The Wave

by Margaret Hodges, Blair Lent (Illustrator)

There seems no way to save four hundred villagers from imminent and unsuspecting death; then the wise old man high on the mountain knows what he must do.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Japan, Asia

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1964

About the author

Margaret "Peggy" Hodges was an American writer of books for children.

She was born Sarah Margaret Moore in Indianapolis, Indiana to Arthur Carlisle and Annie Marie Moore. She enrolled at Tudor Hall, a college preparatory school for girls. A 1932 graduate of Vassar College, she arrived in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with her husband Fletcher Hodges Jr. when in 1937 he became curator at the Stephen Foster Memorial. She trained as a librarian at Carnegie Institute of Technology, now Carnegie Mellon University, under Elizabeth Nesbitt, and she volunteered as a storyteller at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. Beginning in 1958 with One Little Drum, she wrote and published more than 40 books.

Her 1985 book Saint George and the Dragon, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman, won the Caldecott Medal of the American Library Association.

She was a professor of library science at the University of Pittsburgh, where she retired in 1976.

Hodges died of heart disease on December 13, 2005 at her home in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. She suffered from Parkinson's disease.

She wrote her stories on a notepad or a typewriter. "I need good ideas, and they don't come out of machines," she once said.

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had the kids gripped. They weren’t sure what was going to happen, but they knew the old man had something serious to say. They could tell something dangerous was in the works. This was suspenseful for the children. The nephew kept asking what’s going to happen and the niece would tell him, ‘the wave’. I love how smart she is.

The artwork is interesting. I prefer more detail, but the story is strong enough without it. When they saw the city destroyed, the kids couldn’t believe it. ‘Can that really happen?’ “What would they do without food and homes?’ There was lots of concern and questions from this story. The point is that everyone was saved from the wave. (I didn’t mention they may starve through the winter). I told them that if the sea ever does leave the shore like this story, you have to run towards land as fast as you can go and find high ground. It always means a big wave is coming and there is no time to lose.

The nephew gave this 5 stars. He said he would live on the mountain as well. The Niece gave this 4 stars and she was glad not to live next to the ocean.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Wave by Margaret Hodges is a great example of background pictures and colors adding to the drama to the story. There is a lot of white space in the book, which represents a lot of nothing. The story is about a tidal waving coming to the village. In the beginning of the story when they were describing the village a lot of neutral colors were used to describe the village and the safety of everyday life. When the earthquake started the house sizes were lopsided with a lot of negative space. As the tidal wave began to grow, you can see the changes of colors. The color are now grays, black, very ominous. It grows in size and then there is no more white space. Colors, size intensives as danger grows. I don't think this story could have been told as effectively if it wasn't for the changes of pictures. I believe this was enriched the story to help create a visual of the destruction of a natural disaster.

[Clairissa D]

The Wave is a very interesting story about a village and the devastating affects of an earthquake and tidal wave. This is also about a mans efforts to save his village. I would choose this text in my class to help develop community in the classroom and to also teach sequencing and why it is important to pay attention to the sequence of a story.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

1964 account based on an ancient Japanese tale about a tsunami and a wise man's rescue of his village. It reads very differently after the devastating 2011 tidal wave. Lent's illustrations and spare use of color and textures and stamping give the story an age-old and other-worldly feel.

[Cassandra Lemieux · Rating 5 out of 5]

1. Summary: This is a story about an old town that lives by an ocean. When the old Ojiisan notices than a tsunami is coming, he does something that may not be good at first sight but in the end saves a whole village.
2. Grade: K-2
3.`Individual Interest: A child who likes sequences and finds old folk tales interesting. This book also has great pictures which could intrigue students as well.
4. Integrate in Classrooms: I would like to use this book as a way to talk about community in the classroom. I feel like this book is a great example to see how a community works together and even can talk about teamwork as well.
5/6: Small group/ Whole class: As a small group I would like for students to get together and figure out the sequence of events that take place. For whole class read aloud I would really like all students to examine the pictures and allow them to hear me read it to them as well.
7. related books: "Why the Sun and The Moon Live In The Sky" "Molasses Flood"
8. Multimedia connections: n/a
*Caldecott Winner*

[Luisa Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well told story and one that everyone should read! Interesting, educational and historical, all at the same time. A triple win!

