Bang, Molly. The Paper Crane. New York, NY. Greenwillow, 1985. Children’s book in which a stranger offers an origami crane to pay for his meal and the crane comes to life in a boy’s hands. Introduces origami.
Franklin, Paula. The Seventh Night of July. Agincourt,Ontario: Silver Burdett, 1985.A magical Japanese tale about Tanabata.
Iwasoki, Chihiro. Momoko’s Lovely Day. London: Bodley Head, 1970.A Japanese girl, Momoko, spends a rainy day indoors enjoying herself and reflecting.
Japanese Children’s Favorite Stories. C. E. Tuttle Company, 1958. Children’s literature which would easily integrate with reading curriculum. Includes Japanese children’s stories translated into English. Similar to English folk and fairy tales.
Laurin, Ann. Perfect Crane. New York, NY. Harper and Row, 1981.A children’s folk story about a lonely Japanese magician who gains friends through a paper crane that he brings to life but the must set free. Corresponds to Japanese origami art.
Matsutani, Miyoko. The Witch’s Magic Cloth. New York, NY. Parents’ Magazine Press, 1969.A Japanese folk tale about a brave old woman who climbs a large mountain to meet the Mountain Witch. Includes many inferences about Japanese landscape and culture.
Wells, Ruth. A to Zen: A Book of Japanese Culture. Picture Book Studio; Distributed in the USA by Simon and Schuster, 1992.Introduces Japanese words from A to Z. This book is designed to be read from back to front and from right to left. Words and format illustrate Japanese social life and customs.
Yoda, Junichi. The Rolling Rice Ball. New York, NY. Parents Magazine, 1969.A Japanese folk tale that tells of one man’s compassion and love and another man’s greed, and how they are each rewarded.
