{"id":41822,"date":"2017-09-23T13:33:14","date_gmt":"2017-09-23T17:33:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jetwit.com\/wordpress\/?p=41822"},"modified":"2017-09-23T13:33:14","modified_gmt":"2017-09-23T17:33:14","slug":"jq-magazine-book-review-kuma-kuma-chans-travels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jetwit.com\/wordpress\/2017\/09\/23\/jq-magazine-book-review-kuma-kuma-chans-travels\/","title":{"rendered":"JQ Magazine: Book Review \u2014 \u2018Kuma-Kuma Chan\u2019s Travels\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

“Takahashi’s warm watercolors and relatable stories are guaranteed to entertain readers of all ages, and the latest English-language addition to this series, Kuma-Kuma Chan\u2019s Travels<\/em>, is every bit as enjoyable as its two predecessors.” (Museyon)<\/p><\/div>\n

By<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>Stacy <\/em><\/strong>Smith<\/em><\/strong><\/a>\u00a0(<\/strong><\/em>Kumamoto-ken<\/a><\/u><\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>CIR<\/em><\/strong>, 2000-03) <\/em><\/strong>for<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>JQ <\/strong>magazine<\/strong><\/a>. <\/em><\/strong>Stacy<\/em><\/strong> is<\/em><\/strong> a<\/em><\/strong> New<\/em><\/strong> York<\/em><\/strong> City<\/em><\/strong>–<\/em><\/strong>based<\/em><\/strong> provider<\/em><\/strong> of<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>top<\/em><\/strong> quality<\/em><\/strong> Japanese<\/em><\/strong> interpreting<\/em><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>translating<\/em><\/strong> and<\/em><\/strong> writing<\/em><\/strong>\/<\/em><\/strong>editing<\/em><\/strong> services<\/em><\/strong>.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>Starting<\/em><\/strong> from<\/em><\/strong> her<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>initial<\/em><\/strong> encounter<\/em><\/strong> with<\/em><\/strong> Japan<\/em><\/strong> in<\/em><\/strong> her<\/em><\/strong> teens<\/em><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>she<\/em><\/strong> has<\/em><\/strong> built<\/em><\/strong> up<\/em><\/strong> a<\/em><\/strong> consummate<\/em><\/strong> understanding<\/em><\/strong> of<\/em><\/strong> the<\/em><\/strong> country<\/em><\/strong>‘<\/em><\/strong>s<\/em><\/strong> language<\/em><\/strong> and<\/em><\/strong> culture<\/em><\/strong>, <\/em><\/strong>enabling<\/em><\/strong> her<\/em><\/strong> to<\/em><\/strong> seamlessly<\/em><\/strong> traverse<\/em><\/strong> between<\/em><\/strong> Japan<\/em><\/strong> and<\/em><\/strong> the<\/em><\/strong> U<\/em><\/strong>.<\/em><\/strong>S<\/em><\/strong>. <\/em><\/strong>and<\/em><\/strong> serve<\/em><\/strong> as<\/em><\/strong> a<\/em><\/strong> bridge<\/em><\/strong> between<\/em><\/strong> the<\/em><\/strong> two<\/em><\/strong>. <\/em><\/strong>For<\/em><\/strong> more<\/em><\/strong> information<\/em><\/strong>, <\/em><\/strong>visit<\/em><\/strong> www.stacysmith.webs.com<\/a>. <\/em><\/strong>As<\/em><\/strong> a<\/em><\/strong> writer<\/em><\/strong>, <\/em><\/strong>Stacy<\/em><\/strong> also<\/em><\/strong> shares<\/em><\/strong> tidbits<\/em><\/strong> and<\/em><\/strong> trends<\/em><\/strong> with<\/em><\/strong> her<\/em><\/strong> own<\/em><\/strong> observations<\/em><\/strong> in<\/em><\/strong> the<\/em><\/strong> periodic<\/em><\/strong> series<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>WIT Life<\/em><\/strong><\/a>. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Having spent three years on JET in Kumamoto, home of nationwide sensation Kumamon<\/a> who didn\u2019t yet exist when I was there, I must honestly say that I approach bear characters with slight trepidation. However, I was delightfully surprised to love every minute of my encounter with Kuma-Kuma Chan, the bear who stars in the eponymous children\u2019s book series written and illustrated by Kazue Takahashi<\/a>. Her warm watercolors and relatable stories are guaranteed to entertain readers of all ages, and the latest English-language addition to this series, Kuma-<\/em>Kuma <\/em>Chan\u2019<\/em>s <\/em>Travels<\/em><\/a>, is every bit as enjoyable as its two predecessors.<\/p>\n