Ages: 3 - 10

Japan

Cleanliness: mentions a temple and another temple is erected to honor the hero.

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[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

1. This story is about a small Japanese village of farmers that is rocked by a terrible tidal wave and the one man who saves them all.
2. 2nd-5th, Lexile: AD700L
3. Science, Culture, Reading
4. Students who like learning about folktales or different places could benefit from this book.
5/6. This book would be a good introduction to natural disasters for a science class or for a folktale section.
7. Houses of the Sea, Fly High Fly Low
8. No multimedia connections.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful story about an old man who sacrificed his rice fields to save the villagers who lived below from a tidal wave. Blair Lent's beautiful illustrations perfectly accompany and amplify the story.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

In old, old Japan there was once a wise old man. After an earthquake, he alone can recognize the signs that a tsunami is coming. The 400 people from the village below his mountain house are in danger. There is no time to go to the temple and have them ring the bell, so he sets fire to his own fields to draw them up to safety.

A tale of selfless sacrifice in an era before tsunami warning systems existed or they even understood much about them. The note in the back of the book says that Hodges adapted this folktale for children from a version in a book written in the 1800s by Lafcadio Hearn who lived in Japan for many years. The illustration style in this is...well, not pretty, but it has an Asian feel and isn't horrible. The tale is enough to captivate interest all on its own though. A great pick for multicultural folk tale units or when talking about amazing acts of selfless sacrifice.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was rather excited when I found out that Blair Lent illustrated this, as I have enjoyed his work in the past for the Caldecott Challenge. The artwork in this book wasn’t as good as his other books, such as “Why the Sun and the Moon Live in the Sky”. This book won a 1965 Caldecott Honor. However, the story was interesting enough. It is harvest time in a small fishing village in Japan, when suddenly the sea starts withdrawing from the shore. A wise old grandfather knows what is happening and tries to warn the villagers by burning his rice fields. They see the smoke and come running. He saves them from the ensuing earthquake and tidal wave. Recommended for ages 4-8, 3 ½ stars.

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not too crazy about the illustrations in this book, but I like the storyline. The idea of one man sacrificing his own welfare to save his neighbors is a noble one, and I think kids really understand lessons like that when they are packaged in exciting scenarios like this one. One page I do like is the page where the wave rolls through and knocks against all the houses. I can feel the movement of the water, and sense how fortunate the people were not to be in their homes at the time of the disaster.

[Maria Rowe · Rating 3 out of 5]

• 1965 Caldecott Honor Book •

I really, really liked this story, but I wasn’t very moved by the illustrations. I love how selfless the grandfather is and what a great moral this is to children (the power of sacrifice and that the chance of saving a life is worth more than money). I thought the story was intense and moving.

Can someone please redo this book, because the story is really great! So many neat things could be done with the art!

Materials used: unlisted
Typeface used: unlisted

[Mickayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grade level: 2-5
Genre: Historical fiction
This is a wonderful story about how an elder in a Japanese village is wiser and knows what to do. I also love the element of information in this book, it allows students to know that after an earthquake comes a tidal wave. This would be a wonderful introduction to a unit about Japan, the pacific rim, earthquakes, and/or tidal waves. I think this book is super well written and would love to implement this book in a future classroom.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed this folk tale of a man who sacrifices his wealth to save the people of his village. I was not extremely impressed by the illustrations, especially the preponderance of brown. I like some of Blair Lent's later illustrations in other books much better.

[Shiloah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a riveting story about a tsunami. My kids were engrossed to the end and learned a lot. It’s hurricane season here in North Carolina. This book helped them put some context to our weather too.

[Cherisse · Rating 4 out of 5]

First time finished?
Second time finished 6/21/12

Remembered the story; didn't remember the Blair Lent illus.
Compare with Sosu's Call.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the message of the story! Saving lives was more important to Ojiisan than his wealth.

