「本 だいすき！」 /”I Love Books!” is a site which was recently launched for the purpose of
providing Japanese leveled reading materials for children in the early literacy stage. The site’s
linked collection of Japanese books can support and guide children in this crucial stage (K-1st
Grade) as they journey toward literacy and start learning to read independently.
The books produced from this project are adapted from collections like Bloom Library
(https://bloomlibrary.org/read) and StoryWeaver (https://storyweaver.org.in/en/), both of
which feature Creative Commons-licensed collections. Carefully selected and translated into
Japanese, these books cater to early literacy stages, divided into 10 levels (Level A – Level J),
following criteria specific to each literacy level during translation and formatting.
Masako Douglas (Professor Emerita, California State University Long Beach) served as Project
Director, and Japanese translations of the readers were overseen by her and a team of three
other teachers, all of whom have extensive experience teaching children of reading age in
Japanese immersion programs at elementary schools throughout the United States. Their
background in education and bilingualism ensured that the translations resonated with children,
making each book engaging and enjoyable. Final proofreading was conducted by a Japanese
language school teacher whose concentrated efforts were indispensable to completing this
project.
JFLA provided financial support for this project through its Project Grant.