Yoko's Paper Cranes

Yoko

by Rosemary Wells

When Yoko was very small, she and her Grandmother, Obaasan, fed the cranes in the pond at the end of the garden. When Yoko moves to California, she remembers her Grandmother and Grandfather in Japan. Every week letters go back and forth. She thinks of their garden and their cranes. And when Grandmother's birthday comes, Yoko sends the most wonderful gift of all. Rosemary Wells celebrates the love between grandchildren and gradparents in this sequel to best-selling Yoko.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Family, Japan, Cats, Cultural, Animals

32 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2001

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Rosemary Wells is an American writer and illustrator of children's books. She often uses animal characters to address real human issues. Some of her most well-known characters are Max & Ruby and Timothy from Timothy Goes To School (both were later adapted into Canadian-animated preschool television series, the former’s airing on Nickelodeon (part of the Nick Jr. block) and the latter’s as part of PBS Kids on PBS).

Reviews

[The Library Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Yoko books are not for toddlers but for thoughtful preschoolers and early elementary school age kids. This is a lovely story about the Japanese art of origami, about family traditions and above all about the idea that family is family, no matter how far away they may go. This would be lovely to use in any sort of library or school program about Japan, especially if followed with a lesson in the art of making paper cranes. And that's the one thing I wish this book had--a page on origami or a link to a suitable web site.

[Sarah Sammis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yoko's Paper Cranes is the third from the Yoko and Her Friends series I've read to my children. It's my favorite so far.

Yoko's Paper Cranes is about Yoko's grandparents who still live in Japan. The book shows how her grandmother taught Yoko to make origami cranes. When she has moved to California she makes a bunch of the cranes as a gift for her grandmother.

The illustrations match the theme of the book. They appear to be collages made of origami paper. Rosemary Wells includes a note of thanks to the people who helped with the Japanese paper craft part of the book. People familiar with Japanese art history will note a few recreated pieces but done to fit the style and plot of the book.

Finally, the book teaches readers how to fold the origami crane. The instructions are illustrated around the edges of the pages.

[Matt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rosemary Wells is not among my favorite children's authors, and Yoko is for reasons outlined elsewhere my least favorite of her characters.

'Yoko's Paper Cranes' is not nearly offensive to me as 'Yoko' was, but it was however boring. My girls like it moderately well though, so we've read it a couple times. I don't think they'll like it well enough to call for it again once it goes back to the library, so there it will probably stay.

As a side note, the picture of the ship crossing the ocean done in a Japanese style reminded me strongly of Imperial Japanese naval propaganda, but given my particular historical interests that's probably just me.

[Amanda Hlava · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story about a kitten who moved away from Japan but sent paper cranes to her grandma for her birthday.

[Maria Garcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yoko and her grandmother Obaasan and grandfather Ojiisan reside in Japan. Every spring and summer Yoko and her grandmother feed and admire the cranes that stop by their garden. One day, Yoko's grandfather, Ojiisan taught her how to make paper cranes out of special Japanese origami paper. It wasn't until one day that Yoko and her mother head out on a ship destined for the United States. Yoko and her grandparents would be sure to stay in contact by sending each other letters. It comes time for Obaasan's birthday. Yoko decides that she would make her own paper cranes to send to beloved grandmother in Japan. Her grandmother eventually receives her paper cranes and loves them. She hangs them up so that she can admire them and their beauty. In the birthday card that Yoko wrote for Obaasan she promises to come back to Japan to visit like the cranes do.
This is a cute and heartwarming story about family connection and staying in contact with each other through mail. The illustrations are also one of kind as they look to be oil pastels with a touch of Japanese origami paper cutouts. However, I did not like the ending of the book. It did not make sense to me and it felt rushed and unfinished. I would consider using this book as an introduction to origami to my class if we ever do an activity concerning paper cranes . This would also be good to read to introduce other cultures to students.

[Whole And · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet story we read while learning to make paper cranes featuring real cranes in Japan. Their migration journeys leaves Yoko sad so her grandmother teaches her how to make her paper cranes. Yoko, too, must leave and go far away. She ends paper cranes to grandmother until she can return as do the real cranes.

Simple and heartfelt, Rosemary Wells never disappoints.
A beautiful book visually to get a glimpse of this amazing Japanese craft.

[Nitoy Gonzales · Rating 4 out of 5]

The premise, settings and the artwork are all great and that's the reason I read this book. However, the writings specially conveying the emotions felt a bit robotic. I was looking for more emotional effort from the author to convey it to Yoko missing her grandparents. I know that this kind of literature is for kids but the age target already knows those emotions. The climax of Yoko sending paper cranes felt nothing for me. More of anti-climatic that should have been heartwarming.

[Round Lake Area Public Library · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5 out of 5)

A short story about moving away from family and still keeping in contact. This was a brief look at some Japanese terms as well as beautiful origami. A great book for learning about other cultures.

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice story to read when introducing children to origami! I make simpler origami projects with young children, but do flapping paper cranes with the older one. So fun. Beautiful books!

[Brandy Shark · Rating 5 out of 5]

/sobbing

[Hilary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very short story but such lovely illustrations.

[Claire Wang · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s not that fun because all they talk about is Yoko making paper cranes

[Wanda Torres · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute… not to much can be said without spoilers. It’s just cute.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite possibly my favorite book in the Yoko series. It's very sweet.

