Books, videos, and websites for Third Culture Kids
This is a story about a Japanese boy’s first Christmas. A Japanese mother who was born and raised in California decorates a Christmas tree and shares her childhood experiences of Christmas with her young son in Japan. It’s actually the story of the author and his mother, by the same author of Grandfather’s Journey and Tea with Milk.
Reading level: age 4-9 years
Missionary kids John and Lisa are glad to get back to Japan after furlough in America. Although they are sad to leave their relatives, they enjoy moving into their new house, making friends with the neighbor kids, and eating familiar Japanese food. Later, their family travels from their home in Sapporo in the north all the way to the southern city of Nagasaki, visiting various cities along the way. This is basically a coloring book with a storyline about the life of two MKs. Activities are interspersed throughout the book (e.g. mazes, crosswords, word searches, Japanese character writing, dot-to-dot). There is also an accompanying Parent/Teacher Guide that gives more information on Japan and gives lesson plans for five lessons, suitable for a children’s missions conference or a similar event.
Reading level: age 6-9 years
Two Japanese-American kids, ages 5 and 11, move to Japan where their father’s company has been posted. Both kids initially dread the move and they are recognized as “gaijin” (foreigners) when the arrive, in spite of the fact that they are ethnically Japanese. Though they take different approaches to settling into new surroundings, both children eventually adjust, recognizing finally that they’ve grown in “ways that can’t be measured by a yardstick.” This oversized chapter/picture book is rather long for young children but would be good for older elementary or middle schoolers.
Reading level: age 9-12 years
This cheerful tale of a brother and sister talks about Katie and Jacob’s move to Japan and adventures in learning the location and culture. The sibling must adjust to Japan as their dad is gone on military duty but dive right into learning Japanese customs even though they miss their father.
This would be a great book for TCKs moving to Japan as it takes time to point out important customs (like the importance of being on time) and shows a very positive view of moving and Japan in general.
Reading level: age 8-11 years
This is the true story of the author’s mother. The American-born daughter of Japanese parents, she returns to Japan when her immigrant father gets homesick for his homeland. A high school graduate with an American mindset, she faces culture shock as she re-enters Japanese society. She struggles with the expectations that she will be a proper young Japanese lady, and eventually leaves home to try to find her own place in this country. Eventually she discovers a way to blend her American experiences with her life in Japan. While the format of this book is a (beautifully illustrated) children’s picture book, it’s content is more applicable to older children and teens. It would make a fabulous discussion starter for older kids and teens – particularly about re-entry into the U.S.
Reading level: age 5 – high school
This is the true story of the author’s grandfather who left Japan to explore the USA and eventually made a home there with his wife and daughter. He holds fond memories of Japan, however, and eventually returns there when his daughter is nearly grown (her story is told in Tea with Milk). There he longs again to return to California, but the war prevents this. So he tells his grandson about his life in America, and when his grandson grows up, he goes there himself, and discovers he, like his grandfather, loves both countries and longs to be both places at once. Like all Allen Say’s books, it is beautifully illustrated with full-page watercolors.
This book is great for children, but it can also be used at reentry retreats for teens. We sometimes read this to our teenagers at reentry and the last words are very powerful: “The funny thing is, the moment I am in one country, I am homesick for the other.”
Reading level: age 5 – high school