Treasures 3: Stories and Art by Students in Japan and Oregon Collected by Chris Weber
J-E translations by Wayne Lammers and Clinton D. Morrison
E-J translations by Ako Harada, Akiko Kuchina, and Wayne Lammers
Oregon Students Writing and Art Foundation, 1994.
ISBN 0-9616058-6-3 (English softcover); ISBN 0-9616058-3-9 (Japanese softcover)

Students writers and artists from 52 towns and cities throughout Japan and 23 towns and cities in Oregon contributed writing and art for Treasures 3. The work of immigrant and refugee students' from eight other countries is also included. Japanese and Oregon foundations and businesses contributed more than $85,000 to cover costs. The book won a 1996 Skipping Stones Magazine Honor Award.

Treasures 3 was published in two versions, one in English, and one in Japanese. Both include more than 100 stories and poems and 83 pieces of artwork based on students' real-life experiences. The writers and artists range in grade level from preschool to twelfth. Their writing and art reflect a wide range of human experiences that include best friends, divorce, overcoming cancer, death of a loved one, and surviving war. They hope that their work will help increase awareness, empathy, and understanding of one another.

Editor Chris Weber is now carrying on the Treasures project by working to compile a book that contains students' impressions of stories they read in Treasures 3. He hopes this book can be used as a teaching tool to encourage discussion, provide different viewpoints for students to learn about, and motivate the students to think about the Treasures 3 stories in relation to their own lives. Students in both the United States and Japan are invited to submit their impressions in either Japanese or English. You can write to him for further information.

What Reviewers and Readers have Said

"An exceptional collection of writings and art by students in Japan and Oregon. . . . The book is sure to touch you."--Skipping Stones: A Multicultural Children's Magazine

"[A] Bridge to Understanding. . . . A rainbow of autobiography linking two cultures."--The Oregonian

". . . Stories and artwork by students in Japan and the United States fill this fascinating anthology. The literary and artistic quality is high, and the stories speak eloquently of the universal experiences of childhood as well as the particular experiences of a variety of cultures. The book is an outstanding candidate for the school library." --Yellow Brick Road: A Newsletter for Parents, Teachers, and Librarians

"Treasures 3 contains graphic portraits of life seen through the eyes of young people, ranging from the mundane and the humorous to the dramatic and tragic. It serves to increase understanding between diverse cultures, as well as provide a wealth of information and insight into the ways of life shared by students from both countries."--Blue Mountain Eagle

"The creative minds of hundreds of students throughout Oregon and Japan fill its pages with the magic and beauty of their stories, poems, and artwork."--Northwest Writers Handbook

"I enjoyed Treasures 3 very much. It helped me understand the lives of people from many different cultures . . . . If I had the chance, I would tell everyone to read this book."--Angela Rader, Student, Portland

"Treasures 3 is the best anthology I have found to use with my students. Treasures 3 contains powerful stories and poems written by young people that my students can relate to."--Karen Miller, Teacher, Portland

"Recently I purchased Treasures 3 as a gift for our Japanese exchange daughter and I would like to tell you how special that experience proved to be for all of us."--Sue & Bob Orme, Hillsboro, Oregon

Top|Back to "My Books"

1. The Fox Who Came for Dinner, by Hiroko Saito [story]
2. Heartbeats, by Kunihiko Fukushi [poem]
3. Carrying Grandma on My Back, by Chikako Yamazaki [story]
4. Grandpa Remembers the War, by Takenobu Higuchi [poem]
5. Sunset Over Uzuragi Island, by Yoshiko Nakayama [poem]

• What reviewers and readers have said about the book.
• Visit the compiler's site
• Ordering information