Japan - With Audio Level 1 Factfiles Oxford Bookworms Library

by Rachel Bladon

A level 1 Oxford Bookworms Library graded reader. This version includes an audio book: listen to the story as you read.

Written for Learners of English by Rachel Bladon.

What is Japan? It is everything new and modern: the Tokyo Sky Tree, 634 metres high; amazing cameras and phones; karaoke and manga; trains going past at 300 kilometres an hour. And it is everything ancient too: beautiful palaces; high mountains and hot springs; cherry blossom in the spring; quiet gardens with water and trees. Here the past meets the future all the time. From sumo wrestlers to robots, Japan has something amazing for everybody.

Genres: Japan

98 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Ali Mahfoodh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, curious and useful.

[June García · Rating 2 out of 5]

Como todo resumen es injusto. Si no tuviera tiktok algo de esta serie de datos me habría sorprendido.

[Abdurrahman Jubairi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really wanted visiting Japan after reading this.

[عبدالله صلاح · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here, the past meets the future all the time. from sumo wrestlers to robots, Japan has something amazing for everyone

[Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I approached this book primary to understand the technical challenges of writing for a Level 1 audience those transitioning from picture books to more complex text. As an English major accustomed to the dense, demanding syntax of works like Aristotle's Ethics or Marx's Das Kapital, I found the simplicity here almost jarring. I frequently had to check my pacing, wondering if I was reading too fast, only to realize the text is simply that lean.

The linguistic construction is fascinatingly "weird." The phrase fluctuates between overly passive and aggressively active in a way that feels unnatural compared to standard speech. However, my most significant critique lies in the personification of Japan. From a creative writing standpoint, using personification in this context felt like a major tonal misstep; in a university workshop, that choice would be heavily criticized for consistency issues.

The content follows a rigid "copy-and-paste"" template: insert country, insert unique facts, repeat. While the photography is beautiful, it doesn't elevate the book beyond its formulaic roots. It is a functional tool for its demographic, but it lacks the narrative soul that makes children's literature truly stand out. Especially non-fiction children's literature. Read any DK eyewitness book and you will understand what I am talking about.

[Yasser_th · Rating 4 out of 5]

fantastic book talk about a culture of japan

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book about Japan, it was a pleasure to read

[Malzee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mean… this is what it’s meant to be. 30 min audiobook at 1.5x speed. 広く浅く - fine for wide but shallow (and quick) info.

[Erick David]

is a good book