🕒 Japanese Reader Class Set for Classroom Use

This Level 3 Japanese Reader Class Set & Online Flipbook combines printed readers with a password-protected online flipbook to create engaging Japanese reading lessons for the whole class.

Through the imaginative characters of Mr Slow and Mr Fast, students learn to tell the time in Japanese while developing reading fluency through predictable sentence patterns, meaningful repetition, and engaging illustrations.

The reader introduces practical expressions such as なんじですか、～じです、～のじかんです, and そして, helping students recognize familiar language patterns and understand Japanese through context.

Teachers can choose the number of printed readers they need and receive password-protected access to the matching online flipbook.

Display the story on an interactive whiteboard, projector, or classroom screen while students follow along in their own books. This supports whole-class teaching, guided reading, pair work, and independent learning.

⏰ Meet Mr Slow and Mr Fast – Let’s Learn to Tell the Time!

What is your favorite time of the day?

Meet ゆっくりくん (Mr Slow) and はやいくん (Mr Fast), two friendly characters who live inside a clock!

Mr Slow is the short hand of the clock. He moves slowly, taking just one step every hour.

Mr Fast is the long hand. He moves much faster, taking twelve steps every hour.

Together, they help students discover how to tell the time in Japanese.

As the clock hands move, learners look carefully at the clock and answer a familiar question:

なんじですか。 What time is it?

The question appears repeatedly throughout the book, allowing students to predict the answer and read with increasing confidence.

At seven o’clock, it’s breakfast time.

At twelve o’clock, it’s lunchtime.

At six o’clock, it’s dinnertime.

But what happens at three o’clock?

🕒🍡 It’s Snack Time!

In Japan, three o’clock has traditionally been a special time for children to enjoy an afternoon treat.

This cheerful ending introduces students to an enjoyable aspect of Japanese everyday life.

The reader also introduces traditional and modern Japanese sweets through authentic photographs, encouraging students to explore Japanese food culture and discuss their favorite snacks.

For Mariko Sensei, three o’clock snack time holds a special childhood memory. Her mother and grandmother often encouraged her to wait until three o’clock for a delicious treat.

This personal experience inspired the story and provides a meaningful connection between Japanese language learning and everyday life in Japan.

Japanese sentences from the book:

ゆっくりくんは みじかい とけいの はりです。 Mr Slow is the short hand of a clock.

ゆっくりくんが 七を さします。そして はやいくんが 十二を さします。なんじですか。 Mr Slow points to seven, and Mr Fast points to twelve. What time is it?

七じです。あさごはんの じかんです。 It’s seven o’clock. It’s breakfast time.

３じは たのしい おやつの じかんです。 Three o’clock is a fun time for snacks.

Through repeated question-and-answer patterns, students learn to recognize Japanese time expressions while practising particles, familiar sentence structures, and high-frequency number Kanji.

The engaging illustrations help learners connect written Japanese with the positions of the clock hands, supporting reading comprehension and prediction.

Slow and Fast (ゆっくりくんとはやいくん) makes learning Japanese time expressions enjoyable, achievable, and memorable while helping students develop the confidence to read independently.

🔎 Want to learn more about the individual reader?

Explore the Slow and Fast (ゆっくりくんとはやいくん) Individual Japanese Reader for more information about the story, language features, and cultural content.

🎯 What Students Will Learn with This Japanese Reader Class Set

Students will practise:

• Reading and telling the time in Japanese using ～じです
• Asking なんじですか to find out the time
• Using ～のじかんです to describe mealtimes and everyday activities
• Understanding how the short and long hands of a clock indicate the time
• Using そして to connect ideas
• Recognizing だから to express a reason or conclusion
• Understanding basic particles, including は、の、が、を
• Reading familiar present-tense verbs such as あるきます and さします
• Recognizing descriptive expressions such as みじかい、ながい、ゆっくり、いそいで
• Building vocabulary related to time, clocks, mealtimes, and daily routines
• Reading selected number Kanji, including 一、二、三、六、七、十
• Recognizing repeated question-and-answer patterns
• Using illustrations to predict meaning and support comprehension
• Exploring the Japanese tradition of three o’clock snack time
• Developing Japanese reading fluency, comprehension, and confidence

👩‍🏫 Why Teachers Choose This Japanese Reader Class Set

Teachers choose this Japanese Reader Class Set because it combines carefully leveled Japanese, practical language learning, engaging illustrations, and flexible classroom resources.

