Title: Shin’s Tricycle
Author: Tatsuharu Kodama
Illustrator: Noriyuki Ando
Publisher and Year: Doshin-Sha 1992
Number of Pages: 30
Tags/Theme: Culture, Emotion, Family, Non-fiction, 3-8, Joe Marras
Descriptive Annotation: This story is about a family in Japan during World War 2. Shin is a three year old boy that really wanted a tricycle but because of the war a lot of the toys and other metal in Japan went towards making tanks and other war materials. Then his uncle came in and brought him his old tricycle and Shin was ecstatic. He was outside playing with it one day and then the unthinkable happened, a nuclear bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Shin was trapped and his parents had to free him, he was breathing but his two siblings weren’t as lucky. His parents cared for him until he died shortly after. This is a true story, Shin’s tricycle is in a museum in Japan to remind everyone that war is not the answer.
Classroom Application: This story could be used to show kids the effects of war on everyday citizens, and also on World War 2 and the effects of dropping the atomic bombs on Japan. This is a tragic story, but it is true which makes it land very hard.
Linguistic and Cultural Diversity Analysis: The book itself isn’t too difficult to read, but the content is very hard hitting which is why it might be more appropriate for older kids that are learning about World War 2, “Wars are always brutal. No matter who starts one, innocent people always die-even children like Shin.” Shin was a real boy and he died just before his fourth birthday. It’s a tragic story and it’s very sad to read, “Maybe if enough people could see Shin’s tricycle, they would remember that the world should be a peaceful place where children can play and laugh.” Hoping Shin’s tricycle being put on display at a museum will help people realize that peace is essential.
