Cool Tokyo Guide: Adventures in the City of Kawaii Fashion, Train Sushi and Godzilla

Gr 6 Up—Denson's (Cool Japan Guide) second travel manual uses colorful cartoons to bring to life the sheer variety of experiences that Tokyo offers. The book is written by a frequent visitor to Japan for those organizing their first trip there. Initial chapters focus on planning and scheduling as well as crucial survival skills to commit to memory. Denson then describes an assortment of restaurants, theme parks, stores, architecture, and cultural locales. She highlights a wide array of activities and locations, emphasizing that there's something for almost anyone to enjoy in the city. All the while, the character Kitty Sweet Tooth imparts key Japanese words and phrases. With bright colors and wavy lines, the illustrations present the city as an imaginative wonderland. These visual elements, paired with Denson's breezy writing style, make what could have been a dull exercise into a delightful and educational excursion through Japan's capital city and its surrounding areas.