Seashore Story

by Taro Yashima

Children hear an old Japanese story about a fisherman who rode on a turtle's back to a beautiful place under the sea, and then ask questions about the story.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Asia, Folklore, Asian Literature, Folk Tales, Fables

42 pages, Hardcover

First published September 28, 1967

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Taro so much. His ‘Crow Boy’ was so unusual and this is not as powerful, but the man is an artist. I am doing my best to read his catalog because it is so powerful.

How to describe this art. It is beautiful swaths of color with the barest of bare hints at what he wants to show you. It is like a dream that is barely there and you forget as soon as you wake. Some drawings look like chalk or crayon or other media. He does give details, but they are so minimal. It’s amazing that you can get an image from them, but you can. My niece didn’t think they were finished, but I told her this was a style.

The story is a myth from the Japanese sea about a farmer taken down to a palace in the sea by a seaturtle. It is so fascinating. The lines are each simple too. He uses the bare minimum for every part of the story, the telling, the drawing. I have so much respect for this artist. I am assuming Taro is a man, but she could easily be a woman. I can’t ascribe Taro.

This was interesting to see what the niblings made of this story. The nephew didn’t have much patience for it and he gave it 3 stars for the sea turtles. The niece was much more thoughtful. it wasn’t funny which is usually what gets the stars around here, but this got to her at a deeper level and she gave this 4 stars despite not knowing what to make of it.

[Maria Rowe · Rating 2 out of 5]

• 1968 Caldecott Honor Book •

This is book is really unique, but it just wasn’t for me. I didn’t really like the style of illustrations, although I suppose it went with the hazy underwater world. And the story was kind of weird. I have no idea what I just read, but I’m sure some people will enjoy this.

Materials used: unlisted
Typeface used: unlisted

[Liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Odd little story with rather lurid illustrations; can't say I'm a fan of the rough pastel pictures.

[Cassandra Gelvin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Japan's version of the fairy realm.

What on earth did I just read?

There's some kids who live in Japan on an island. They tell the story of Urashima, who was a fisherman. He saved the life of a turtle, and the turtle said, “I'll take you to a place under the sea.” So they went under the sea and there was a beautiful palace down there. And he ate some food.

(Never, ever eat the fairy food. Don't do it. Don't eat the fairy food.)

And he stayed there for a long time, and then wanted to go back up, and they gave him a box as a keepsake. He went back up and all the people he had known were dead.

(Because time passes differently in the fairy world. Always remember this.)

And the only place that looked the same was a mountain, so he climbed up it and opened the box, and out of the box came a bunch of smoke. And he became an old man. And that was the end.

And the children were like, “Well, that's a weird ending.” And that's how the book ends.

The framing device for the story basically lampshades the fact that the story has a weird ending, which is even weirder.

And the magic turtle basically punishes the guy for being good.

For more children's book reviews, check out my site at http://www.drttmk.com.

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story within a story approach Yashima uses in this book is interesting, even though I’m not sure I understand it. The softness of the illustrations evokes the seaside very nicely and also serves to make the story seem dream-like as the children reflect upon it. I love the final spread, which shows the ocean’s waves and nothing else, but I can’t claim to understand the note on which the book ends.

[Alondra Munoz · Rating 5 out of 5]

To me this book is a great example of "don't judge a book by it's cover". It didn't seem like the rest of the books I had checked out with bright colors and interesting titles. After I read it though it turned out to be one of my favorite books. I really liked the ending even though it was sad but in my opinion it gives the theme of don't forget about those you love. I liked the ending but at the same time it made me sad and I wish it would have had a happier ending.

[Brindi Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

1968 Caldecott Honor

These beautiful illustrations are truly works of art! I feel as though I'm walking through a museum as I turn each page. BUT the story is very lacking...I'd much rather just look at the illustrations and avoid the text.

(in using this for the butler, just focus on the illustrations, don't read.)

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Odd story, especially for reading with young children, that would be very interesting to experience with Japanese readers. The illustrations are the heavy lifters in this book - it's hard to tell what medium Yashima used, but they are impressionistic and beautiful

[Seema Rao · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mystical tale of a turtle and a rumination of time are paired with chalk drawings. This is not as wonderful as some of Yashima's books. Or rather, the ending is just a bit surprisingly philosophical.

[Mckinley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Retelling of Japanese folktale. Water colors are nice. Think the point of the tale got lost in the translation.

[Crystal · Rating 2 out of 5]

1968 Caldecott Honor

Not sure I understood this tale.

[Ama · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations. The story is overall OK, but feels unfinished.

[Christian Lyles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very amusing book for kids

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Japanese Rip van Winkle.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations that convey the time, the legend, and the seashore. The framing of the story was a bit to pendantic.

[Timothy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Told with sparse text and dreamy, almost abstract color artwork, Seashore Story is two tales in one. A group of children take a trip with their teacher to a small island where they are told the Japanese folk tale about the fisherman, Urashima who is rewarded for saving the life of a tortoise. The tortoise leads Urashima to a secret undersea city with delights for all the senses. Urashima, however, lingers too long and returns home to find the world has moved on without him. The children on the island discuss the meaning of Urashimas story, but as a reader, we are left with more questions than answers, which may be the point.

I love the ethereal quality of the artwork and the pared down version of the Urashima folk tale, but I am left a little frustrated that the book seems to end too abruptly and without satisfaction. Still, a lovely book and I don't begrudge its recognition with a Caldecott Honor.

[Debby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Children listen to an old Japanese tale about a fisherman who goes to live in an undersea castle and whose village no longer knows him when he returns and becomes old. Leaves children wondering.

Different type of story. Pictures are large and colorful, but abstract and hard to distinguish.

Caldecott nominee 1968.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A retelling of a Japanese folktale about the passage of time. I like the illustrations but the story is too weird for me.

[Kirsten Murphy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Caldecott Honor book - 1968

Art medium used - pastel, watercolor

[MaryAnne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t care for the illustrations or the story even though it is a Caldecott Honor Book.

[Brittany Cullen]

This book was a good story telling book. It was about a camp in japan where campers were at and began telling stories about Urashima and how he disappeared and when he returned all his loved ones and house were gone. It teaches about coming back in time because if you don't you will forget the people you love and everything will be gone because you were happy elsewhere without the people you love with you. It is an easy read book with really cool pictures and a great lesson to teach children.

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

A boy named Urashima leaves his family and goes to an underwater land. When he finally comes back, he has been gone so long that his home is gone and no one remembers his family. He opens a box the under water people gave him and becomes an old man. I don't like stories like this.

[Stefanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sad and introspective story.