Celebrate #WalmartWednesday With ONCEkids and Receive a Free Book Signed By the Author

Every week ONCEkids celebrates #WalmartWednesday with amazing deals on books and related products that make the perfect gifts for the holiday season. This Wednesday only, buy one book and receive a second book free! All you have to do is visit the website, send us your receipt and you’ll receive your second free book, even autographed by the author. 

Click on the link to view and purchase one of our 

family-friendly books at an unbeatable price:

Eileen Wacker: Walmart.com

Also, to learn more about the characters and world of Fujimini Island, click here

Christmas Around the World: How Japan Does Christmas

Although the most important holiday of the season in Japan is New Year's Day, Christmas is not forgotten. In Japan, certain Christmas symbols, traditions, and practices are similar to Western Christmas traditions -- just with a Japanese flare- while others are uniquely Japanese.

For more on Asian culture and popular holidays like Christmas, please visit Fujimini Island on Facebook and Twitter.

Even in Japan, 6,314 miles away from the United States, the holiday spirit of spreading happiness and the gift of giving is still very strong during the Christmas season. Participating in worship and giving to the sick and poor is the main focus of Japanese Christians around this time of year.

Has your family received a Nook, Kindle or iPad this year?  Find Fujimini Adventure Series award-winning books here.  Great family-friendly gifts.

Christmas day also shares many similarities to what your family's typical Christmas may be. Family members gather together over a turkey dinner to exchange cards and gifts. A Christmas tree can still be found in the house, decorated with an abundance of lights and ornaments. A special corner of each house is reserved for a Nativity scene -- even mistletoe and evergreens are a symbol that Japanese Christians hold dear for this holiday. Hoteiosho, a Buddhist monk who is the Japanese equivalent of Santa Claus, showers the well behaved children with presents on Christmas morning. 

To learn more about the cultural and diversity taught at Fujimini Island, please click here.

Despite following some of the more common Christmas traditions, the Japanese have their own spin on the holiday. The Japanese incorporate their rich tradition through their unique Christmas cakes, fried chicken, and Daiku. Their traditional Christmas cake is made from sponge cake decorated with miniature figures of trees, flowers, and Hoeiosho or Santa Claus. In addition to turkey, fried chicken has become a traditional meal for the holiday meal. The music favorite of the season, the Ninth Symphony of Beethoven, Daiku, can be heard playing in many houses  and at many holiday get togethers. 

Japan's Perfect Holiday Gifts

Panic can subside among indecisive buyers in search for the perfect gift for their loved ones this Christmas season with the many Japanese gift ideas on the market. These gift ideas will undoubtably add a creative and fun flare to the holidays and prove that there is a perfect gift out there for everyone.

Kaela Kimura's new album, Kaela Kimura's, adds a fresh touch to the popular genre of J-Pop and includes seasonally appropriate tracks such as "A Winter Fairy is Melting a Snowman". This album is the perfect gift for the holiday season and includes enough variety that the whole family can find tracks in it they love.

For those buying for a lover of fashion and trends, Moo Piyasombatkul's new unusual eyewear would be a great buy. These recycled, ionic frames with hand-sculpted baroque decorations are a vintage trend in Tokyo. Although they are rather pricey, each frame is very unique.

For technology fanatics, the Ningen Gakki is hot this season. It is great for both adults and kids, turning players into instruments, literally. It makes an electric circuit through the person holding it and the players tap it on each other's skin to make musical sounds.

Click to view a Ningen Gakki (available at amazon.com)

Click to view Moo Piyasombatkul's eyewear.  Available at:
http://www.trenddelacreme.com/2011/03/feast-your-eyes-moo-piyasombatkul.html

Below hear a sample of Kaela Kimura's new album 8Eight8:

Holiday Fun at Fujimini Island

All the fun is around the corner. The holidays are here at last. One of the best parts about the holidays is lots and lots of tummy pleasing food. Cookies are a great treat and probably the best part of the cookie is the frosting. Not old enough to bake? Don’t worry. Here is a great way to indulge in frosting heaven with minimal preparation but lots of creativity.

Gather together at least three frosting colors. Use the frosting in the tubes to make decorating easy. Get some graham crackers and start drawing in frosting. Any holiday wish or symbol is perfect for your graham cracker cookies. You can even individualize each graham cracker by writing a person’s name on it. Don’t forget about sprinkles or sugar crystals. A light dusting makes your cookies glow like the wings of angels. Place the finished graham crackers on a fancy plate and serve them up with hot cocoa or warm apple cider.

For more fun, check out Fujimini Island!