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Hachiko Waits
Leslea Newman; Ill. by Machiyo Kodaira;
Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, 2004
Grade Level 3-5
ISBN & COST 0-8050-7336-1 $15.95
Themes: Loyalty, devotion, death, responsibility, Japanese culture
Author Information: Author’s Website: http://www.lesleakids.com/ Contemporary Authors Online, Gale, 2002.
Contemporary Authors, Vol. 107, p292-295.
Something About the Author, Vol. 71, p138-139; Vol. 128, p184-187 and Vol. 134, p124-127.
Synopsis:
Every day just before 3:00, the loyal dog Hachi waits patiently for his master, Professor Ueno, to step off the train and accompany him home. One day, his master does not return, but Hachi never gives up waiting. The professor’s young friend, Yasuo, takes care of Hachi, though Hachi will never go home with him and become his dog.
General Review:
This tender story of a dog’s loyalty to his master and a caring boy’s devotion to the dog will touch the hearts of children and adults. Readers are also introduced to the culture of Japan in the early 20 th century through detailed descriptions and a helpful glossary.
Also reviewed in BookList, (Jan.1, 2005, Vol. 101 Issue 9/10, p859), Publisher’s Weekly ( Dec. 13, 2004, Vol. 251 Issue 50, p68) and School Library Journal (Nov. 2004, Vol. 50 Issue 11, p113).
Hachiko Waits was a 2004 honor winner in the ASPCAHenry Bergh Children's Book Award for Fiction: Companion Animals.The award was established to honor books that promote the humane ethic of compassion and respect for all living things.
Discussion Questions: Standard 3 Benchmark 3
- Would you want a dog like Hachiko? Why or why not?
- How did Hachiko affect those people who met him?
- The sculptor asked Yasuo, “Tell me about Hachiko”. Why do you think he needed to know about Hachiko before making the sculpture?
- People came from all over for the unveiling of the sculpture. Why do you think people cared so much for Hachiko?
- Yasuo told his girlfriend to meet him by the statue of Hachiko at 3:00 so he could propose marriage. Why did Yasuo choose that time and place for his proposal to Miyuki? What does the sculpture represent?
Activity Suggestions:
1. “Akitas are known for their loyalty and extreme devotion.” Research another dog breed and find out its traits. Standard 3, benchmark 2.
2. Haiku is a type of Japanese poetry about nature. It has 3 lines and 17 syllables. The first and last line have 5 syllables and the second line has seven. Write a haiku about your favorite pet or other animal. Standard 3, benchmark 4.
3. Professor Ueno and Hachiko both died on Tango-no-Sekku or Boys’ Day in Japan. On Boy’s Day (now called Children’s Day) families fly carp shaped banners or windsocks. There is one banner for each child in the family. Using paper or fabric, make a carp banner for you or someone else in your family. What else do families do for Children’s Day? Standard 3, benchmarks 2 & 4.
4. Find Tokyo Japan on a map. What countries are close to Japan? What separates Japan from these countries? Standard 1, benchmark 5.
A Teachers Guide is available from the Henry Holt Books for Young Readers Website http://www.henryholtchildrensbooks.com/teacherguides/hachikowaits_rgg.pdf
Children who enjoy Hachiko Waits may want to read the picture book Hachiko: The True Story of a Loyal Dog by Pamela S. Turner.