[Ashley Levasseur · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story, I remember reading something similar to it when I was younger.

[Rahsel M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can recomend this book. So usefull in class 😊

[Prabhat sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wave by Margaret Hodges Illustrator Blair Lent- Children’s Illustrated Colour Japanese Folk Tale- The story is about young boy Tada and his grandfather Ojisan who lived in a village situated on the bank of sea. Area near the sea was used for rice farming. Beyond the farms was a high hill. One day the weather was warm. It turned to dark weather and sea waves returned back towards the sea. Ojisan and Tada were standing on their roof top overlooking the village. Rice crop was ready for harvest. Residents were planning a festival in the temple to thank God for the bumper crop. Ojisan understood that a storm was about to hit the village. There was no time to ring temple bell to attract the attention of villagers to run towards the hill to save themselves. Ojisan asked Tada to bring a burning twig for him. Ojisan took the burning wooden twig and burnt his rice field. On viewing the fire in rice field, priests rang the temple bell. All villagers started running towards the burning field. Ojisan requested them to run towards the hill. By this time, sea waves moved high and in speed towards the village. The whole village was drowned in sea water. Sea waves raised three times high towards the hill. Most of the villagers had ran up towards the hill were saved. After some time, the sea was silent. People thanked Ojisan and Tala for saving their lives. I have read this book in Hindi language. Coloured illustrations help the reader to relate to the story.

[Lagobond · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm smitten. This book has it all: a riveting story told in flowing, vivid language; illustrations that are more than just an accessory; and a useful lesson to be learned: if ever you see the ocean leaving the shore, run the other way!

I need to talk about the illustrations some more! So good. Blair Lent used spongy ink prints, in shades of brown/tan/gray against a white background. They perfectly evoke the sparse elegance of Japanese art, while also driving the story forward as the serene seaside village changes into an unrecognizable tableau of chaos and destruction.

This is a memorable book to read aloud, or (for older kids) read by yourself. The intense pacing and clear sense of danger make for edge-of-your-seat reading. I imagine most children (especially younger ones) will require some discussion afterward to process this powerful story, and I probably wouldn't introduce the book at bedtime. The good thing here is that all villagers are saved, unlike in the 2004/2011 tsunamis and probably every other one in history. But I think even younger kids can figure out that that is not a given.

[Danielle R · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ah, I am struck again by 'the perils of shopping online without reading the full description.' I read the summary and assumed this was a full novel; it is not. It is a short children's story with interesting watercolor-type impressionist artwork.

It was a lovely story that perhaps teaches doing the right thing (saving lives) even at cost to yourself (burning your rice fields). Ojiisan needed a smoke signal to save the entire village from the tsunami, he succeeded, and the village never forgot, eventually erecting a temple to honor him.

It was over very quickly and I don't think the artwork would entice many children, but I enjoyed it. 3/5

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of Wave is simple and effective, and is probably the best element of this book. The themes featured in the story include respecting one's elders, common sense, and story telling. The story is about a small Japanese village that is saved just in time from a devastating tidal wave by the good sense of the village elder (the protagonist's grandfather). The illustrations in this book are simple and feature a color palate of blacks, grays, and browns, which add to the bleak moral of the story: it is essential to listen to those who have more knowledge and experience than we do.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oooh, this is good for bringing up natural disasters in class discussion. I would want to read this to/with the class and then follow up about what we know about natural disasters and expand on that.

[Ann Charles Vegdahl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read it in french though

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook. I really thought the story was powerful way that the person saved 400 lives during the tidal wave in a self-sacrificing way.

[Nanny B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing story of how one simple farmer saves his village in Japan

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on a Japanese folktale, an old man saves a village from a tidal wave by taking drastic measures. The story is gripping and the artwork is beautiful.

[Melana · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW, a children's picture book about tsunamis written 1964 (even though the text calls it a "tidal wave").

[Mother Goose Librarian]

1965 Caldecott Honor