BOOK REVIEW #11 (The Story of Chocolate)

A thousand years ago, chocolate was a big secret.

(page 3)

This book has six stories. The first story is about the first chocolate drinkers. It was monkeys. They lived in the rain forest where was full of tropical plants and there was the small cocoa tree, and they spat out the bean of cocoa. Then a farmer discovered by turning bean into a drink, and their group called Myans. And Mayan kings began to drink it every day. But it was hard to preparing cocoa beans, so most people allowed drink it on a special day.

Hundreds of years later, a group of merchants arrived in a Mayan village.

(page 13)

This group, Aztecs, journeyed for days to find exotic goods for their emperor. Then they found cocoa beans and they knew how to make the chocolate drink so they served it to their emperor. He was delighted. Then they bought beans from Mayans and grew cocoa. But poor people couldn't drink it. Eventually, chocolate drink passed into legend.

In 1519, a Spanish explorer named Cortes set out with an army to fight the Aztecs.

(page 19)

The third story is about the time after many battles. Emperor Montezuma wanted to make peace and he served chocolate drink to Cortes. So he brought cocoa beans to Spain. And he served a drink for his friends. Then chocolate gossip spread fast. But it was very expensive so only rich people buy the drink.

Lots of goods could be made more easily including chocolate.

(page 25)

The fourth story is about machine which can put out bar of chocolate. In 1847, the boss of an English chocolate maker came up with bar of chocolate. Meanwhile, a man developed milk chocolate in Switzerland. These chocolates were popular very much.

By the 20 th century, people had learned how to make milk chocolate smoother, creamier and even more tasty.

(page 34)

The fifth story is about diversification of chocolate. A man who is the boss of American chocolate maker thought bars were boring, so he tried squirting glossy chocolate into little peaks. He called them "Kisses". In addition, various chocolate were produced by some chocolate makers. And some of small companies made amazing chocolate by hand.

Some of today's chocolate companies are gigantic. But most of them began as small family businesses.

(page 42)

The sixth story is about success story of own business. John opened a shop which sold his own drinking chocolate, it was so popular. And he set up a cocoa and chocolate factory. His products are sold around the world. Also, there were many family business were successful. For example, M&M which company developed chocolate drops coated by sugar that wouldn't melt in hand. It is famous chocolate.

I didn't know a history of chocolate. I surprised at chocolate has a many history. And I thought that chocolate is a very popular sweets from of old. Now, there are a lot of kind chocolate and we can buy it easily. Compared to old days, I think it is very convenience.


Dynes, Katie. (2004). The Story of Chocolate. Usborned.

BOOK REVIEW #10 (Stories of Princes & Princesses)

Colin was the clumsiest prince in the kingdom

(page 3)

This book has four stories about princes and princesses. The first story is about Colin who is clumsy prince. A princess asked him to marry, but her father didn't permit it and he gave testes. But Colin couldn't pass them, so he had to leave the palace. That night, he heard a scream which is the princess. He leaned out of the window, then the flower pot dropped on the head of the princess thief. He rescued her, so the king permitted their marriage.

Prue liked being a princess, except for one thing. She didn't want to marry a prince.

(page 12)

The second story is about Prue who didn't want to marry a prince. The king gave her choice of princes, but she didn't choice. So he got her married off a beggar. He was very kind, but very poor. And Prue was used to servants. When she went to the castle to work, she saw her husband gave a speech to his guest in the ballroom. Then she knew that he was the prince. And they celebrated a wedding in the castle.

Once, a poor prince named Sam lived in a tiny castle.

(page 26)

The third story is about Sam who fall in love with a rich princess, Sara. He sent her his tree and bird, and he worked at her palace. He made an effort to be liked, but she and the king didn't like him. But she did want the rattle which he made, so she kissed him. The king saw it, and he was very angry. So Sara and Sam were turned out of the palace. Sam took Sara to live in his tiny castle, and they married.

Percy was the rudest, dirtiest, smelliest prince in the country.

(page 36)

The fourth story is about Percy who was a very lonely prince. He had no friends and he didn't like children and animals, but he wanted to marry a princess. So he captured a princess, but she got engaged to another prince, Harry. And Harry went to Percy's castle to rescue her, Percy tried to stop him. But Harry was strong, so he was no match for Harry. Moreover, Harry's soldiers gave him a bath. Then Harry rescued her and married and Percy was invited to their wedding.