• Printed readers for every student, encouraging active participation
• Password-protected online flipbook for classroom display
• Ideal for interactive whiteboards, projectors, and shared screens
• Friendly clock-hand characters make learning Japanese time expressions enjoyable
• Clear illustrations help students connect time expressions with clock positions
• Repeated sentence patterns reinforce なんじですか、～じです, and ～のじかんです
• Simple, predictable language supports developing readers
• Introduces high-frequency number Kanji in meaningful contexts
• Encourages prediction, speaking, and classroom discussion
• Provides opportunities to discuss daily routines and favorite times of the day
• Introduces Japanese sweets and afternoon snack traditions
• Supports whole-class, guided, pair, and independent reading
• Offers free supporting teaching and learning resources
• Helps students build confidence reading Japanese independently

📚 Japanese Reader Class Set Options

Choose from:

• 10 printed readers
• 15 printed readers
• 20 printed readers
• 25 printed readers

Each Class Set includes password-protected access to the matching online flipbook.

📖 Japanese Reader Class Set Details

Reading Level: Level 3
Recommended for: Beginner and developing Japanese learners
JLPT Guide: Mainly basic JLPT N5 grammar and everyday vocabulary
Text Type: Description (Time and Daily Routines)
Language Focus: なんじですか、～じです、～のじかんです, present-tense verbs (～ます), particles, そして, and だから
Vocabulary Theme: Time, clocks, numbers, mealtimes, daily routines, and Japanese sweets
Cultural Theme: Japanese everyday life, afternoon snack time, and Japanese sweets
Script: Hiragana, Katakana, and selected high-frequency Kanji with furigana support
Includes: Password-protected Online Flipbook access

✅ Perfect For

• Beginner and developing Japanese learners
• Primary and elementary school Japanese programs
• Beginning secondary school Japanese students
• Students learning to tell the time in Japanese
• Japanese numbers and time expressions
• Daily routines and mealtimes units
• Students practising なんじですか and ～じです
• Reading comprehension and speaking activities
• Exploring Japanese food and snack culture
• Whole-class teaching
• Guided reading
• Pair work
• Independent reading
• Extensive Reading (Tadoku)
• Homework and classroom libraries

📚 Teaching & Learning Resources for This Japanese Reader Class Set

Explore free teaching and learning resources through our Resource Library.

Teaching and learning resources:

• 🎧 Audio recordings narrated by Mariko Sensei
• 📖 English translation
• 💻 Quizlet vocabulary activities

💜 Why Choose Mariko Sensei’s Japanbooks?

Drawing on over 40 years of Japanese teaching experience in Australia, Mariko Sensei designs carefully leveled readers that make Japanese reading enjoyable, accessible, and achievable.

Slow and Fast (ゆっくりくんとはやいくん) combines beginner-friendly word spacing, clear illustrations, predictable sentence patterns, and selected Kanji with furigana to support early Japanese reading comprehension.

Repeated expressions such as なんじですか、～じです, and ～のじかんです help students recognize familiar language while connecting written Japanese with clock positions and everyday routines.

The playful characters and meaningful repetition allow students to build reading fluency, practise practical Japanese, and experience the satisfaction of reading independently.

📚 Explore the Special Features That Make Japanese Reading Easier

📖 Continue Reading at Levels 2–4

Continue building Japanese reading confidence with these carefully graded readers.

🐱 Chibi the Cat (ねこのちび) – Level 2 — Reinforce basic Japanese sentence patterns through the everyday activities of a real family cat.
✈️ My First Trip to Japan (はじめてのにほん) – Level 3 — Develop reading fluency through a real winter travel story using past-tense Japanese and authentic photographs.
🗾 My Japanese Adventure (ぼくのにほん) – Level 4 — Progress to a longer travel journal exploring Japanese food, culture, and daily activities.

📚 Explore More Japanese Reader Packs

Continue your Japanese reading journey with our carefully graded Japanese Reader Packs.

🌱 Beginner Hiragana Readers Starter Pack — Build reading confidence from simple Hiragana words to connected Japanese sentences.
🏫 Primary & Elementary School Japanese Readers Pack — Support young learners with engaging stories, everyday language, and cultural texts.
🎓 Junior High School Japanese Readers Pack — Support Years 7–10 Japanese programs with progressively leveled readers.
📘 Developing Japanese Readers Pack — Continue developing fluency with longer texts and more varied Japanese expressions.
📚 All Japanese Readers Pack — Explore our complete collection of graded Japanese readers.
🖥️ Japanese Reader Class Sets & Online Flipbooks — Discover classroom reading sets with printed readers and password-protected online flipbook access.

📌 Important Information

This Class Set is designed for use by one school or educational organization.

Online flipbook access is password-protected and supplied with the purchase of an eligible Class Set. Access details should not be shared publicly or distributed outside the purchasing organization.

Copyright © Mariko Earle. All rights reserved.

Please do not copy, reproduce, distribute, or share the content of these books or online flipbooks without permission from the copyright holder.