3rd book reading and culture event at the north branch of the Ikoma Library（June 24th 2023）

 The 3rd book reading and culture event was held in cooperation with the north branch of the Ikoma Library on June 24th at the north community center ISTA Habataki introducing the United States and its culture. This event is a continuation of the collaboration with the Ikoma Library based on the cooperative agreement with Ikoma City to increase interaction between the community and NAIST international students. From NAIST, Justin Engel, an American student, and a staff member and his family participated in the event along with 16 Ikoma families (26 children (ages 1-8) and their guardians) that were ready to learn more about the US.

 After the library staff opened the event with greetings and announcements from the library, Robert King (UEA, CISS) then greeted the participants and led everyone in doing 'Head, Shoulders Knees and Toes' to get warmed up. This time the librarians chose "What can a Hippopotamus be?" to be read and a librarian read the book in Japanese followed by Engel reading it in English. Both parents and children seemed to find the difference in length between the two versions interesting.

 After the reading (The book mentions various jobs that the hippopotamus tries), King introduced different jobs to prepare for a game of job charades. After the children were able to say the occupations in English, children were asked to volunteer to pick a card and imitate the occupation whose picture was on the card. The first volunteer was a little shy but came forward, picked a card and mimicked the job she had chosen. Once one child had successfully imitated a job, other children raised their hands to volunteer and they imitated their way through the 15 different jobs prepared.

 For the culture part of the event, Engel gave a presentation on the United States of America, introducing basic facts about the US while comparing them to Japan to give the audience a sense of scale, and also talked about how many foods have been "Americanized" to create America's unique cuisine. He closed his presentation introducing some of the more famous sites in America, from the world-famous Statue of Liberty to the relatively new and little-known (in Japan) Cloud Gate, aka "The Bean", sculpture that reflects the city of Chicago.

 For a change of pace, King introduced a game called "Find your herd" where children and their parents draw cards with different animals and can only use animal sounds to make their own herds. People got used to making animal sounds and started the game quacking, ribbitting, etc. until everyone had sat down with their herd. King then closed the event with 'Head, Shoulders Knees and Toes', with the help of some of the children.

 Meeting new people from different countries and regions is one of the best ways to understand cultures and gain insight to peoples' lives around the globe. The fourth library event is scheduled for December and we hope to continue making ties with the community.