The Way We Do It in Japan [Hardcover]

Geneva Cobb Iijima (Author), Paige Billin-Frye (Illustrator)

Book Description

Grade Level: K and up

Gregory and his family are moving to Japan for his dad's job. After the long flight, they arrive at their new apartment. Gregory is surprised to find lots of things that are different: but that's the way they do it in Japan.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3--Gregory lives in California with his parents. Suddenly his Japanese-born father announces that he is being transferred to Tokyo and they will be leaving shortly. They pack up and move and Gregory learns that the language, money, food, and traffic flow are all different. Every time he remarks on the strangeness of things, his father says, "That's the way we do it in Japan." The child has the usual fears about going to a new school, understanding the work, and making friends. He feels out of place with his peanut-butter sandwich when everyone else eats the school-supplied fish, rice, and soup. He dislikes the idea of fish, but on the day he decides to try it, they are serving PB & J sandwiches and the children announce, "Amerikawa sugoi" (America is wonderful). Large, colorful illustrations with realistically drawn children add to the appeal of the story. However, some of the "way we do it-" elements are a bit stereotypical of the traditional way of Japanese life. Contemporary children of Gregory's age mostly now sleep in beds and sit at tables, but that does not detract from this story, which tries to emphasize cultural differences while including social similarities. This friendly story of acceptance in a new situation will also serve as a good introduction to children learning about this culture.
Nancy A. Gifford, Schenectady County Public Library, NY
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Ages 5-8. Gregory lives in San Francisco with his American mother and Japanese father until his father's job takes them all to Japan. Gregory's experiences in his new home and school provide children with an introduction to Japanese customs and lifestyle. More important than the cultural differences, however, is Gregory's positive reaction to the changes. For example, when Gregory's dad tells him that people in Japan sleep on the floor instead of beds, Gregory responds with an enthusiastic, "Wow! That'll be just like camping!" Billin-Frye's engaging watercolors complement the encouraging tone of the text by featuring characters with pleasant facial expressions and body language, and placing Gregory in surroundings that are attractive and will seem familiar to listeners. Numerous Japanese phrases, with pronunciations and translations included, are sprinkled throughout the story. Use this to introduce a unit on Japan or to increase awareness of the Japanese culture. Lauren Peterson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company (January 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807578223
• ISBN-13: 978-0807578223
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #60,464 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #49 in Books > Children's Books > Travel & Cultures > Explore the World > Asia
  • #88 in Books > Children's Books > Literature & Fiction > Short Story Collections

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome book!!!, January 14, 2005

By 

Lisa Hays - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Way We Do It in Japan (Hardcover)

I am a director of a childcare center and I am running a multicultural program for our children. It is sooo hard to find good materials for small children that discuss other cultures. This book was excellent. The children loved it and so did I.

It not only taught about the differences but it also had Japanese words strewn throughout the book. It also had a very simplistic pronunciation key so that I didn't need to skip a beat while reading. One of our children who is from Japan and his mother came in while I was reading. The mother understands very little english but was very pleased with the book. The book ends on such a loving note. I wish they had books like this for every culture.

I thank the authors for such a book.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Adjusting to a New Culture", November 13, 2002

By 

Janet Packard (Grand Junction, CO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Way We Do It in Japan (Hardcover)

Gregory moves with his Japanese father and Caucasian mother from San Francisco to Japan. The author captures the boy's eagerness for adventure, yet his timidity as he faces the unknown. While Gregory and the reader learn "the way they do it in Japan," they will learn to speak some Japanese words.

The author has depicted loving parents who do all they can to help their son fit in to a new way of life. The surprise comes in the end when Gregory's classmates learn "the way they do it in America."

A great book to encourage children to value another culture. Adult and child will gain information about Japan that could lead to a whole unit of study. But what I liked best was the author's theme of love and friendship, where there could be fear and alienation. The principles of the book could be applied to the study of any culture.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars First Graders Read It Again and Again, August 17, 2002

By 

First Grade Teacher (West Linn, OR United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Way We Do It in Japan (Hardcover)

The Way We Do It In Japan is a warm story relating a child's honest and positive reactions to his family's move from
San Francisco to Tokyo, Japan. Gregory's experiences and reactions to new and unfamiliar situations prompted much discussion in my first grade classroom. Every child identified with Gregory on some level. This book was a welcome re-read in my classroom!