Mottainai Baasan (Mottainai Grandma)

Do you know what the Japanese word "Mottainai" means? Japanese people have valued the spirit of "Mottainai", and it has been passed on to coming generations.

This attractively illustrated book for kids intones the themes of conservation and responsibility in all aspects of life, for example: eating every last bit of rice, and turning the water off while brushing your teeth. It's a great message for children and all the generations, and an enjoyable story. It's also great for practice if you are a beginner in Japanese! (Text is Japanese only (in hiragana text).)

This book was introduced on NPR's Morning Edition