The previous two books, Kuma-<\/em>Kuma <\/em>Chan, <\/em>the <\/em>Little <\/em>Bear<\/em><\/a> (previously reviewed in JQ<\/strong> here<\/a>) and Kuma-<\/em>Kuma <\/em>Chan\u2019<\/em>s <\/em>Home<\/em><\/a>, looked at a day in the life of Kuma-Kuma Chan on his own and when a friend comes to visit. Kuma<\/em>–<\/em>Kuma<\/em> Chan<\/em>\u2019<\/em>s<\/em> Travels<\/em> is a bit more expansive, introducing readers to his world when he takes trips. I love the details at the beginning sharing what he brings with him on his journeys, along with accompanying illustrations such as a Thermos containing hot coffee. We later see him on top of a mountain drinking said coffee while watching the sunrise. These trips take place inside his head, but the descriptive text and beautiful pictures make you feel like you are with him everywhere he goes.<\/p>\n

The series as a whole features a strong element of kawaii<\/em>, or cuteness, which contributes to its Japaneseness. Also, there is an intangible sensibility to the stories that make them feel a bit different than traditional Western children\u2019s books. In the inaugural Kuma<\/em>–<\/em>Kuma<\/em> Chan<\/em>, <\/em>the<\/em> Little<\/em> Bear<\/em>, we learn about his daily routine, which includes aspects such as eating a big salad for breakfast with lettuce from his garden and personal grooming like trimming his nails and hair. I particularly liked the scene which shows him during the winter, rolling around to catch the sunlight as the day progresses with the kerosene heater nearby. For many JET alumni, I\u2019m sure this scene will be reminiscent of days spent in school offices where this was the sole source of heat.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Courtesy of Museyon<\/p><\/div>\n

For readers seeking a creature of a different nature, the Tyrannosaurus children\u2019s books written and illustrated by Tatsuya Miyanishi<\/a> is another series worth checking out. It currently features 13 titles, four of which have been published in the U.S. For those who would like to learn about these books and meet the acclaimed author, he will be at the New York and New Jersey locations of Books Kinokuniya at 2 p.m. on October 21 and 22, respectively. On both days, Miyanishi will be reading from and discussing his works, as well as signing books for those with purchased copies. For more dates in Texas, Washington and California, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Kuma-Kuma Chan\u2019s Travels<\/strong><\/em> is available October 1. For<\/strong><\/em> more<\/strong><\/em> information<\/strong><\/em>, <\/strong><\/em>click<\/strong> here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

For<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0more<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>JQ<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>magazine<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0book<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0reviews<\/strong><\/em>,<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>click<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0here<\/strong><\/em><\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By\u00a0Stacy Smith\u00a0(Kumamoto-ken\u00a0CIR, 2000-03) for\u00a0JQ magazine. Stacy is a New York City–based provider of\u00a0top quality Japanese interpreting,\u00a0translating and writing\/editing services.\u00a0Starting from her\u00a0initial encounter with Japan in her teens,\u00a0she has built up a consummate understanding of the country‘s language and culture, enabling her to seamlessly traverse between Japan and the U.S. and serve as a bridge between […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[75,4,40,53,58,36],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-41822","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-art","category-articlejournalism","category-books","category-events","category-reviews","category-wit-life"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pkZ7m-aSy","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jetwit.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41822","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jetwit.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jetwit.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jetwit.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jetwit.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41822"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/jetwit.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41822\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41825,"href":"https:\/\/jetwit.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41822\/revisions\/41825"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jetwit.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41822"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jetwit.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41822"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jetwit.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41822"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}