Ok, let’s try this again!

Last summer, we were supposed to have our quadrennial summer school focusing on the Olympics. Of course, thanks to COVID-19, the Olympics were postponed, and despite my good intentions of having a cooking-themed summer school instead, we really didn’t do a whole lot of anything, which fit in nicely with the year in general. That brings us to the summer of 2021, and the rescheduled Olympics (about which I still have doubts in every way), and come heck or high water, we’re going to learn about Japan, Tokyo, and the Summer Games!

Here’s a look at our reading list. There are old Olympic favorites and a new addition or two:

• A Kid’s Guide tot he 2020 Summer Games
• The Story of the Olympic Games
• DK Eyewitness Books: Olympics
• What are the Summer Olympics?
• Courage to Soar
• Fast Girls
• The Wildest Race Ever: The Story of the 1904 Olympic Marathon
• G is for Gold Medal: An Olympics Alphabet
• How to Train with a T. rex and Win 8 Gold Medals
• Nadia: The Girl Who Couldn’t Sit Still

And a whole section of books about Japan in general and Tokyo in specific (plus a brief look at Japanese Americans). Some are familiar titles from past units on Asia, and some are also new:

• Cool Japan Guide
• Cool Tokyo Guide
• All About Japan
• Let’s Learn About Japan: Activity and Coloring Book
• Squeamish About Sushi
• Hachiko: The True Story of a Loyal Dog
• Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes
• Suki’s Kimono
• A Treasury of Japanese Folktales
• You Wouldn’t Want to be a Ninja Warrior!
• You Wouldn’t Want to be a Samurai!
• Baseball Saved Us
• The Cherry Blossom Festival

And a section of other items, just for fun. This includes a Lego set (of course!), a game, some hands-on activities, and some TV shows and movies:

• Japanese Soul Cooking
• Lego Tokyo
• Origami for Beginners
• Haiku
• Kokeshi Doll Stickers
• Samurai Warriors Coloring Book
• Ticket to Ride Japan
• Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020
• 100 Years of Olympic Films DVD collection
• American Girl World Traveler in Japan and Japanese Souvenir Set
• American Girl Team USA uniforms (beach volleyball, swimming, and gymnastics) and medal ceremony set
• Sailor Moon (TV series and manga)
• Godzilla
• Rashomon
• Spirited Away

Whatever happens with the 2020(1) Olympics, and regardless of my feelings about them, I’m looking forward to a more normal summer school!