[Annie MacPherson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Rosa Cline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent book to help teach children how even though your loved one lives miles and miles apart that doesn't mean that they aren't still there with them. Yoko moves with her parents to the states but her grandparents are still in Japan. But she remembers her paper cranes and garden that her grandparents and she made. So she makes them and mails them to her grandparents back in Japan. Very sweet book between a grandchild and grandparents. But the meaning between the distance of moving away from each other; so often friends don't understand that when they are separated from one another.

[Destiny Dawn Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

My young daughter and I enjoy reading the Yoko books together. She seems to enjoy the stories, which are accompanied by cut origami paper illustrations.

Yoko is a kindergarten aged Japanese immigrant living in America. The books generally introduce elements of Japanese culture, challenges that Yoko faces, and familial relationships. In this installation, Yoko learns how to fold origami. When she moves to the US, she leaves behind her grandparents, but keeps in touch. She misses Japan and her grandparents--and when it's her grandmother's birthday, Yoko decides to fold paper cranes to mail as a gift.

I enjoy that these books introduce children to elements of another culture (in this case Japanese) and address with sensitivity the issues that immigrant children deal with--while at the same time making them more universal so any child can relate. (For example, living far from a beloved relative).

[Deidra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells. Published by Hyperion, copyright 2001.

Grade Level: K-3

This is the story of Yoko the cat who began life in Japan where she loved to feed the cranes at the pond with her grandmother. She then moves to America with her family, but leaves her grandparents behind. In order to surprise her grandmother on her birthday, Yoko makes paper cranes and sends them to her grandma as a gift.

This is a heart-warming story of the life of an immigrant that many children can relate to. Kids will love not only the story, but also the rich and warm illustrations.

Possible themes or units: Japanese cultures, moving away, family, origami art

[Daryl Rothman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book for preschool classrooms. I especially like this book because of the cultural significance of its beautiful illustrations that depict famous themes from Japanese paintings. I also really love how Rosemary Wells describes the symbolic nature of the cranes in Japan. This book is great resource for children to gain a basic geographic sense of how far Japan is in relationship to the United States. The book is also great for children going through tough transitions, like moving from another part of the world. Some meaningful themes that can be drawn from the book: life is always in motion, transitions come and go, and home is where the heart is.

[Daryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book for preschool classrooms. I especially like this book because of the cultural significance of its beautiful illustrations that depict famous themes from Japanese paintings. I also really love how Rosemary Wells describes the symbolic nature of the cranes in Japan. This book is great resource for children to gain a basic geographic sense of how far Japan is in relationship to the United States. The book is also great for children going through tough transitions, like moving from another part of the world. Some meaningful themes that can be drawn from the book: life is always in motion, transitions come and go, and home is where the heart is.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful tale about Japanese culture, extended family relationships, and keeping close across the miles when families live far apart. Our girls were born in Japan, so we love to read books about Japan and Japanese culture. We enjoyed the origami theme, small bits of Japanese language (Obaasan and Ojiisan) and colorful illustrations, including the Hokusai-style backgrounds. Our oldest has a new-found appreciation for origami, so we selected this story based on that, but I'm glad that the story was about so much more.

[Samantha Zapata · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had beautiful illustrations. They were made up of lovely patterns that seemed to be close to a Japanese ethnic background. Even the clothes that the characters wore were made up of patterns as well. Very simple -- really nothing to the storyline. I enjoyed the pictures more than the story, only because of the way it ended doesn't make sense. I just don't know how you could explain it to children.

Not my favorite, but the illustrations make up for it along with the representation of a Japanese culture introduced.

[Missy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is about Yoko, a little girl who moves away from her beloved grandparents to the United States with her parents. She misses them so much and continues to create paper cranes, an activity that her grandparents taught her. She sends the cranes over seas to her grandparents. This story is so cute, and is a great read aloud for an acitvity involving letter writing, or even a craft involving paper cranes.

[Katherine Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations in this book are beautiful and filled with a lot of culture. I love how the Japanese culture is portrayed in this book, but there was not a very good plot. This book is about a cat from Japan who learns to make paper cranes. She moves to the United States and makes paper cranes to send back home to Japan. This may be a good book to introduce different cultures during multicultural month, but it is not as exciting and fun as I thought the story was going to be.

[reading is my hustle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sweet story for kids- especially if they are separated from their grandparents by distance. The paper cranes become symbols of family and cultural connections. Also, the richly colored illustrations and their elegant borders are amazing.

This is a great book for kids, adults, and origami lovers!

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

35 month - A short read but we really liked it. After making paper airplanes a few weeks ago with O she is very interested in folding paper. This was a great book that has sparked her interest to fold paper and use her imagination as to what it might become. I must learn to make paper cranes! The story touches on moving away from loved one, geography and appreciation for our loved ones.

[Chechoui · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Rosemary Wells' books and illustrations. This is my favorite book of hers because of the beautiful illustrations in a traditional Japanese style with vibrant colors. Plus the cat characters are adorably cute. As with her other books, it's a great multicultural book where the character shares her cultural heritage with others.

[Anna Pasko · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story about making paper cranes and letting them fly with your heart to those you love, even if they are thousands of miles away. I liked this book very much Because schools in NYC are very multicultural and it is a very nice book which teaches children not to forget their country and the people they left behind.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

This sweet story revolves around immigration and long-distance relationships. Before Yoko's family moved away from Japan, she and her grandparents were very close. For her grandmother's birthday present, Yoko decides to make origami cranes like the grandmother taught her.

[Tuyet Tran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yoko has to immigrate to a new country. She is missing her grandparents. Making paper crane is the only memory to cure her homesick and her loving grandparents. This book adopt some of the Japanese's culture and it is a great way to engage student by teaching them how to do oragami.