The Crane Wife

This story is so touching and moving it is hard to forget. I borrowed it from the library a few years ago and always remembered it. When I ran into it at a book store, I bought it immediately. The book really touched me and I love the story.

I think adults may appreciate this one more than the children will. I've attempted to read it to my younger sisters (ages 4 and 6) and they're just not into it. It's a beautifully illustrated book with an interesting and tragic story, and you might want to save it for those a little older.

"The Crane Wife" is one of those tragic Japanese love stories.Osamu is poor sail maker and he loves to watch cranes. He thought that cranes were very special and pretty. Osamu wants a wife but because he's poor, Osamu doesn't think he could get a wife. One night, a crane came by his door and the crane was hurt. Osamu nursed it back to life and the crane left. Time passes and a lovely woman came by and she became his wife, her name is Yukiko. When Osamu and Yukiko had no more money for food, Yukiko decided to make a magic sail. She makes one and tells Osamu to sell it. When Osamu sells it, he gets enough money to last for six months. Osamu starts to get greedy but Yukiko tells her husband that making these magical sails, take too much of her. Nevertheless Osamu demands Yukio to make these sails but when Osamu demands Yukiko to make these sails, would he destroy her?I love the pictures that come with this story. It's really detailed and very pretty and the colors made the pictures very vivid. The only thing that I hated about this story was how this story illustrates its moral of not taking things for granted. It's a tragic love story but in a way Osamu deserved it.