Interview with Kurashiki City Bookstore Cooperative
“What is 1st Grade Wakuwaku Bunko?” “What should I do if my child borrows a book from 1st Grade Wakuwaku Bunko?” We spoke with Masaki Kataoka, the chairman of the Kurashiki City Bookstore Cooperative, and Fumiaki Yamana, the cooperative's public relations officer, about their thoughts and how to utilize the 1st Grade Wakuwaku Bunko.
Please tell us the purpose of the 1st Grade Wakuwaku Bunko project.
Kataoka (no honorifics)
1st Grade Wakuwaku Bunko is one of the reading education initiatives aimed at first-grade elementary school children.
By creating a dedicated bookshelf for first graders in the first year when reading education begins, we want to create an environment where children can easily become familiar with books. This initiative started in the 2017 fiscal year in collaboration with the Kurashiki City Bookstore Cooperative and Kurashiki City.
Yamana (no honorifics)
This is because there are no libraries in public kindergartens in Kurashiki City.
Therefore, for new first graders in Kurashiki City, the school library can be the first place to receive reading education. Naturally, it is difficult to find an interesting book among the many books available.
However, with something like the 1st Grade Wakuwaku Bunko, where there are limited books specifically for them, some children can find their favorite book.
In the language arts class, there are cases where children feel disappointed saying, “I couldn’t choose a single book…” This is one of the reasons for the decline in reading. Therefore, I hope that they can first choose a book from a limited selection and feel like “I want to borrow the next book” after reading it.
Please tell us the reason for setting the 1st Grade Wakuwaku Bunko in the school library.
Yamana
As I mentioned earlier, I think the school library is an unfamiliar place for first graders.
That’s why the 1st Grade Wakuwaku Bunko can be one of the reasons to go to the school library. Children who read a lot from the 1st Grade Wakuwaku Bunko tend to continue visiting the school library even in the second grade and beyond, and their reading volume is overwhelmingly high.
Kataoka
In the library, books are arranged by genre, right? There are children who say, “I read books from each corner!”
Moreover, in elementary school, the school library and the health room are the two places where students can visit regardless of whether they have business or not, and can speak openly. Some may have experience consulting with the school librarian about their problems. In fact, there are children who find support through visiting the health room or the library.
I want children to have as many places as possible that can be a source of comfort, and I would be happy if the school library could be one of them.
Do you have any memorable episodes from the 1st Grade Wakuwaku Bunko?
Kataoka
There is an episode where upperclassmen introduced books to underclassmen.
Yamana
The 1st Grade Wakuwaku Bunko started with 25 books, but we have been adding new titles every year, so now there are over 100 books.
As a result, some children find it difficult to choose from those 100 books.
However, since this initiative has been ongoing for seven years, all the children currently enrolled in elementary school have experience with the 1st Grade Wakuwaku Bunko. Therefore, I heard from the school that upperclassmen are supporting struggling first graders by saying, “Try reading this book” and helping them choose.
Kataoka
The school library is the only place in the school where students of various grades can interact normally.
It doesn’t depend on physical activity levels either. Therefore, I believe it is a place where children can cultivate aspirations by seeing the books that their admired older students are reading, thinking, “I want to read that someday.” In fact, there are children who say, “I will study hard because I want to read this book!”
Having the 1st Grade Wakuwaku Bunko in the school library encourages visits and allows younger students to see older students reading. Learning from the presence of those older students is also one of the joys of reading education.
Yamana
At a certain school, they have created a special stamp card for the 1st Grade Wakuwaku Bunko. Children who read all the books from the 1st Grade Wakuwaku Bunko are given the privilege of being a library committee member for a day. Since library committee members are usually upperclassmen, first graders typically do not have this experience. However, for children who complete the 1st Grade Wakuwaku Bunko, it must be an object of admiration.
In this way, some schools are creatively organizing events and other activities.
What should parents do if their child borrows a book from the 1st Grade Wakuwaku Bunko?
Yamana
The ideal situation is to read together as a parent and child.
Some of the books that children borrow may be too difficult for them to read alone. In such cases, I hope parents will use the 1st Grade Wakuwaku Bunko as a tool for interaction.
Kataoka
Once children become elementary school students, you might think they can read on their own, right?
However, children really appreciate it when their parents engage with them. So please ask questions like, “How many books did you borrow today?” or “What was this book about?”
Parents know their child's reading level best. Since there are children who cannot receive help at school, I think it’s good to read together.
Yamana
At first, your child will probably bring home only books with the 1st Grade Wakuwaku Bunko sticker.
However, eventually, the number of books without stickers will increase. This may be an indicator that your child has started to read books on their own without relying on the 1st Grade Wakuwaku Bunko.
Are there any considerations when selecting books for the 1st Grade Wakuwaku Bunko?
Yamana
There are two things we at the Kurashiki City Bookstore Cooperative keep in mind when selecting books. One is to not assume the reading level of first graders. The other is to choose books that stimulate children's imagination.
When thinking of books for first graders, don’t you tend to imagine only picture books? However, if adults only provide picture books, children will only read those. That’s why we consciously select books from various genres to ensure we do not limit children's potential.
In fact, we have heard episodes where books we thought might be too difficult for first graders resonated with children, and teachers expanded the scope of their lessons through trial and error.
Since we are a bookstore and not school librarians, we will continue to select books by leveraging our strength in sharing information with publishers and authors.
Finally, do you have a message for the readers?
Kataoka
From a single book, children can develop a heart of compassion by thinking, “What does the other person think?” and the ability to express that. Promoting reading activities will greatly expand children's worlds. I hope children will read books that connect their inner and outer worlds.
Yamana
“What is the one book you want to keep close?”
This sums it up. Whether it’s to take flight into the world of imagination or to embark on a journey in reality, that one book you want to keep close can serve as a guide for that child.
But above all, when your child brings home a book from the 1st Grade Wakuwaku Bunko, please read it together with them, even if it’s just the books with the 1st Grade Wakuwaku Bunko sticker.
Conclusion
I also served as a school librarian during my previous job as a teacher. Not only did I manage the purchase and management of books for the school library, but all selection and management of books were solely the responsibility of teachers. Additionally, since we ordered books through catalogs and the internet, I never thought of selecting books in collaboration with local bookstores.
However, the Kurashiki City Bookstore Cooperative operates under the slogan “For all children in the city” and has realized and continued the 1st Grade Wakuwaku Bunko. I feel that by working together, local bookstores and schools can significantly broaden the scope of children's reading education.
As a citizen, I take pride in this educational activity, which will enrich the reading activities of children in Kurashiki City.
Data on 1st Grade Wakuwaku Bunko
| Name | 1st Grade Wakuwaku Bunko |
|---|---|
| Address | All elementary schools in Kurashiki City |
