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Noticeable wear on the cover & pages but perfectly readable. Includes dustjacket, if applicable. May have notes & or highlighting, but the text is readable and not obstructed. May be former library book. May have mild water damage or staining. Does not come with CD DVD, if applicable. Access code has been used, if applicable. Does not come with any supplementary materials. Noticeable wear on the cover & pages but perfectly readable. Includes dustjacket, if applicable. May have notes & or highlighting, but the text is readable and not obstructed. May be former library book. May have mild water damage or staining. Does not come with CD DVD, if applicable. Access code has been used, if applicable. Does not come with any supplementary materials. See less

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Hachiko Waits: Based on a True Story Paperback – Illustrated, December 23, 2008

by Lesléa Newman (Author), Machiyo Kodaira (Illustrator)

4.7 463 ratings

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"What a good dog you are. What a fine dog you are. Hachi, you are the best dog in all of Japan."
Professor Ueno speaks these words to his faithful dog before boarding the train to work every morning. And every afternoon, just before three o'clock, Hachi is at the train station to greet his beloved master. One day, the train arrives at the station without the professor. Hachi waits.
For ten years, Hachi waits for his master to return. Not even Yasuo, the young boy who takes care of Hachi, can persuade him to leave his post.
Hachiko Waits, a novel inspired by a true story, brings to life the legendary Akita who became a national symbol for loyalty and devotion. This is a must-read for dog lovers of all ages.

Hachiko Waits is a 2005 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

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Editorial Reviews

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“Hachiko embodies all the best qualities of a dog. He is loyal, brave, gentle, and childlike. Based on a true story from Japan, this is a beautiful tribute to a historic dog.” ―Book Sense Pick of the List, Fall 2004

“Lesléa Newman has done an amazing thing. She has written a book that is both profoundly sad and hopeful at the same time. When the world needs such a story, Hachiko Waits shows us the very best in life: loyalty, devotion, our ability to love, to nurture, to care about someone other than ourselves--all taught by a beloved, intelligent and heroic dog. The voice and the art are authentically Japanese, though the heart of the book and its meanings cross all cultures. This book is for all ages. I love it.” ―Patricia MacLachlan, Newbery Award-winning author of Sarah, Plain and Tall

“This will be popular with dog lovers; consider having a packet of tissues on hand.” ―Booklist

About the Author

Lesléa Newman is a poet, an animal lover, and the author of Hachiko Waits, Runaway Dreidel!, Cats, Cats, Cats!, Daddy’s Song, and other picture books. Her awards include the Parents' Choice Silver Medal and a Poetry Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. She was the 2008-2010 poet laureate of Northampton, Massachusetts. Newman was born in Brooklyn and grew up there and on Long Island. She has a B.S. in education from the University of Vermont and a Certificate of Poetics from Naropa Institute, where she was Allen Ginsburg’s apprentice. She has worked as a preschool teacher, secretary, waitress, freelance reporter, and sales clerk, and now teaches writing for children and young adults at Spalding University. She lives in western Massachusetts.

Machiyo Kodaira is a native of Tokyo, Japan, and a graduate of Parsons School of Design. Ms. Kodaira is honored to illustrate Hachi's story, her first book for young readers.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Square Fish; First Edition (December 23, 2008)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 96 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0312558066
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0312558062
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 7 - 12 years, from customers
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 770L
Grade level ‏ : ‎ 3 - Kindergarten
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.2 x 0.3 x 7.55 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #51,794 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #31 in Children's Asia Books
- #150 in Children's Pet Books (Books)
- #442 in Children's Dog Books (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.7 463 ratings

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Leslea Newman

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Lesléa Newman is the author of 75 books for readers of all ages including the teen novel in verse, OCTOBER MOURNING: A SONG FOR MATTHEW SHEPARD; the middle grade novel, HACHIKO WAITS; the poetry collection, I CARRY MY MOTHER; the short story collection, A LETTER TO HARVEY MILK; and the children's books, A SWEET PASSOVER, THE BOY WHO CRIED FABULOUS, KETZEL, THE CAT WHO COMPOSED, and HEATHER HAS TWO MOMMIES. Her literary awards include poetry fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Massachusetts Artists Foundation. OCTOBER MOURNING: A SONG FOR MATTHEW SHEPARD was named an American Library Association 2013 Stonewall Honor Book, and A SWEET PASSOVER was named a 2013 Sydney Taylor Honor as well. A past poet laureate of Northampton, Massachusetts, she is a faculty member of Spalding University's brief-residency MFA in Writing program. Her newest poetry collection, I CARRY MY MOTHER is a book-length cycle of poems that explores a daughter's journey through her mother's illness and death. From diagnosis through yahrtzeit (one-year anniversary), the narrator grapples with what it means to lose a mother. The poems, written in a variety of forms (sonnet, pantoum, villanelle, sestina, terza rima, haiku, and others) are finely crafted, completely accessible, and full of startling, poignant, and powerful imagery. These poems will resonant with all who have lost a parent, relative, spouse, friend, or anyone whom they dearly love.

