A
Aditi
(Nagpur)Mother of 10 years old
I've always looked for an avenue like this, wherein my children can learn from enthusiastic young students who love a subject and can instill that love in the kids ❤️❤️
9:18 AM
English Reading Classes for Kids in Japan, 1:1 and Online
For children who read English at home or at an international school: a real book in English, talked through with a college mentor, around the school day in Japan.
Character interview
A thoughtful idea
What is Bookstaken?
One child. One mentor. One book at a time.
Loved by Parents, Enjoyed by Kids 💛
across the world
H
Himani
(Nagpur)Mother of 7 years old
Thankyou so much for this report It is so thorough and well drafted Smahi is enjoying her reading session too
2:36 PM
K
Kavita
(Nagpur)Mother of 10 years old
Thanks for such wonderful sessions and hope kids continue it 🤞 specially Oorjit....he get bore very quickly...so I always afraid to admit him for any classes 😄
6:47 PM
A
Aditi
(Nagpur)Mother of 10 years old
I've always looked for an avenue like this, wherein my children can learn from enthusiastic young students who love a subject and can instill that love in the kids ❤️❤️
9:18 AM
H
Himani
(Nagpur)Mother of 7 years old
Thankyou so much for this report It is so thorough and well drafted Smahi is enjoying her reading session too
2:36 PM
K
Kavita
(Nagpur)Mother of 10 years old
Thanks for such wonderful sessions and hope kids continue it 🤞 specially Oorjit....he get bore very quickly...so I always afraid to admit him for any classes 😄
6:47 PM
A
Aditi
(Nagpur)Mother of 10 years old
I've always looked for an avenue like this, wherein my children can learn from enthusiastic young students who love a subject and can instill that love in the kids ❤️❤️
9:18 AM
H
Himani
(Nagpur)Mother of 7 years old
Thankyou so much for this report It is so thorough and well drafted Smahi is enjoying her reading session too
2:36 PM
K
Kavita
(Nagpur)Mother of 10 years old
Thanks for such wonderful sessions and hope kids continue it 🤞 specially Oorjit....he get bore very quickly...so I always afraid to admit him for any classes 😄
6:47 PM
A
Aditi
(Nagpur)Mother of 10 years old
I've always looked for an avenue like this, wherein my children can learn from enthusiastic young students who love a subject and can instill that love in the kids ❤️❤️
9:18 AM
H
Himani
(Nagpur)Mother of 7 years old
Thankyou so much for this report It is so thorough and well drafted Smahi is enjoying her reading session too
2:36 PM
K
Kavita
(Nagpur)Mother of 10 years old
Thanks for such wonderful sessions and hope kids continue it 🤞 specially Oorjit....he get bore very quickly...so I always afraid to admit him for any classes 😄
6:47 PM
Why families abroad choose Bookstaken
Four things that matter when you live far from home.
your time
Your time zone
Pick a time that suits your family's week. Every time you see is in your own time zone.$20
a session
Your currency
You see and pay in your own currency: $20 a session.Someone from home
A college student from India, like an older cousin, reading with your child every session.Their mother tongue, too
Our free book hunt finds stories in Hindi, Tamil, Bengali and many more Indian languages.
English at school in Japan
At school
English activities start in year 3 of elementary school, and since 2020 English has been a graded subject from year 5.
With Bookstaken
School English builds listening and speaking. Bookstaken adds reading: whole books in English, talked through, start to finish.
Source: Ministry of Education (MEXT), Course of Study for elementary schools, in force 2020.
Japanese stories, in English
By writers from Japan, and all in English.
Kiki's Delivery Service
Eiko Kadono
Ages 8–12
A 13-year-old witch moves to a seaside town and starts a flying delivery service.
Temple Alley Summer
Sachiko Kashiwaba
Ages 8–12
Kazu spots a girl in a kimono slipping out of his house at night, and follows the mystery.
Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit
Nahoko Uehashi
Ages 9+
A spear-fighting bodyguard sworn to protect a young prince.
Ages from Delacorte Press, Kirkus Reviews, Bank Street College.
Where to find English books in Japan
Your child reads their own copy of every book.
