TOTTO CHAN IS A MUST READ GUYS !!!! HERE IS A SUMMARY FOR YOU

Totto Chan : The Little Girl at the Window

By Tetsuko Kuroyanagi

Translated by Dorothy Britton

Tottochan: the little girl at the window is a delightful memoir of Tetsuko kuroyanagis's childhood at Tomoe Gakuen,the wonder school.This is one book that will remain in your mind for a long time after reading it.

Tottochan as Tetsuko was fondly called,was taken to Tomoe Gakuen,a school for special children , by her mother because she was expelled from her other “proper” school in first grade , for being a distraction to the rest of the class.Mother was worried whether the new school will understands that her daughter is just a curious little girl who though is careless about the world around and lives in her own little world, loves everything and everyone around her and never wants to do any harm to anyone. Tottochan on the other hand was unaware of being expelled and was looking forward to her new school and with the gates that grew, rail road cars for class rooms and a head master (who according to Tottochan should be a station master!) who allows you to talk about anything you want..she had no second thoughts, she loved Tomoe Gakuen and she loved Mr. Kobayashi, the head master.

Mr.Kobayashi was an exceptional teacher,who had very clear vision,that his school will impart knowledge to children in a way that they will all love.He made sure that the overall development of the child is taken care of.He ensured the every child had nutritious food(the parents had to include in their children's lunchboxes "something from the ocean and something from the hills." everyday). He knew every student inside out and he never scolded them, still the students understood what is expected of them and they behaved the right way.They all loved their train classes,the afternoon walks,farming lessons,field kitchen,music time and swimming hours.They all loved the fact that they could start the day with their favourite subject.They all accepted and accommodated the handicaps in their friends.They learned to respect each other and the world.No book or teacher taught them that..this was just a way of life at Tomoe Gakuen and all of them found joy in every thing they did there.

The events at world war II led to the shut down of Tomoe Gakuen and Tetsuko moved to another school,but years after when she became a an internationally famous actress, a talk show host, a best-selling author WWFN advisor, and a UNICEF goodwill ambassador, she does not fail to acknowledge the role Tomoe Gakuen played in her life.If not for Tomoe Gakuen and Mr. Kobayashi,she would never have been able to understand herself and her potentials.

The book ,written in simple language as a narrative of day to day events as seen through the eyes of a little girl, took me back to my school days and I so wish that my school was like Tomoe Gakuen,Some day we would have more such schools were all realise that every child is special and are given the freedom to discover, learn and grow.

This book is a must read!You will all love meeting the Totto chan-the little wonder,her patient and loving mother , and her class mates and Mr Kobayashi is sure to win your heart too.