By: Haruo Fukami, 彭懿 (translator)
Originally Published in: Japan
Format: Hardcover
Language: Simplified Chinese
Pages per book: 80
Lines per page: 1-2
Price per book: $16.45
Audio book: Available by QR code on books
Luka® can read this book!
蜜橘肚脐(mì jú dù qí) A Tangerine for a Bellybutton Audio Book
Famed Japanese author Haruo Fukami delights young readers with his fantastic imagination and heartwarming humor in this 2-book collection: The Giant 2-Book 大个子打针 (dà gè zǐ dǎ zhēn) and 蜜橘肚脐(mì jú dù qí).
A goofy giant happily waits in line to get a vaccine. When it is his turn, the nurse brings out a needle that is much larger than the needles used on people before him. He is taken aback by the needle’s size and takes off running. Doctors and nurses run after him. He hides in a tree and beneath a bridge, and finally runs home and shuts the door tight. People stand outside his window and door trying to persuade him to take the vaccine. The giant says: I’d rather get sick than get a shot from that big, fat needle!”, so the crowd gives up and leaves.
At night, the Giant has a nightmare: he is sick, the celling turns into a monster ready to devour him. A doctor and a nurse walk into his room with an enormous needle attached to an enormous syringe! “It will hurt badly,” they say, “but you are having illusions because you are sick. This shot will be good for you! “ The giant wakes up in sweat and says to himself: I’d better get the vaccine rather than a humongous shot like that if I am sick! He goes back to the vaccine station with a plan. . .
《蜜橘肚脐》A Tangerine for a Bellybutton
Once there is a giant who is splendid in every way, except for his lack of a bellybutton. One day, he is about to eat a tangerine when it offers to become his bellybutton. The giant's friends all admire this addition to his belly, but, unaccustomed to this new attachment, he begins to bump into things. The tangerine, wishing to avoid bruises, runs away, and the furious giant sets off in pursuit.
After several failed attempts to hide, the tangerine, closely followed by the giant, rolls into the nostril of Old Man Earth, who sneezes, sending the two flying. They finally agree to a compromise. The giant eats the tangerine, and plants the seeds. The seeds grow into a great big tree, providing the giant unlimited supply of tangerine bellybuttons!
Is my child ready for this set?
"Read to me":
Ages 3+ will enjoy having these books read to them either by Luka® or a caregiver.
"Read by myself":
The limited text per page and the prevalence of common language from daily life make it a good "bridge book" for readers. The involved plot and detailed illustrations will capture the interest of experienced readers, ages 5+.
Option to pair with Luka®:
Consider adding Luka®, the reading robot, to your order. Luka® reads 70,000 books in Mandarin Chinese!
Set Luka® in front of the book, and it will read aloud any page your child turns to-- creating a unique, independent physical book reading experience even if your child isn't ready to read by themselves. Click to read our founders' personal review of Luka here.
Happy learning!