This is a fun 30-minute Japanese storytime that includes picture book reading, hand-play songs, and hiragana activities that incorporate the seasons and Japanese events. After story time, you can enjoy coloring, origami, brush stroke practice, crafts, etc. together. Held on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month. It would be helpful if you could arrive at least 10 minutes early. Must be accompanied by an adult. I look forward to meeting many of you.

The library also has picture books available in Japanese to check out and take home!

If you have questions about Japanese Story Time, please feel free to contact Malie at waku.waku.no.ki.nihongo@gmail.com or the library at library@loomis.ca.gov..

A Little about Malie and Japanese Story Time

Why did you want to create a story time for speakers and learners of Japanese?
While attending other English Storytime, I started to realize the effects of story time on language development for young children. Both of my children are bilingual, and I know that reading to them in Japanese has been a crucial part in their development of the Japanese language. I felt that Japanese story time would not only benefit my children, but others as well. I have experience teaching Japanese to children of all ages, from kindergartner up to high school. I am grateful for the Loomis Library for providing me this opportunity to present Japanese Storytime.

Is Japanese story time for Japanese speakers only?
Not at all! I built this program to be fun for all levels of Japanese speaking abilities.

What is the intended age range for Japanese story time?
Toddler story time is built for children of preschool age, but not limited to toddlers, children older than preschool age are welcome as well.

Besides stories, what other activities do you do?
We learn Hiragana (Japanese phonetic characters), sing Japanese children’s songs, and make crafts.

Do you teach elsewhere?
I am not currently teaching anywhere else. Although I have taught at a Kids Japanese Language School and I have tutored high school students and adults. I am currently studying to obtain an advanced-level qualification as an early childhood Japanese teacher. If you are interested for yourself or your child to learn Japanese as a second language, please feel free to contact me.

What is your favorite children’s story?
One of my all-time favorite picture books from my childhood is Mekkira Mokkira Don Don(めっきらもっきらどんどん) by Setsuko Hasegawa and Nana Furiya. There are so many more, it’s hard to decide! Some of the books I read during story time are books my mother would read to me when I was a child, so it brings back a lot of memories.

What do you like most about the Loomis Library?
I like the home-like atmosphere. The library staff are very welcoming and helpful. They are very passionate about education and development. Every time I enter the Loomis Library, I am filled with gratitude. I will continue to do my best to make my Storytime a warm and special 30 minutes of the week for the children and parents who participate.