Can You Count the Legs?

This Level 2 reader introduces a variety of beautiful insects through authentic photographs taken in Japan.

Each insect is introduced with the simple sentence pattern 「これは ～です。」 Learners then continue reading with repeated descriptive sentences such as 「ちょうちょは あしが ６ぽん あります。」 and 「はちも あしが ６ぽん あります。」, helping them naturally learn how to describe living things using あります.

As they continue reading, learners discover butterflies, bees, praying mantises, grasshoppers, dragonflies, and finally a surprise visitor—a spider with eight legs, encouraging learners to compare insects and notice the difference.

The stunning close-up photographs capture the beauty and detail of insects in their natural environment, providing meaningful visual support while introducing learners to the natural world of Japan.

This reader helps learners build reading confidence through repetition, authentic Japanese language, beautiful nature photography, and simple descriptive sentences.

Language Features

Students will practise:

• Reading simple descriptive sentences
• Using あります to describe features
• Counting long objects using ～ぽん
• Learning common insect vocabulary
• Understanding the particles は and も
• Using picture clues to predict meaning
• Developing reading confidence through repeated sentence patterns

Details: 

Japanese Reader Level: 2
Recommended for: Early Beginners
Language Focus: Simple descriptive sentences using あります
Vocabulary Theme: Insects, body parts, and counting
Cultural Theme: Insects, counting, and descriptive vocabulary

Character Count: 201
Pages: 16
Product Type: A5 saddle-stitched booklet
ISBN: 978-0-6481178-1-0

Perfect For

• Learners progressing from simple sentences to descriptive Japanese
• Primary school Japanese programs
• Beginning secondary school students
• Adult beginners
• Home learning
• Japanese language classrooms
• Learning about insects through authentic photographs

📚 Teaching & Learning Resources

Every reader includes free access to our Resource Library.

Included with every reader:

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

Also available for schools and teachers:

• 🖥️ Class Sets with Online Flipbooks

💜 A Note from Mariko Sensei

As a child, I loved going to the park with my grandmother, who was my favourite person in the whole world. We often went on nature walks together, and she taught me to slow down, look carefully, and appreciate the beauty of the natural world.

Together we looked for butterflies, dragonflies, grasshoppers, and other fascinating insects. She knew so much about nature, and every walk became a wonderful adventure filled with discoveries.

I created this reader to encourage learners to look closely at insects and appreciate their amazing shapes, colours, and features while building confidence in reading Japanese.

I hope this book inspires you to enjoy both the Japanese language and the beauty of nature around you.

Happy reading!

— Mariko Sensei

📖 Your Next Japanese Reader

Now that you’ve practised describing insects using あります, continue your Japanese reading journey with these readers:

• からだは なにいろ？ — Continue learning body parts through repeated descriptive sentences and colourful Japanese characters.
• どうぶつ — Expand your animal vocabulary while practising ～です and ～じゃないです through authentic photographs.
• ねこの ちび — Read a heartwarming story while learning simple sentence patterns and expressions such as 「～が すきです。

These Japanese readers are intended for individual use and extensive reading (tadoku).

© Mariko Earle. All rights reserved.