Anna's Kokeshi Dolls - by Tracy Gallup (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

One kokeshi, two kokeshi, three kokeshi, four....

Anna is a Japanese-American girl whose grandparents live in Japan. They have been sending her adorable Kokeshi dolls made of painted wood each year for her birthday since she was very small. The dolls, like people, are all different-- and beautiful!

In this charming children's book by award-winning author Tracy Gallup, we watch Anna grow up as her Kokeshi collection grows bigger, and we see how these dolls bring Anna and her grandparents closer together as the years pass.

Part counting book, part visual narrative, this beautifully-illustrated bilingual picture book shows how simple objects can serve as a bridge between people and cultures on opposite sides of the globe. It also introduces these beautiful dolls and the ways in which they are formed and painted.

The story is in Japanese and English, with a free audio recording available online.

A note at the end gently explains the history of Kokeshi dolls and why they are made the way they are.

Review Quotes

"Anna's story is also a bilingual counting book...It teaches readers how to count kokeshi dolls up to 10 in both languages. Families can extend the learning by having their young child count how many times they see Anna's cat, find how many times they see mail from Anna or her grandparents, or count how many kokeshi there are throughout the book, from front cover to back cover...If you want to introduce your children or students to kokeshi and learn how to count them in Japanese, I'd recommend Anna's Kokeshi Dolls." --Nichi Bei News

"This book is a sweet story about Japanese grandparents sharing their culture with their grandchild who lives in America. The words are simple and it's a bit of a counting book. It is a wonderful story about sharing culture, tradition and love with relatives faraway. It is a wonderful book for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month or to talk about family or for a unit about Japan!" --Crafty Moms Share blog

About the Author

Tracy Gallup is a children's book author (A Roomful of Questions; A Crazy Little Series; Paint the Night) and illustrator (A Beastly Banquet) and maker of whimsical doll figures. She is the illustrator of the award-winning My First Book of Haiku Poems. Visit her website at www.tracygallupillustration.com.