Japan

Children's Literature

When traveling to Japan one might want to avoid the fugu, or blowfish. Although it is a great delicacy, it needs to be specially prepared or the dinner will be poisoned. Some foods to enjoy would be sashimi, sushi or yakitori. A few decades ago, the Japanese government began a program to preserve cultural heritage, and individuals have the honor of being National Living Treasures. They are craftsmen, artists, musicians, actors and puppeteers. Japan is the home of the world's first novel, which was written about 1000 years ago, and the literacy rate, at 100 percent, is one of the highest in the world. In addition, the Japanese economy makes it a nation of international importance. Japan has had a rich and colorful history, and today it is a blend of both the old and new and is also influenced by Western ideas. Stefoff's book is richly detailed and contains a glossary, maps, a timeline and an index, making it ideal for research. It is a resource that is rich in detail. Unfortunately, the photographs, mostly black-and-white, are somewhat grainy. 1999, Chelsea House, $19.95. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Laura Hummel