Hachiko Waits

by Lesléa Newman

Book Overview

"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.... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0805073361
• ISBN13: 9780805073362
• Release Date: October 2004
• Publisher: Henry Holt & Company
• Length: 96 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.7" x 9.2"
• Age Range: 8 to 10 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 5

Customer Reviews

Hachi, you are the best dog in Japan.

There is a statue of a dog in the Shibuya train station in Tokyo. It was first set in place in 1934 to commemorate the loyalty and devotion of an Akita who waited for his master for ten years. The master was a university teacher, who died unexpectedly at work. It was the Akita's habit to wait for his master's return from work then walk home together. Because he could not understand why his master did not return, he faithfully waited until he died in his place at the station, where the statue was erected in his honor. This is the dry version of a true story. "What a good dog you are. What a fine dog you are. Hachi, you are the best dog in Japan." These are the words Professor Ueno speaks to his Akita everyday at the train station just before he departs for his teaching job at the university. And they are the last words Hachi ever hears the professor say. The dog waits until the station is closed and the train master encourages him to go outside the gate. A little boy whom the professor befriends, Yasuo and his mother take the dog in, but Hachi is one of those rare one-master-only dogs. He escapes. No one knows where he goes during the day or night, but each afternoon at five minutes until three, Hachi reappears to wait until closing. This continues for ten years. Meanwhile, people begin to notice Hachi. They pet him, worry about him, feed him, offer to take him, write newspaper stories about him, come from far and near just to see him. He becomes a symbol of the devoted, loyal dog, man's best friend. Through it all, Hachi remains calm, but most importantly, patient. He waits for his master. Today, Hachi's story is told in Japanese schools all across the country. Each year he is honored during a special ceremony at the Shibuya train station at the foot of Hachi's statue. During his lifetime he was proclaimed Chuken Hachiko (Chuken=faithful dog, -iko, a term of respect), for people loved, respected, and honored him for this total loyalty. Still, this is the dry version. In a historical novel a writer is allowed a certain freedom or license to get into the story and bring the reader with her. Leslea Newman and artist Machiyo Kodaira take the reader right there on that train station, right there beside Hachido, feeling his extraordinary devotion and dedication. Right there with each person who attends Hachiko. We are right there as Yasuo grows into a man and watch him meet a young woman. Early in the story the train master tells Yasuo that his promise to care for Hachi will bring him an unexpected happy result. And so it does. This is a story not to miss. Being inside the story with Hachiko and all the people whose lives he touches and influences is the wet version. For there is no way you can escape deep emotion reading this story. The tears will come, but they are cleansing tears. Hachiko will win your heart.

HACHIKO WAITS

Have you ever seen a dog at a train station who waits for his master everyday? The plot in the story is when an Akita named Hachiko waits for his master at the train station, but his master never shows up. His master had a stroke and died. Hachiko finds a new home, but when they open he door to go to school Hachiko runs away to the train station to wait for his master. People try to take him home, but Hachiko keeps running away. Eveyone at the train station leaves him there to take care of Hachiko. The genre is this book is realistic fiction. This book was exciting to me because it was a book about dogs and any dog who waits for his master is the bestest dog in the world. I would recommend this book to tpeople who like dog books. There are many books to find, but you have to choose the right one. Ateen or younger might like this book. Yes this book was a page-turner because it was exciting to see what would happened to Hachiko I enjoyed this book because it was about dogs. The story made me like the genre because you never knew what was going to happen. I think people who like dogs or animals should read this book because it almost like telling someone telling a story about there pet.

Hachiko Waits

Have you ever seen a dog at train station that waits for his master everyday? The plot in the story is when an Akita named Hachiko waits for his master at the train station, but he never "shows up". His master had a stroke and died. Hachiko finds a new home, but when they open the door to go to school Hachiko runs away to the train stations to wit for his master. People try to take him home, but Hachiko keeps running away. Everyone at the train station leaves him there to take care of Hachiko. The genre is this book is realistic fiction. This book was exciting to me because it was a book about dogs and any dog who waits for his master is the greatest dog in the world. I would recommend this book to people who like dog books. There are many books to find, but you have to choose the right one. A teen or younger might like this book. Yes this book was a page-turner because it was exciting to see what would happen to Hachika. I enjoyed this book because it was about dogs. The story made me like the genre because you never knew what was going to happen. I think people who like dogs or animals should read this book, because it almost like telling someone telling a story about there pet.

I Couldn't Put the Book Down - Reviewed by Lyndsai

Waiting, waiting, waiting. This dog sure can wait. Hachiko Waits by Leslea Newman is a heart-warming story. It is a fantastic historical fiction book. Hachiko is owned by Professor Ueno. They live in a little house in Japan. Hachiko is a golden-brown Akita-ken. Professor Ueno has a thin moustache and is a little short. He teaches at a university. When the story begins, Professor Ueno and Hachiko go to the train station a couple of times so the professor can go to work. Then something happens to the professor and then Hachiko ends up waiting for days. This book is an easy read. I liked Hachiko Waits because it has great details and I liked where it took place. You should read this book because it has great detail and it really holds your interest. That is why you should read Hachiko Waits.

Lovely New Children's Book for Animal Lovers

Hachiko is a wonderful young puppy who lives with his master, Professor Ueno. Each morning the Professor tells Hachiko these same words, as he boards the train: "What a good dog you are. What a fine dog you are. Hachi you are the best dog in all of Japan." And every afternoon, at 3 o'clock on the dot, Hachiko arives back at the train station to greet his owner once again. However, one day, the Professor doesn't step off the train. So Hachiko waits. He waits for ten years. Not even the kind young boy known as Yasuo can persuade Hachiko to leave his post, and take shelter in a warm home. Soon Hachiko is known around the country, and the world, as the dog who never gave up on his owner's return. I love animal stories, and I've always been interested in the Japanese culture, so I adored HACHIKO WAITS. Leslea Newman has done a marvelous job of capturing the love an animal - whether a dog, cat, etc. - holds for his or her owner, as long as they treat him/her well. The prose is wonderful, and will hold young readers enamored for hours, while the gorgeous black and white illustrations by Machiyo Kodaira bring the story even more to life. This is an absolute must read for all animal lovers. Erika Sorocco Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper