The Magic Pocket: Selected Poems

by Michio Mado, Anno Mitsumasa (Illustrator), Empress Michiko (Translator)

Here is a selection of verses by Michio Mado, chosen and translated by the Empress Michiko of Japan. Winner of the 1994 Hans Christian Andersen Author Award, Mado is the much-loved author of poems and songs for children in Japan. The Empress introduced his work to the world outside of Japan in "The Animals: Selected Poems," an earlier book. Her translations, like the originals, are playful and childlike in their imagery. For example:
"Fingers
Fingers
Fingers
Fingers,
All in a row.
No quarrels.
Nails
Nails
Nails,
Fingers' faces.
Sweet!"


The poems are given in the original Japanese, facing their translations in English. For each poem, the internationally known Japanese artist Mitsumasa Anno, winner of the 1984 Hans Christian Andersen Award for Illustration, has made enchanting pictures that catch the full flavor of the verses. A companion to their earlier collaboration, "The Animals," this is a very special book for children of many cultures in the United States.

Genres: Poetry, Picture Books, Childrens, Japanese Literature, Asia

32 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1998

About the author

Michio Mado (まど・みちお Mado Michio) was a Japanese poet. He received the international Hans Christian Andersen Medal in 1994 for his "lasting contribution to children's literature".

Mado was born as Michio Ishida in Tokuyama, Yamaguchi prefecture. He spent his childhood with his grandfather because his parents went to work in Taiwan. Later he joined his family there. He graduated from the School of Industrial Instruction in Taipei and then worked for the Office of the Governor-General. He died on February 28, 2014, aged 104.

Reviews

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very simple poems for young kieds Love how one side is the original Japanese script and the other is the English translation. Beautiful writing. Simple illustrations

[Jennifer (JenIsNotaBookSnob) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a poetry book translated from Japanese and best enjoyed by very young children. I would venture around age 3 is about ideal. That's about the age where kids like to sit and look at leaves and collect acorns in their pockets. This is a poetry book for that little acorn collector.

I have to admit to being guilty of not really enjoying poetry. What I enjoyed about this book is that it is a bilingual book with Japanese on one side and English on the other. My daughter enjoyed looking at the Japanese characters and trying to guess what they corresponded to. I liked being able to expose her to the characters from a different culture.

It was a neat book, but, I think she would have enjoyed it more closer to age 3.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very short poems about simple things in a child's life, with Japanese on the left page and the English translation on the right page. Anno's watercolors are simple and fit the poems perfectly.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't work for me. Very brief, but even so dissatisfying. Almost twee? Or for a younger audience than the illustrations and book design suggest? In any case, by far the best bits (in my opinion) are:

from *Song of an Umbrella*

Umbrella, umbrella,
The world's most chattering flower,
Chattering now with hail,
Chattering now with rain.

and from *Sounds*

Sound of a piano--Po Ron
One plump cherry....

Castanets--Keke,
A slice of pickle.

I do recommend the book, but only if you can get it easily.
You or your child may have entirely different favorites.

[Celebrilomiel · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up

[Kristal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple poems with cute illustrations. The book has the original Japanese version and the English translation.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://openlibrary.org/books/OL71100...

[Matt Sheffield · Rating 1 out of 5]

#143 - 1001 Children's Books To Read Before You Grow Up

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

A 1001 CBYMRBYGU.

The Magic Pocket is a book of little poems for children, but I loved them, too. The illustrations are by the great Anno and the poems are just right for kids. I found it fascinating to see that in Japan even young children can read and contemplate haiku-like poems.

Inside the pocket
There’s one cookie.
Hit the pocket,
There are two!

Hit it again,
There are three.
The more I hit it,
The more there are!

I wish I had
A pocket like that!
I wish I had
A pocket like that!

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

These poems are simple and fun. They will introduce your child to Japanese style writing and poetry. I also like that the book is translated by Empress Michiko of Japan. The Empress' story is interesting and the little princess in your life might be interested to hear it.

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book contains several poems about animals, weather, and different objects. On one page, the poem is in Japanese, on the other, in English. Very easy reading and neat that it has the Japanese version in it.

[Tanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

My favorite was the last poem, Good Morning and Good Night. All are very simple stanzas and great for a beginning reader.

[Tammy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wasn't impressed at all.

[Katie Banasiewicz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been trying to get back into reading poetry and I really enjoyed this one. I love how the original text is right next to the translated version and the illustration are gorgeous!