Customer Reviews

Japanese Children's Favorite Stories Book One

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As a child I was enchanted by the tales of Little Peach Boy, Inchling, and the other characters whose stories are featured in this book. Each story has a positive theme such as politeness, helpfulness and sacrifice. The characters are as memorable as those of the Brothers Grimm and the stories are complemented by beautiful illustrations.

I still have my 25 year old copy of this book and am purchasing a copy for each of my children to have for themselves.

First printed the early 1950's, this is the 51st printing of the book. It contains ten classics from the first printing 50 years ago, and ten newer stories. Stories include (1) Momotaro the Peach Boy, a boy who is found in a peach by a childless couple, who goes off to fight ogres with his animal friends when he reaches his teens; (2) The Magic Tea Kettle about the badger who is mistaken for a kettle; and (3) Silly Saburo, the hilarious and entertaining story about a boy and his misadventures, all becuase he does exactly what he is told. Also among the twenty are (4) The Crab and the Monkey, about a plotting monket and his hapless friend, a crab, and a riceball and persimmon seed; and (5) Why The Jellyfish Has No Bones, about a jellyfish and an evil octopus.

As a small child I lived for three years in Japan. Before we moved overseas, my mother bought me this book, I suppose to encourage an interest in Japanese culture. Ever since, I have loved this book, with its beautiful illustrations and thoughtprovoking and entertaining stories. Now I've purchased a new edition for my little boy. If you're looking to broaden your child's horizons, this is a must for the bookshelf.

This was a favorite storybook from my own childhood. I have always been particularly haunted by the story of "Momotaro, the Peach Boy," and I had searched for a version of the story for my daughter. Recently while browsing the children's books at the art museum store, we found this reprint of the stories I had loved so much. My daughter now loves them, too.

This book is a nice collection, beautifully illustrated, of the most famous Japanese children's stories. You will find all of the most well-loved Japanese fairy tales here, well translated and easy to explain to non-Asian children.

This book is very special to me as it was a dear part of my childhood growing up in a Japanese American household in the early 1960s. When I was about three years old, one of my "uncles" gave this book to me with a pink hardcover and it has stayed dear to my heart since. I was quite delighted to see it still in print and being offered here on Amazon. What's even more amazing, is that from what I can tell by the image previews for this newest edition, the illustrations are the very same ones as my forty-some-odd year old book. This collection of stories would be similar to a Japanese Grimm's Fairy Tales and were also part of my father's childhood in 1920s Japan. Overall, they are quite simple and to the point and have a cuteness typical of Japanese stories. In recent years, my ex-girlfriend had enjoyed listening to me tell her these stories at bedtime even from my 40 year memory. I'm sure I've mangled some of them and combined them into a hybrid monkey, ogre, old man, cookie tale. I've been meaning to find my original copy, but now I know I can relive my childhood with a fresh new copy.

A wonderful collection of enchanting stories for young children, 3-7 years old. We have read from it since my boy was 3 years old - it is one of the very few books that have kept with him for a long period (he is now 5.5). I figure that he will be able to read the stories himself pretty soon, making this volume one of a handful of books that can be read to him and by him.

The stories are imaginative, full of fantasy, culturally different yet appealing to "standard" elements of the children's minds. The plots are interesting to the children, who quickly learn them by heart and ask for specific stories night after night. The drawings are marvelous. The fact that there are multiple, independent stories, makes it easy to customize the lenght of the day's reading as needed.

Of the many books that my boy has this is definitely one of the best, from his point of view as well as from mine. The wonderful illustrations, evocative of some of Miyazaki's magnificent animated movies, only add to the attraction of this exceptional book.

Nice book that keep's kid's attention. Most stories are two to three pages, there is usually only one illustration per story. Illustrations are not great, but nice. This is better for kids that are age 4+ who don't need just pictures.

Our 6 year old as well as us (2 parents), love these stories. While other books we've read are very worthwhile (Wiz of Oz, Little House, Polacco books, and more), the Children's Favorite Stories series (Japanese, Chinese, and Korean) is a good change. They offer divergent themes, varying settings, and an interesting incorporation of magical elements. The stories in the books are fairly short, which makes them adaptable to bedtime or day reading. We have the two Japanese, the Chinese, and Korean story books. All are very good.

Now in a completely revised third edition with color illustrations by Yoshisuke Kurosaki, Japanese Children's Favorite Stories compiled by Florence Sakade presents classic folklore favorites from Japan for the enjoyment of young readers from of all backgrounds. Twenty dramatic tales of adventure, heroism, and difficult choices make for an enriching and involving anthology which is enhanced with beautifully illustrated and original art. Japanese Children's Favorite Stories is a welcome and highly popular contribution to familial, school, and community library Folktale/Folklore collections.