Discover Japan's Sounds A to Z with Tanuki & Fox

Explore Festivals, Food & Culture through Playful Japanese Words!

Children - Educational
61 Pages
Reviewed on 05/06/2025
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

David Huerta's life journey is characterized by his deep bond with Japan over 25 years, a country that has profoundly influenced his perspective and creativity. As an award-winning children’s book author, David is passionate about introducing young minds to the rich traditions of Japanese culture. Onomatopoeias play an important part in everyday Japanese language and culture for both children and adults. For anyone learning the Japanese language and who wants to communicate like a native speaker, an understanding of these lively sound expressions is essential.
My latest book, “Discover Japan’s Sounds A to Z with Tanuki & Fox”, takes children on a vibrant journey through Japanese onomatopoeia while exploring Japanese festivals, foods, and traditions.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Marie-Hélène Fasquel for Readers' Favorite

Discover Japan's Sounds A to Z with Tanuki & Fox by David Huerta is a delightful introduction to Japanese culture. It blends language learning through onomatopoeia with cultural discovery. It is aimed at young readers but will delight anyone thanks to its gorgeous illustrations. We follow the journey of two charming animal companions, Tanuki and Fox, who guide us on an expedition into Japan's traditions, celebrations, and everyday life. Japanese onomatopoeias are brought to life before us, for example, Atsu Atsu (hot food steaming hot), Doki Doki (racing heartbeat), and Fuwa Fuwa (fluffy and soft things, such as clouds over Mount Fuji). The rhyming text makes the words easy to remember. It also sounds like a song and is delightful. This amazing book also provokes cross-cultural comparison. It invites young readers to think about words related to their language.

Learn Japan's Sounds A to Z with Tanuki & Fox by David Huerta is educational, which is essential for me as a mother and teacher. It introduces language and culture enjoyably. I particularly loved the short Ninja Notes that provide cultural context. These notes introduce children to hanami (cherry blossom viewing) and takoyaki (octopus-filled street snacks). The illustrations are captivating. Julia Schigal's artwork brings the words to life with vibrant, warm brushstrokes. Bara Bara (scattered) is represented by gorgeous cherry blossom petals being blown away. Each vignette took me to Japan and made me want to visit this wonderful country. This children's picture book is a wonderful resource for parents, educators, and young English native speakers or ESL language learners. It's a fun, interactive book that makes language learning enjoyable, and I highly recommend it!

Pikasho Deka

Did you know all languages have unique sounds to express a certain feeling or action? Immerse yourself in the rich world of Japanese onomatopoeia with David Huerta's Discover Japan's Sounds A to Z with Tanuki & Fox. In this rhyming picture book, young readers will find different sounds belonging to the Japanese language in its everyday use, covering all the letters of the English alphabet. You will be accompanied in this fun-filled adventure by two furry friends named Tanuki and Fox. What do you call food that's fresh and hot? Well, in Japanese, it's "Atsu Atsu." Do exciting moments make your heart beat faster? Those are the "Doki Doki" moments. Sometimes, we feel upset. It means we're "Ira Ira." Similarly, "Kira Kira" refers to the things that twinkle and glow.

Discover Japan's Sounds A to Z with Tanuki & Fox is an immensely enjoyable picture book that will introduce children to Japanese culture and language. Listening to sounds of a different language can help nurture and develop an interest in other cultures in children at an age when they're most curious about their environment. This book of rhymes will certainly engage children and make them interested in the world of Japanese onomatopoeia. David Huerta's rhymes are captivating and memorable, while Julia Schigal's lively illustrations are the icing on the cake. The book also features "Ninja Notes" at the end of some of the rhymes, mostly fun little snippets about Japanese culture, festivals, and customs. I'm sure even older readers will appreciate those. In conclusion, it's a fantastic book for children.

Luwi Nyakansaila

Discover Japan's Sounds A to Z with Tanuki and Fox is a children’s educational picture book written by David Huerta, with illustrations by Julia Schigal. It follows the playful adventures of two friends, Tanuki, a raccoon dog, and Fox, as they explore the rich culture of Japan through onomatopoeic words that capture the sounds and essence of Japanese traditions, food, and festivals. The book highlights charming aspects of Japan like crispy Takoyaki, the flutter of Sakura petals, and the excitement of summer fireworks. From Atsu Atsu, a delicious dish served hot and fresh, to Zaa Zaa, the sound of heavy rain, young readers will learn the pronunciation and meaning of each sound. The sounds are accompanied by Ninja Notes, which provide fun facts and additional context related to the cultural references. Have fun learning the alphabet and celebrating Japanese culture with Tanuki and Fox.

Discover Japan's Sounds A to Z with Tanuki and Fox is an engaging read that introduces readers to the beautiful sounds of the Japanese language and culture. Its unique approach offers children a lively and playful way to embrace a different culture. Although the book targets children, adults interested in learning about Japanese culture and language will also enjoy it. David Huerta has created fun characters that children can relate to, and the interesting premise makes learning entertaining. The book includes a summary table highlighting the sounds and their meanings, making it easy to remember the lessons. The illustrations are beautiful, with bright colors and whimsical designs. Fox and Tanuki are adorable and expressive characters who are joyful and curious about the world around them. I enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend adding it to your children's reading list.