The Paper Crane

I used it as part of a literature lesson plan for class...great book and fun to learn with paper folding.

There is nothing better than a well-told folktale. Actually, I take that back, there is something better-a well-told, beautifully illustrated folktale. And this is exactly what Molly Bang has presented readers here. This simple Asian-styled tale of the mysterious stranger who rewards kindness is a familiar sort of story-but a bit of magic and music make it dance as surely as the magical paper crane in the title. In THE PAPER CRANE, an old man comes into a restaurant and is treated to a meal by the owner. In repayment for this kindness, the stranger creates an origami crane out of a napkin that comes to life and dances with a clap of the hands. A bit of simple magic and music in this Asian folk tale make it dance as surely as the paper crane. The restaurant, which had been suffering from lack of business, suddenly becomes a popular stopover for people who want to see the magical crane and both the restaurant owner and his son benefit from the new business, and take joy in all the people. Finally, the stranger returns, plays his flute to make the crane dance, and then flies off on the cranes back, never to be seen again. A whimsical folk tale that imparts the message that kindness is rewarded. The text is simple, easy to read on the page in a large and elegant font. But that is only half the appeal. What makes this book so special is that all of the pictures in this book are full-color art paper cutouts that were photographed to preserve the 3-D effect of the pictures. The impression is striking. The textured images of the restaurant and it's inhabitants jump off the pages and will provide parent and child with an unusual, but appropriate set of images for this folk tale. The pictures vary from full, double-page photographs, to smaller framed images, keeping the story moving and plenty for the eye to explore. There's also a secondary story revealed by the pictures-that of the restaurant owner's son. Never mentioned in the text, the boy appears on every page, and you follow him as he witnesses all the events that occur. You see him drawing, or helping serve food, or playing marbles with another child. And the very last page is dedicated entirely to him-you see him standing and practicing playing the flute in his pajamas. Perhaps hoping he can play like the mysterious stranger had one day? Because of the folded paper nature of the crane itself, the paper images in the book work symbiotically to fit the theme of the story and complete the magic of folded paper and paper cutouts. If you or your child is learning origami, this would be an excellent book to introduce them to! I'd recommend this book for ages 4-8, but parents are sure to enjoy the art as well! If you like multicultural folktales, you might also want to check out THE EMPTY POT by Demi and THE MITTEN by Jan Brett. Happy Reading ^_^ Shanshad.

In "The Paper Crane," author/illustrator Molly Bang tells the story of a restaurant owner whose business suffers when a new highway diverts possible patrons away from his place. But his fortunes change when a mysterious visitor leaves the owner a magical gift.Bang's illustrations appear to be photographs of multi-media collages, and have a wonderful 3-dimensional quality. There are lots of warm earth tones complemented by flashes of bright color. Here is another interesting (and, in my opinion, admirable) element of this book: the book jacket notes that the story is based on "an ancient Japanese folktale," but Bangs features a multi-ethnic assortment of people in her illustrations. An entertaining, visually rich book.

This was my favorite book to read to my children when they were growing up. It has a serene, Zen-like quality. A timeless tale, this will particularly appeal to families who hold art and music as sacred facets of their lives.

This book's unique illustrations--three dimensional paper--are very effective as a complement to the traditional Japanese story of a mysterious man who pays for his dinner with a paper crane. This story is an excellent introduction to the Japanese art of origami and the significance of the paper crane in Japanese culture. The pictures are detailed and captivating and the text is engaging.