I think that there were various princes and princesses in this book. I was surprised at the four story. I thought that Percy was so dirty, why he was a prince?! And I like princess and prince story such like Disney, so it is the first time to read a story about dirty prince. It was interesting.

Rawson, Christopher. (2003). Stories of Princes & Princesses. Usborne.

BOOK REVIEW #13 (Stories of Dinosaurs)

The Dinosaurs World Wrestling Final was one week away. Kevin was fighting Mac, the masked Megalosaurus.

(page 3)

This book has three stories about dinosaurs. The first story is about Kevin and his small trainer, Reg. They went through special training for the fight. But Mac and his trainer was so spite, so his trainer carried on a war of nerves everyday. On the day of the fight, Kevin tripped over his tail and fell down stairs. Mac and his trainer made a fool of him, so Reg got really angry. He scuttled around Mac, he felt dizzy and went down. As a result, Reg and Kevin won this fight.

Tonight, the Raptor brothers, Mike and Albie, were opening their new restaurant.

(page 19)

The second story is about Mike and Albice. Opening day of their restaurant, they had foods stolen. But there was first customer who came from the Good Grub Guide. Then Mike brought a lot of bundle of plants and he cooked these. But it taste was terrible, so the customer got out. As he left, a strange looking dinosaur ate it, he liked it very much. He was a herbivorous dinosaur, then Mike and Albiece made a good trade as vegetarian restaurant.

Daisy wasn't enjoying her school trip to local museum.

(page 34)

The third story about Daisy and the baby dinosaur. The famous explorer showed them an egg of Hadrosaur. Then he lost a balance and knocked over the egg. The egg rolled in Daisy's bag and hatched. The baby dinosaur shot out of her bag, and ran away. Then he snuggled up to a model Hadrosaur. And he cried, the sound was so calming. So the curator decided to give the Handrosaur's calming voice concert.

This book was excited. I want to hear the voice of Handrosaur. And there were various dinosaurs in this book, so I don't feel fear. I don't have go to the museum of dinosaur, so I want to go the museum someday.

Punter, Russell. (2006). Stories of Dinosaurs. Usborne

BOOK REVIEW #12 (Stories of Monsters)

Ben Boggle lay awake in a cold sweat. How could he sleep with a monster under his bed?

(page 3)

This book has three stories of monsters.The first story is about Ben and the bed monster. He thought that he could catch a monster who was under the bed. He read a book about monsters and he could find food which the monster likes. It was chocolate cookies, so he prepared a chocolate cookie and he trapped the monster. But the monster was so small, so he felt sorry for her. The monster was not stupid, so he put her in his breast pocket. And he went to school. Then he called on by teacher, she told the answer to him. So he could answer correctly.

Frankie was fed up. All her friends had gone to the mountains to ski and she had to stay behind and help her mother.

(page 18)

The second story is about Frankie and the ice monster. She heard that the ice monster carried off Frankie's friends in the mountain, so she decided to rescue them. She followed the monster's footsteps and she reached a cave of ice where he lives in. She saw the monster and her friends who frozen like icicles. She made a hot chocolate drink and smelled sweet in the air. The monster couldn't hold back and drank it. Then he thawed and she could rescue her friends with safety.

Tom loved to listen to his Grandpa Jess tell creepy stories about the old days.

(page 37)

The third story is about Jess and the swamp monster. He was a farmhand, when one of his cows went missing. He searched it but he couldn't find. Then he found the muddy trail which leading to the middle of the swamp. He went to the store to buy bottles of bubble bath. He took a shortcut through the swamp. Then he was caught by the monster. But bottles of bubble bath cracked when the monster squeeze him, and it went all over the monster. The monster was frothed, he could escape.

I think this book was very exciting for me. I like Monsters Ink and such stories very much. I want to see a tiny monster and put it my pocket. I envy Ben. And I thought that Frankie was so cool.

Punter, Russell. (2004). Stories of Monsters. Usborne.

