Machiyo Kodaira is a native of Tokyo, Japan, and a graduate of Parsons School of Design. She has worked as a preschool teacher, secretary, waitress, freelance reporter, and sales clerk, and now teaches writing for children and young adults at Spalding University. in education from the University of Vermont and a Certificate of Poetics from Naropa Institute, where she was Allen Ginsburg's apprentice. Her awards include the Parents' Choice Silver Medal and a Poetry Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. Lesléa Newman is a poet, an animal lover, and the author of Runaway Dreidel!, Cats, Cats, Cats!, Daddy's Song, and other picture books. Hachiko Waits is a 2005 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year. Readers will be touched by the story of Hachiko and his impact on the people of Japan. Hachiko Waits is a novel inspired by a true story. Not even Yasuo, the young boy who takes care of Hachi, can persuade him to leave his post. Hachi waits.įor ten years Hachi waits for his master to return. One day, the train arrives at the station without the professor. Hachiko Waits includes the character of Yasuo, a boy of just five when he meets Hachi for the first time, and who grows older with the dog until the end, when he is a young man in his early twenties. And every afternoon just before three o'clock, Hachi is at the train station to greet his beloved master. Hachi, you are the best dog in all of Japan.' Professor Ueno speaks these words to his faithful dog before boarding the train to work every morning. The loyalty and devotion of a dog has no bounds I love it.' -Patricia MacLachlan, Newbery Award-winning author of Sarah Plain and Tall Hachiko Waits shows us the very best in life loyalty, devotion, our ability to love-all taught by a beloved, intelligent, and heroic dog. Sprinkled throughout with Japanese vocabulary words, this audio production serves as an excellent introduction to a different culture while simultaneously illustrating the universality of human emotions.'Profoundly sad and hopeful at the same time. Poet, author, and animal advocate LesleA Newman earned an ASPCA Henry Bergh Children's Book Honor and scores of other accolades for this touching tale based on a true story. In time, Hachiko will come to be remembered and honored throughout Japan for his singular devotion. Days and weeks pass and still no one-not even the young boy Yasuo who comes to care for him-can persuade the faithful dog to leave his post. Then one afternoon Professor Ueno does not return. And Hachiko sits at the station eagerly awaiting his master's return. They enjoy a breakfast together before the professor leaves to catch the train to the school where he teaches. Every morning in the Japanese town of Shibuya, Professor Ueno awakens and is greeted by his loyal Akita dog, Hachiko.

Hachiko Waits by Lesléa Newman