Here is a range of bilingual (Japanese/English) children’s books for various ages, from classical Japanese folk tales to modern stories about animals for younger children.
These bilingual children’s books also offer useful material for students of Japanese who want to work with basic Japanese texts and are ready to enjoy something more stimulating than passages from a standard Japanese language study textbook.
“The lad just laughed and dropped his axe
to wrestle with the bear,
Then lifted it above his head and spun it in the air.”Kintaro is one of Japan’s most enduring and popular children’s stories.
Kintaro was raised in a mountain forest by his beautiful young mother. His gentle nature and great strength win him the love and admiration of all the forest creatures.
Recruited by a samurai lord, Kintaro goes on to earn fame and fortune after conquering a band of evil demons.
Suiho Yonai’s rich, dramatic illustrations have been inseparable from the image of Kintaro for Japanese children for over 50 years.
Ralph F. McCarthy’s lilting verse brings this tale to life for English-speaking children everywhere.
Momotaro, perhaps the most beloved of all Japanese folk tales, is the story of a boy born from a peach.
Momotaro’s expedition to the Land of the Demons, accompanied by his faithful companions, the Dog, the Monkey, and the Pheasant, is filled with fun and excitement for all young readers.
Ioe Saito’s fantastically detailed, brilliantly colourful illustrations, originally painted over half a century ago, illustrate the Japanese text and the lively and engaging English verse translation of Ralph F. McCarthy.
The Inch High Samurai is a brave little boy who sails to the Capital in a teacup and fights a demon with a needle to win the love of a Lady.
In this Kodansha Bilingual Edition, Shiro Kasamatsu’s decorative and dynamic illustrations, painted in the middle of the last century, brilliantly depict the tiny samurai’s adventures and their surprising and romantic conclusion.
Ralph F. McCarthy’s witty verse translation of the Japanese text begs to be read aloud.
Urashima and the Kingdom Beneath the Sea tells the story of a brave young fisherman who rescues a turtle and is rewarded for this with a visit to Ryūgū-jō, the palace of Ryūjin, the Dragon God, under the sea. He stays there for three days and, upon his return to his village, finds himself 300 years in the future. The tale is thought to be the earliest example of a story involving time travel.
The glowing colours and exotic patterns of Shiro Kasamatsu’s illustrations lend a unique air of enchantment to a classic folk tale, with Japanese text and an English verse translation by Ralph F. McCarthy.
The Moon Princess tells the story of how an old bamboo cutter finds a tiny child in the hollow of a bamboo stalk. She is said to be from Tsuki-no-Miyako - "The Capital of the Moon" - and has unusual hair that shines like the moon.
Kaguyahime is a 10th century Japanese folktale. It is considered the oldest extant Japanese narrative and an early example of proto-science fiction.
The delicate colour and detail of Kancho Oda’s illustrations create a mood of charm and mystery.
The Japanese text is accompanied by an English verse translation by Ralph F. McCarthy.
A Treasury of Japanese Folktales, presented in both English and Japanese, contains 12 of the best Japanese folk and fairy tales, told to generation after generation of Japanese children.
These charming tales of rich imagination carry us, on turtle-back, to the splendors of the underwater palace of the dragon princess, to the beautiful hills where Kintaro plays with his animal friends, and to a temple where we discover a "tea kettle" that is really a cunning badger in disguise.
Executed with great skill and imagination, the 98 color illustrations bring to life the charming characters of these heart-warming tales of old Japan.
Too Many Pears tells the story of Pamela, a cow who will do almost anything to satisfy her craving for pears, including climbing a tree for better picking.
Various means of keeping the bovine away from the pears fail until Amy comes up with the obvious solution...
Bruce Whatley's wonderful colour illustrations show a dainty cow, politely but quite determinedly helping herself to the love of her life. Large pictures across spreads with clean white backgrounds and simple Japanese and English text create a humorous tale, perfect for storytime sharing.
Chameleon Races: The Chameleon wants to have a race. “What a great idea!!” say all the lizards... and off we go with a reptile race in which the Chameleon races with the Gecko, Gila Monster and the Salamandar.
This is one of the Chameleon board book series by award-winning author and illustrator Laura Hambleton. The Chameleon board books are ideal for young children and for elementary students of Japanese.
Lively, cheerful, colourful illustrations compliment the Japanese and English texts.
Chameleon Swims: Splish, splosh! Chameleon learns to swim with the help of his friend Salamandar.
This is another of the Chameleon board book series by award-winning author and illustrator Laura Hambleton. The Chameleon board books are ideal for young children and for elementary students of Japanese.
Lively, cheerful, colourful illustrations compliment the Japanese and English texts.
Where Are You Going? To See My Friend!: This lively and rhythmic, bilingual picture book is told in dialogue, with rebus-like symbols used to identify speakers. It is an energetic romp with a dog, cat, rooster, goat, rabbit, and a child, all of whom become friends.
Carle's collage technique is employed in the book's first half, while Iwamura's gentle watercolor illustrations, combined with the Japanese text, make up the second half. The two texts are divided by a gatefold that includes the music and lyrics to the song "Where Are You Going? To See My Friend!" in English and Japanese. An irresistible, spirited ode to friendship.