Hatachi ha isshoumono；ω；`

Hello~^^ Yesterday was a coming of age ceremony!! Yesterday, I wake up at 7:00 and I went to a hair care salon at 8:00. Then I did a makeup, and I was fixed up kimono. And I went to a relative’s home and I took some pictures with them. At 10:30, my friend, Rie picked me up and her mother drove us to the site. There were a lot of people!!! Everyone wore cute and beautiful kimono. I thought that hakama is very cool. And we went to meeting place, and we join our friends, Sae, Mariko, Akane, at the door of the site. I met a lot of my friends!!! Iwai, Aya, Hanako, Megu, Ayumi, Akane, Chiaki, Kohei, Yuki Manami, Rika, Rie, Micky, Miku, Yuka….. there were many friends^^♪ I took a lot of pictures with them. I enjoyed very much!!! Then I and Rie went to the town. We took purikura and we went to Doutor Coffee. We talked about a lot of thing. For example, boyfriend, taking a job, high school days and so on. And we went to Inari shrine and we draw paper fortune of love. We had a very good time^^ We went back home (I was droved by her mother, thank you very much!!!), I and my mother went to childhood friend’s home. I took picture with him and his family. Then we went back home, I changed into clothes and I went to the reunion. It was very fun^^ I had very good time. This purikura is Rie and I, and this picture is Manami and I. We are very good friend since we were high school student. Now, she lived in Fukuoka, so we are in communication with each other but cell phone text messaging. A coming of age ceremony was very excited! I like kimono^^ And I like Kyushu Gakuin very much^^!!! I want to wear hurisode and go to the reunion one more time('・ω・`)

(326 words)

^^♪

Last Wednesday, I played with Rie. We went to downtown. And we went to JINN restaurant and karaoke. We had a very good time^^ And last Thursday, I went to PARCO with Sae. She is my friend since we were junior high school students. She bought skirt, sweater, leather jacket and boots. I didn't buy clothes, but I bought some rhinestone. Then we went to Mr. Donuts and we talked about a lot of things. It was very fun. And yesterday, I went to Korean class and Kengun shrine with my mother and mother's friends. We draw paper fortune. My paper fortune said that I'll have excellent luck! Year~^^

(112 words)

’・ω・’!!!!!!!!!

Tomorrow is a coming of age ceremony! I’m looking forward to it. I like Kimono very much^^ So I enjoyed to make choice of kimono and I thoughtful about my choice of kimono. And today, my father gave me a newspaper of the day when I was born. I was very surprised, and I was moved to the point of tears. And my mother gave me a ring. This ring is my mother memorabilia. She bought it when she got a job and got a salary for the first time. It is very beautiful. And I was very impressed. I couldn’t stop crying from happiness when I gave these from them. I cherish this newspaper and this ring forever. My heart filled up with happiness. I express my gratitude to my father and my mother. I love my family very much!!

(141 words)

BOOK REVIEW #13(Stories of Dinosaurs)

The Dinosaur world Wrestling Final was one week away. Kevin ‘Crusher’ Kritosaurus was fighting Mac, the masked Megalosaurus. Kevin’s trainer, Reg, kept him super fit. He did grinding practice every day. One day, a huge horned dinosaur lumbered into his gym. It was Mac’s trainer, Stig. And he left word with them “I only hope you don’t have any accidents before the fight.” Kevin and Reg looked worried. Next day, Kevin was out on his morning run, when a bridge suddenly collapsed. And the next day he had accident. The accident happened in a row. Kevin and Reg guessed Stig was to blame, but they couldn’t prove it. The day of the big fight had arrived. Mac and Kevin bounded up the steps to ring. Suddenly, Kevin tripped over his trail and he couldn’t walk. Everyone was disappointed that Kevin was out of the fight. But Mac and Stig held up him to ridicule. Then Reg was blazed up and he ran circle around Mac. So Mac felt dizzier and dizzier, he thudded to the floor in an exhausted daze.
I was very surprised at the scene that Reg defeated Mac. Reg is very tiny dinosaur, so I impressed by him. And I thought that Mac and Stig was very ill nature! I thought that everyone cheered as Reg and Kevin collected their prize money. The dinosaur is big and looks scare, but Reg and Kevin was very kind dinosaur, so I like them.

