My Awesome Japan Adventure: A Diary about the Best 4 Months Ever! - Tapa dura

"...the story and illustrations will hold a child's interest with comparisons to Japanese and American culture written in a voice they can easily identify with." --The Japan Times "I liked this book [...] I liked what Dan learned, and I thought that he made some pretty fun choices. At the end, he hoped he would be coming back soon." --Miriam, age 10, City Book Review "There's a lot covered here, but it's all presented at a level that's rather accessible for both those with no knowledge of Japan and for a younger audience that doesn't want to (or can't) pour through dry guidebooks. [...] Rebecca Otowa truly knows her subject -- having lived in Japan for 30 years and raised children and grandchildren here, she has a good feel for what will interest her younger readers." --Uncovering Japan blog "I highly recommend this incredible cultural gem--my kids poured over the pictures and text. Absolutely packed with cultural information: geography, breakfast, school, origami, history, rice harvest, food, pastimes, customs, tea ceremony-- and much, much more! It's unique layout and illustrations cover so many aspects of Japan--and mix the authentic information with the fictional journal of a 5th-grade boy." --Kid World Citizen blog "My Awesome Japan Adventure is lush with specific, intriguing details about the Japanese culture and the lives of Japanese children and families. It's the voice, though, that will win kids over. Otowa smartly chose to write about Japanese culture, using the point of view of Dan, who, at the end of the book, vows to come back to Japan." --The Children's Book Review "This book is great for introducing older children to Japanese culture or for more advanced Japanese children learning English. How interesting to see your country through the eyes of a foreigner. Highly recommended for children interested in learning about other parts of the world. It would also be great for a book report on Japan." --CatherineAmi.com blog "This diary-cum-travelogue surveys aspects of traditional and modern Japanese culture from sushi and bowing (how and when to do it) to ninjas and manga." --School Library Journal "This notebook style graphic story is informative and fun to read!" --Pragmatic Mom blog

*Picked as one of the best books of 2013 by the Association of Booksellers for Children* A perfect introduction to Japanese culture for kids, My Awesome Japan Adventure is the diary of an American fifth grader who travels to Japan to spend four exciting months with a Japanese family as an exchange student. He records all his adventures in this diary so that he can tell his friends back home about what he did and saw during his time in Japan. With the help of a Japanese foster brother and sister, he visits a Ninja village, tries new foods, learns brush painting, and gets the inside scoop on daily life in a Japanese school. Readers of all ages will love experiencing life in Japan from a kid's point of view! Dan's adventures include: My First Week of School, Visiting a Ninja Village, Fun with Origami, Practicing Aikido, Making Mochi, and much more... As a multicultural children's book, My Awesome Japan Adventure is perfect for kids who want to explore another culture and have fun in the process!