Japanese Nursery Rhymes: Carp Streamers, Falling Rain, and Other Traditional Favorites

The 15 Japanese nursery rhymes in this gentle collection include two types: traditional Warabe Uta rhymes and comparatively modern Doyo verses. The nursery rhymes are printed in Japanese text and characters, and are also translated into English. Acraman’s graphics combine a polished digital aesthetic with playfully anthropomorphic characters, including three stylized birds perched on a tree (“Little bird, red bird/ Why oh why so red? Because it ate a red fruit”) and endearing rabbits wearing “hachimaki” bandannas. Accessible verses and bright, welcoming pictures should have cross-cultural appeal while aiding in language learning. Includes a CD recording of the songs performed both in English and Japanese. Ages 4–8.