(245 words)

BOOK REVIEW #12 (Stories of Monsters)

Every evening it was the same story. As soon as Ben switched off his bed side light, the monster woke with snort. All through the night, the creature gurgled and growled in the shadows. Ben had never dared to look under his bed. He was too terrified of what he might see. At school, he could hardly keep his eyes open. So his teacher was shouting at him every day. He found a book which title “Book of Monster” on his way home. But there was no mention of monsters under the bed. He decided to build a monster trap. That night, his monster trap had worked. The smallest monster in the world was tangled in the net. The smallest monster started to sob and said that “I’m too small to scare anyone. That’s way I hid under your bed. I didn’t want you to see me.” Ben began to feel sorry for the monster. But he never feels fear and he never falls asleep in class again. I don’t like monster. But the smallest monster looks very cute! If that monster hid under my bed, I want to show the monster to my family and friends. And I want to put it in a pocket and go for a walk. It sounds fun. I feel fear the monster and the ghost but if they looks cute or small, I’m going to be good friends.

(235 words)

BOOK REVIEW #11 (Storiesof Gnomes & Goblins)

Jessy was skipping in the sun when she heard a tiny, tiny cry. When she looked down, there was a fairy, stuck in a spider’s web. She could hardly believe her eyes. Gently, she lifted the fairy from the web. The fairy was so pleased and invited her to a party which is held at Goblin Hill. Jessy’s grandmother had told her stories about Goblin Hill. Not once had Jessy imagined goblins actually lived there. A door was too small, so the fairy tapped her on the toe and the fairy worked a magic on her. The fairy opened the door and led Jessy inside. They arrived in the middle of a goblin parade. This parade was to celebrate the return of Prince Kester. He was very excited to meet Jessy. He had never seen a girl up close before. He asked the goblin choir to sing a song just for Jessy. Finally, everyone sat down to a huge picnic in the shade of a lollipop tree. But Jessy had to get back. So the king gave her beautiful flowers. Jessy ran down the tunnel and rolled out of the door, but she was still the size of a bee. But, as she stood up, Jessy shot to her usual size. She looked back at the hill. The door was nowhere to be seen. She shook her head and put her hand in her pocket. She took flowers out of her pocket which flowers were given by the king.
It was very fantasy story. I was very excited. I want to see the goblin or the fairy very much!!! And I was envious of Jessy. She could see the fairy, and she also could go to the fairy land. I want to see and go there. I like fantasy story very much. For example, “Alice In Wonderland”, “Harry Potter” and so on. It makes me fun. And I like “Tinker bell” very much. She is very cute and I think that the fairy and the goblin will very cute.

(340 words)

BOOK REVIEW #10( Story of Princes&Princesses)

This story has 4 stories of Princes and Princesses.
#1 There was the clumsiest prince in the kingdom, his name is Colin. Other princes fought dragons, Colin fell over them. Other princes battered villains. Colin bumped into them. One day, he tripped in front of a sad princess. She thought he was so funny, she wanted to marry him on the spot. Her father had other ideas. He gave Colin three tests, test he knew Colin would not pass. Sure enough he couldn't pass the test, so her father was very angry and Colin had to leave the palace. That night, Colin couldn't sleep. Suddenly, he heard a scream which was the princess. He leaned out of his window and sent a flower pot flying straight onto the head of the man stealing the princess. Colin saved the princess, so the king permitted to marry.
#2 There was the princess who wouldn’t get married. Prue didn’t want to marry a prince. So the king was angry. One day, the king made her to marry a beggar. The beggar took Prue home as his wife. He was kind, but very poor. They wore old rags and never had enough to eat. Prue was used to servants. One day, she went to the castle to get some food. She was going home when she passed the ballroom. Then she saw the beggar. In fact, he was the prince. He took her to the ballroom, and they celebrated wedding.
#3 Once, a poor prince named Sam lived in a tiny castle. Sam fell in love with a rich princess named Sara. So he went to her palace and got a job taking care of the palace pig. Sara developed feelings for him. But her father didn’t like pigs, so he didn’t permit their marriage. They had to leave the palace and they lived in his tiny castle.
#4 Percy was the rudest, dirtiest, smelliest prince in the country. He lived all alone in his dirty old castle. He didn’t like children and animals. He had no friends, not one. He was lonely prince, so he captured a princess. But she agreed to marry the prince Harry. Harry went to Percy’s castle to save her. Then Harry’s soldiers decided Percy needed a bath. Percy became friends with them. Harry rescued the princess and married her. And Percy got friends.
I read this book, this book has four chapter so it was long. First story, I thought that Colin is so lucky guy. Almost people hate the clumsiest man, and he couldn’t pass tests, despite this he could marry!!! I don’t like the person who such like him. Second story, I was surprised that the beggar was the prince!!! It was unexpected. And I felt sorry for Prue. Third story, Sam serve her faithfully so I thought that Sam was very good guy^^ And it was funny that her father didn’t like pig and he boot out them. Fourth story, it was funny story. I’m so relieved that Percy made some friends. I thought that bath dodger get on the wrong side of everyone. I like princess and prince story very much. My favorite princess and prince story is “Little Mermaid”. It is very interesting story for me. And I like story with a happy ending.