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Amazon Customer

It a great story

Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2023

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The words are larger in this book & it’s a good read.

One person found this helpful

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Rinda Beach

This is a heartbreaking story about love and loyalty. Have your Kleenexes ready.

Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2022

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This is the most amazing story, and it’s based on what really happened in Japan in 1923. That’s when Professor Ueno adopted a young Akito. The puppy was bright, and training was easy. Every morning Hachiko walked his master to the train station before heading home. Every afternoon before 3:00, Hachiko returned to wait, until one day, the professor never returned. If you want to find out what happened, you’ll have to read the book for yourself. Warning – have your Kleenexes ready because this is a heartbreaking story about love and loyalty. My daughter reads it every year to show her students how character affects emotion, and every year, they cry.

2 people found this helpful

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Joan

Ever so beautiful

Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2022

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This is such a beautiful story. I have shared the book with adults and children -- people of all ages find this book one of their favorites. I love dogs and a story such as this makes me love them even more.

One person found this helpful

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A. Bosley

Wonderful story

Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2010

Verified Purchase

I decided that I wanted to teach a Reading/Language Arts lesson about animals and I had heard good things about this book. It's very short, but it has some Japanese words which might make the read a little more complicated for some children. (Thank goodness for the glossary in the back!) I read the entire book in one day. I am an adult, and I got so fixated on the story that I actually read it when I should have been writing lessons.

The story is a wonderful one, with a heavy emphasis on friendship and dedication. The story is also quite sad at some points. I found myself crying more than once.

Hachiko Waits follows the tale of akita Hachiko, who waits at the train station for his master. One day, Hachi's master does not come home, but the dog patiently waits, refusing to give up until his master returns. Although some human characters in this book are fictional, the story is based on true events, which makes it even more special.

I would highly recommend this for fifth graders. I think it's an interesting way to introduce a new language and culture. Plus it's a great read if you don't mind a few tears.

One person found this helpful

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Cici

Classroom Collection

Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2015

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After watching the movie for the first time, and after wiping away the tears, I immediately thought, this is a story my students must learn. After learning in depth about the Asian civilizations in World History, my students read the book. Let me tell you, they could not put the book down! If it was up to them, they would have stayed with me all day just to read the book. Students learning the history of a culture truly allowed them to engage with the reading; with every historical reference, they sat a bit taller. Due to student response, I will say this as the most powerful unit I have ever taught. I also recommend visiting the author's website for additional classroom resources.

13 people found this helpful

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Capt Larry Rocho

Sad but in reality is typical Akita

Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2014

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We have our first American Akita, which differs from the Japonese one like "Hachiko", in far more gentile and color being smoke, white and black. Ours now is 7 years old and has had to have both knees rebuilt, despite a loving semi sheltered life. She is without a doubt far more intelligent than many of my friends (;- ). That said, hope my friends do not read this review. I have owned many dogs in my life, starting with my little dog that was a fox terrier, that I had my very first memory of, when I picked him out from the rest of the litter on my First (yup #1) birthday. I had that dog for 21 years. From then on, I owned many Labridors that were of constant companion with one exception of a "Redbone Hound" that proved to be the finest Pheasant Dog I ever saw, including TV tials. My Akita is far beyond many humans in that she is well cognisant of how I feel or what I think. I too share that bond with her, and God I pray will help me as strong as I am, I have bonded with her and know not how it will end. I love her as stong as I love my sons, possibly stronger. They are beyond description, and one can overlook thier stuborness. She waits for me for a midnight walk at this writing on our Island night rural streets, inhabitated with various wildlife including buck deer.

4 people found this helpful

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Jim

Love the story of Hachiko .... well done, movie catches the important aspects of their life together, & after.

Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2018

Verified Purchase

Good movie about a real dog and owner, and catches the sentiment, etc. and events around him. In Japan, stands as a symbol for years of loyalty and love. Amazing dog and relationship they had. Have one that is the same way ...... and always right where I am... wherever we go or are. Some say, that' can't be true .... mine is a testament, that it definitely can be.

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Jules

She / we loved it (I cried - shhh

Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2015

Verified Purchase

I bought this to read aloud to my 7 year old (second grader). She / we loved it (I cried - shhh!). I also purchased the movie in Jan. '15 at Target for $5 and we will watch that next. It's an excellent story about loyalty and love. Every elementary student should read it and it was even more special since we read it together. Very touching story! It's an easy read, too, we finished it in about 60-70 min total reading time, broken up into several days of course. That included her reading some of the pages to me as well. You won't be sorry; great story.

2 people found this helpful

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