Japanese Reader Collection Volume 2: Momotaro, the Peach Boy

Really nice book for those who are just beginning in the study of Japanese.PROS: As long as you are able to read Hiragana and Katakana, this book has everything you need to understand the text. From grammatical notes per sentence, to full Kanji text, it covers different levels of beginners in Japanese language. Furthermore, the book is written in a progressive form, so that difficulty increases as you advance through it. Lastly, it also includes the story of the tortoise and the hare, I do not know why is not advertised since it takes about half of the book’s length.CONS: There is a significant number of format errors (mainly lack of spaces between words). Though this does not radically affect comprehension, it does disappoint; hopefully there will be an update with better edition.CONCLUSION: If you are just starting in Japanese language and would like to have a story to read at your level, this is a good option. You can also get several stories with similar format from the same publishers.

Well, now I'm on the mailing list for Boutwell et. al. Happy to have stumbled on a method I used for learning other languages: start by reading children's stories then listen to a native read. If I read stories that children hear, I get a peek at the culture at the same time I build vocabulary. AND, when I read along with repeated plays of the mp3s, I slowly, (or maybe even どんどん), acquire some speaking skills. Not ready yet for 雪国, but with help from Momotaro and friends, I'll get there!

Bilingual classic story. Part of a series of alot of different graded readers ,though there may be small variations in different versions. I like this series format where the story is written In English and different Japanese scripts with and without translation notes for which ever way is easiest for you.

This is a great item for people who are studying Japanese and are advanced beginner to intermediate level. It gives several option on how to read the book, either in Full Japanese writing, just Furigana with spaces for beginners trying to learn them better, or for those who are interested in an older Japanese tale in English the translated version is there. I'll admit I haven't read it in English so I cannot comment on it's accuracy in translation.

After having a lukewarm experience with the first volume, I nonetheless tried the second one thinking that it might get better. Instead it got worse. The story is shorter and less interesting. Romaji for the sentence is placed on the top of each page, which shouldn't be needed or even wanted for anybody at the level of reading practice of Japanese. And although there is a no-kanji/hiragana-only version of the story (that I can't imagine anybody wanting), there isn't a no-furigana version so readers can test themselves on whether they've learned the kanji after studying. So it may be appropriate for somebody who is going from the romaji to hiragana levels, but it's too low level and short to be good practice for anybody who already knows hiragana and basic grammar.

This reader is a fantastic learning resource for the Japanese student. This book includes the stories "Momotaro" and "Usagi to Kami". Several different reading options for the stories are presented along with English translations and a full glossary of words, so this reader is suitable for all levels. Furigana are included for all kanji as an additional learning tool. Downloadable mp3s complete the learning experience. Having this on my iPad makes it easy and smooth to take my Japanese studies wherever I go!

ALTHOUGH WE READ OTHER MOMOTAROBOOKS,THIS ONE BRINGS BACKGOOD MEMORIES TO US.MY CHILD PORTRAYED THE ROLE OF MOMOTAROIN THEIR SCHOOL MINI PLAY AS PART OF THEIRJAPANESE ELECTIVE CLASS. ALL THE OTHER CHARACTERSDID VERY WELL IN THE PLAY ANDAS A WHOLE GROUP, THESE KIDS REALLY BONDED.THEY DELIVERED THEIR LINES IN JAPANESETHAT ADDED THE ELEMENT OF FUN TO THEM.MY CHILD LOVES READING THIS BOOK OVER AND OVERAGAIN ( :

Easy to read and stay motivated.Felt too short and finished in a single setting wanting more.But enough new vocabulary and usage pattern to learn to worth the buy and re-read and listen.

O livro tem várias opções para vários tipos de estudantes, romaji, hiragana, kanji com furigana. Além disso, ele explica frase por frase, dá tantos as traduções como ensina a gramática contida ali. Ótima opção para prática de leitura, recomendo à todos.

Another nice paperback from thejapanesepage.com / theJapanShop.com people. Good layout and text size and suitable for beginners and upper beginners. Free downloads are available which include E-books and sound files.Again you’re given 3 versions of the stories to work through (there are 2 stories altogether), first you have the Japanese text with a running glossary, just Japanese and just English. There’s also furigana (small hiragana for pronunciation) above the Kanji, and a vocabulary list in the back.Also included are a few extra grammatical notes for the 2 stories, such as a note explaining what kibidango are (dumplings made with millet), and that ‘tarou’ usually indicates a male name. There are also the Momotaro song lyrics with brief vocabulary notes and a “Kanji in Focus” section for The Tortoise and the Hare story, which is just a list of the Kanji used with English and on/kun readings.Not as long as the Hikoichi paperback, but still very much worth buying.

Für Anfänger ist dieses Buch sehr gut geeignet. Es enthält zwei typische japanische Geschichten.Leider wird jedes Wort auf jeder Seite immer wieder neu übersetzt. Dabei hat man nach der ersten Hilfestellung eigentlich schon verstandern, dass "ojiisan" der alte Mann/Großvater ist. Aber dafür prägt sich schnell die eine oder andere Verbform ein.Die zwei Geschichten sind in einer großen Schrift gesetzt, jede Seite oben japanisch, unten die englische Übersetzung. Darauf folgernd gibt's die rein japanische Geschichte und dann die englische Version. Im Anschluss folgen einige Erläuterungen zur Grammatik/Übersetzung.Insgesamt zu empfehlen, insbesondere auch wegen der Möglichkeit des Downloads von mp3s in unterschiedlichen Vorlesegeschwindigkeiten sowie der Text als pdf und in ebook-Formaten.

The reader is really well designed and nicely put together. The Japanese text is printed twice, once with a running word list and grammar points, and again with just Japanese.You get two stories, the traditional tale of Momotaro, the Peach Boy, and a version of The Tortoise and the Hare.You also get to download mp3 versions of the stories, both in slow Japanese for beginners, and in natural speed.Great value.

Fun book and easy to read, the stories are interesting and not too long, so you can read a couple of times until you understand the meaning without getting bored. The split of the stories into japanese only, japanese with grammar info and english makes it very convenient