, the heroes, and the ordinary folk who do extraordinary things! These are wonderful tales, passed down for generations. Collected here, they will continue to enchant." --Shiho S. Nunes, author of Chinese Fables: "The Dragon Slayer" and Other Timeless Tales of Wisdom

"With its approachable writing style and whimsical illustrations, the new edition of JCFS is poised to delight a fresh generation of children. May it continue its valuable work of introducing the charming lexicon of Japanese folk tales worldwide." --Rebecca Otowa, author of At Home in Japan: a Foreign Woman's Journey of Discovery

"With these two books, Tuttle has been the leader in preserving the foundation of Japanese heritage and folklore for Western children of all ages. As the author/illustrator of new Japanese folktales, I am privileged to be part of Tuttle's wonderful legacy." --Sunny Seki, author and illustrator of Yuko-chan and the Daruma Doll and The Last Kappa of Old Japan

About the Author

The late Florence Sakade was an experienced editor and author/compiler of many popular books on Japan such as A Guide to Reading and Writing Japanese, Origami: Japanese Paper Folding, and Japanese Children's Favorite Stories. Her distinguished career spanned five decades, and she continued working until her death in 1999 at the age of 82.

Yoshisuke Kurosaki (1905-1984) studied at the Kawabata Painting school and illustrated children's books from around 1927 until his death. His work has helped define the style of Japanese children's book illustration in the 20th century.