Kamishibai is a form of Japanese storytelling using simple illustrated cards, developed by candy-vending street storytellers carting portable theaters on their bicycles in the 1920s. In this resource for teachers, librarians, and storytellers, McGowan, a visual artist and storyteller who has worked and studied in Japan, presents step-by-step directions for conducting hands-on classroom workshops to encourage students to create and perform their own kamishibai stories. After an illustrated history of kamishibai, McGowan discusses kamishibai as visual literacy, shows how to focus on narrative elements and parts of speech when using kamishibai to teach the writing process, and gives tips on using kamishibai to write personal stories and using kamishibai in the social studies and science curriculum. An appendix offers instructions for building a kamishibai stage out of cardboard boxes. The book is illustrated with the author's b&w drawings, but unfortunately there are no examples of student work. McGowan is a doctoral candidate in education at the University of Pennsylvania. Libraries Unlimited is an imprint of ABC-CLIO, LLC. Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)