One Day in Japan with Hokusai (Adventures in Art and Architecture)
Grade 2-4-Kiku and Yoshi are off for a visit to their grandfather,  the Japanese artist Hokusai. His woodblock prints and other  illustrations are used to show the travels of the siblings and  what they see on their way to his house in Edo, now Tokyo.  Unfortunately, readers don't know that these are reproductions  of his art until the final page, and they may be confused when  they never see the children on their journey. The author's use  of a fictional account as a device to showcase the art works  better when they arrive at their grandfather's and he regales  them with stories of his travels and adventures, illustrated  again with his work. The text is weak and often contrived.  Christina Bjork's Linnea in Monet's Garden (R & S Bks., 1987)  uses this device far more effectively.DeAnn Tabuchi, San  Anselmo Public Library, CACopyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.