(552 words)

BOOK REVIEW #9 (Rapunzel)

Mr. and Mrs. Rose lived in a small house that looked onto a beautiful garden. A garden they never dare enter because it belonged to a wicked and powerful witch. Mrs. Rose was in a family way and she was very big eater, she had spent a lot of time thinking about food. One day, she really wanted to eat a vegetable which in the garden. The vegetable is rapunzel. So Mr. Rose had no alternative but to creep into the witch’s garden. But he was found by the witch. The witch said that “I’ll make a deal with you. You can have as much rapunzel as you like, but you must give me the baby as soon as it’s born.” Mr. Rose was so terrified, he agreed. Then as soon as his wife gave birth to their daughter, the witch appeared. She snatched the baby, and vanished. The baby is named Rapunzel, she lived with the witch for eleven years. She was treated like a slave. The older she grew, the more beautiful Rapunzel became. And she had very long hair. The witch thought that “I don’t want any young men running off with her.” So the witch shut her into a tower. There was no way out, no stairs, no door. Four years went by. One day, a young and handsome prince rode through the forest. And the prince found her and he climbed up her long hair. He saved her and he disposed of the witch. She was reunited with her family and she got married the prince. It is a story with a happy ending. But I thought that the father was very bad. I thought that it was very awful to give his baby to the witch as a sacrifice instead of food. Rapunzel had blue eyes and long golden long hair, I want to see such beautiful girl^^

(314 words)

☆☆☆2010☆☆☆

Hallo!!!! A Happy New Year^^ I hope to see more of you. And I wish this year will be very good for you. Yesterday was New Year’s Day. I went to Oshima. Oshima is my father’s parents’ home. It is very country. I met cousins after a long separation. And my aunt has a new dog!!! She is poodle and her name is Ran. She is very small, it was really really cute!!!! Then we went to for a walk. We went elementary school where my father went to. And we went to small local shrine. We paid homage at a shrine. I love country very much♪ I had very good time there^^

And I gave a present from my friend who is Korean. It is very beautiful!! It is a mirror. I was surprised very much and I felt really happy. I send him e-mail soon. I cherish this mirror^^

(154 words)

BOOK REVIEW #8 (The Princess and the Pea)

Once upon a time there was a prince who wanted to marry a princess. But he didn’t want to just any old princess. He wanted a real one. Then he set out to travel the world, in search of a real princess. They hadn’t gone far when they heard a loud sneeze from under the seat. A small figure crept out, it was Peg who is the palace maid. She said that “I’ve been at the palace all my life ever since I was left on doorstep as a baby so I want to see the world. Please bring me!!!” So Prince Patrick decided to take her to the trip. And they went to the witch’s house to ask for the witch’s help. Prince Patrick want to know how to find a real princess. The witch said that “Real princesses are very rare and it’s hard to spot a fake one. But there is a test you can do.” Then the witch made out the condition list of a real princess. There were three points at the list,“1. Politeness to one and all 2. Kindness to rich and poor 3. Very sensitive skin.” Prince Patrick handed out it all over the world. But he couldn’t meet a real princess. Then he found that Peg is true for all conditions of a real princess. Finally, Prince Patrick married his real prince, Peg.
I thought that it was very difficult to meet a real princess or prince. But there may be the ideal person near unexpectedly. I want to see my real prince someday^^ha ha...

(265 words)