Books Kinokuniya Tokyo
Shinjuku, Tokyo
An English bookshop
Maruzen Marunouchi
Tokyo Station
English books on the fourth floor
Maruzen Nihonbashi
Tokyo
English children's books
School breaks in Japan
Schools can differ, so check your child's calendar.
Winter break
Around 25 December to 7 January
Summer break
Around 20 July to 31 August
A tutor in Japan, or Bookstaken
A private English tutor
about ¥3,000
an hour, usually
Bookstaken
$20
a 60-minute 1:1 session, from $17 on longer plans
Families in Japan pay in US dollars. Local rate: Superprof Japan, English lessons, 2026.
What happens in every session
60 minutes, 1:1, on Google Meet.
- Stop 1Ice-breakingA riddle or a quick chat to settle in.
- Stop 2Book discussionIllustrated slides on what they read, talked through together.
- Stop 3ReviewTheir verdict on the book so far.
- Stop 4WritingTheir own story, chapter by chapter.
- Stop 5ClosureA recap to end on, and your report on WhatsApp.
See a sample book conversation
Here is a made-up scene to show the kinds of questions a mentor can ask. In a session, the conversation follows your child's book and their answers.
Leela found a red umbrella on the bus. It had stopped raining, and her stop was next. She stayed in her seat, watching the door for someone to come back.
Retell: What did Leela find, and what did she do next?
Look for clues: Why might Leela have waited? Which detail in the scene makes you think that?
Give an opinion: Would you have made the same choice? Tell me why.
Imagine: What if nobody came back? How would you continue the story?
The aim is to hear their thinking and help them explain it. These are example prompts, not a test or a fixed script.
Kids say "Fine." Our reports say the rest.
After every session you get a report: what they read, what they talked about, and how they're growing.
9:41
Aarav's session report
Week 8 · The Jungle Book
Speaking time
AaravRiya
52%
48%
A note from Riya
Aarav came in bursting with questions about Mowgli leaving the jungle. He argued Bagheera was the real hero, and backed it up with two moments from the book. He's reading with his head and his heart now.
Session snapshot
91%Engagement+4%
86%Vocabulary+3%
90%Understanding+5%
84%Fluency+3%
Session timeline
AaravRiya
0 min60 min
0–15 min
Jungle riddles
15–45 min
Who's the real hero?
45–60 min
A new last page
Illustrative report: the names, book and figures are examples. Your child's report reflects their own session.
A note from their mentor
A few warm lines on their best moments.
Their story journal
Every chapter they write, collected in one place.
Sit in on the first session
See how it works before you decide anything.
What it costs
Free
Your first session.
No card needed.
Then, the more you book, the less each costs
- 4sessions— each
- 12sessions— each
- 24sessions— each
Book as many a week as you like, and pause anytime.
Your local prices are loading. Each step shows the average per session when you buy that pack.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What times are available in Japan?
Whatever suits your family. Tell us when your child is free, after school, in the evening or at the weekend, and we match a mentor who is free then too. Every time shows in your own time zone.
Q: What language are the sessions in?
English, from start to finish: the book, the talk and your child's own story. It's English your child uses, not just studies.
Q: How does this fit with English at school in Japan?
English activities start in year 3 of elementary school, and since 2020 English has been a graded subject from year 5. School English builds listening and speaking. Bookstaken adds reading: whole books in English, talked through, start to finish.
Q: Are there children's books from Japan in English?
Yes. Kiki's Delivery Service by Eiko Kadono, Temple Alley Summer by Sachiko Kashiwaba and Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit by Nahoko Uehashi are all in English. Each Bookstaken book is picked for your child's interests and reading level, and your child reads their own copy.
Q: What do we pay in?
US dollars: families in Japan see and pay every price in US dollars.
See all 8 questions
Q: When are the school breaks in Japan?
Winter break: around 25 December to 7 January. Summer break: around 20 July to 31 August. Schools differ, so check your child's calendar. Our free reading plans for the breaks are on the site.
Q: Does my child need to read English already?
Yes. Bookstaken suits children who can already read English. It isn't for learning English from the start.
Q: Is the first session free?
Yes. It's 60 minutes, 1:1, on Google Meet, and no payment details are needed to book it.
Wherever you are, the first session's free.
60 minutes, 1:1, with a mentor matched to your child.
