Karen GoatKeeper's Blog - Posts Tagged "japanese-folktale"
"Dog vs. Strawberry", "Creepy Crayon!" and "The Tale of the Mandarin Ducks"
These books were so very different, yet so like in their imaginative approaches.
Dog vs. Strawberry
5 stars
Author: Nelly Buchet
Illustrator: Andrea Zuill
The dog is an indoor, older, overweight small dog. His opponent is a common strawberry offered to him by his owner. And the race is on!
This book makes you laugh as the dog's antics are wild. The text gives the feeling of being in a race.
The illustrations are fun. The strawberry is so ordinary. The dog makes you laugh.
Creepy Crayon!
5 stars
Author: Aaron Reynolds
Illustrator: Peter Brown
Jasper is failing in school until he finds the purple crayon. It is the perfect crayon. And, when he uses it, he gets all the right answers. Except, the crayon is giving the answers, not Jasper.
When Jasper decides to do his own work, the crayon will not give up. What is he to do?
The illustrations are dark giving a creepy feeling to the story. The only real color is purple for the crayon and the work done by the crayon.
The Tale of the Mandarin Ducks
Author: Katherine Paterson
Illustrators: Leo & Diane Dillon
This is a retelling of a Japanese folktale. An evil, selfish lord sees a beautiful Mandarin duck drake. He must have this drake and puts him in a cage where the drake pines for his freedom and mate.
A kitchen maid sets him free, but an old Samurai is punished for it. Their fate is sealed until something special intervenes.
The illustrations are in the style of Japanese paintings. They have wonderful detail and color.
Dog vs. Strawberry
5 stars
Author: Nelly Buchet
Illustrator: Andrea Zuill
The dog is an indoor, older, overweight small dog. His opponent is a common strawberry offered to him by his owner. And the race is on!
This book makes you laugh as the dog's antics are wild. The text gives the feeling of being in a race.
The illustrations are fun. The strawberry is so ordinary. The dog makes you laugh.
Creepy Crayon!
5 stars
Author: Aaron Reynolds
Illustrator: Peter Brown
Jasper is failing in school until he finds the purple crayon. It is the perfect crayon. And, when he uses it, he gets all the right answers. Except, the crayon is giving the answers, not Jasper.
When Jasper decides to do his own work, the crayon will not give up. What is he to do?
The illustrations are dark giving a creepy feeling to the story. The only real color is purple for the crayon and the work done by the crayon.
The Tale of the Mandarin Ducks
Author: Katherine Paterson
Illustrators: Leo & Diane Dillon
This is a retelling of a Japanese folktale. An evil, selfish lord sees a beautiful Mandarin duck drake. He must have this drake and puts him in a cage where the drake pines for his freedom and mate.
A kitchen maid sets him free, but an old Samurai is punished for it. Their fate is sealed until something special intervenes.
The illustrations are in the style of Japanese paintings. They have wonderful detail and color.
