The Crane Wife [Hardcover]

Odds Bodkin (Author), Gennady Spirin (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 15, 1998 | Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

When Osamu, a lonely sail maker, nurses an injured crane one blustery night, he never suspects that this simple act of kindness will change his life forever. Weeks later a mysterious woman arrives on his doorstep, seeking shelter from a storm. Osamu again offers his help, and soon the sail maker and the stranger fall in love and marry. But when he learns of his wife's gift for making magic sails, ambition replaces compassion--and Osamu risks losing the great happiness he has found. With majestic paintings and lyrical prose, this classic Japanese tale speaks to readers of all ages with its timeless lessons on the nature of kindness, love, and betrayal.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

This classic Japanese folktale, accompanied by stunning paintings by award-winning illustrator Gennady Spirin, gently explores the nature of love, promises, and betrayal. Osamu was a sail maker who lived high above the sea. "As he pulled the warp and weft of his sail together, he would often think to himself, How beautiful the cranes are. Of all the birds, they are the most like sails. It is as if the wind is held in their wings." One blustery night, a large crane crashes into Osamu's door and lies stunned on his porch. The lonely sail maker nurses it back to health and watches the graceful bird soar away. When this crane returns to Osamu's door in the disguise of a beautiful young woman, the drama really begins. They fall in love, and marry, but there comes a time when there is no longer food for them to eat. Yukiko tells her husband that she can make a magic sail for him to sell in the village, but that he must promise never to look at her while she is making it, and later, that he must never expect her to make another one. Both promises are broken, and in the end, Osamu never sees her again: "He wove simple sails for the rest of his years, there at his window, gazing at the marsh and the white cranes. And each autumn, in the season of storms, he waited for a knock on his door." Spirin's moody, intricate watercolor illustrations evoke medieval Japan, and perfectly complement the spare, poetic prose of Odds Bodkin's skillful retelling. (Ages 5 and older) --Karin Snelson

From Publishers Weekly

Bodkin (The Banshee Train) and Spirin (The Sea King's Daughter) turn to medieval Japan for this vivid retelling of a Japanese folktale. Osamu, a lonely sail maker, nurses an injured crane back to health. Not long afterward, a beautiful and mysterious woman arrives at his home and Osamu takes her in as well. As their love blossoms, she offers to weave Osamu a magic sail to sell at market, though she stipulates that he must not watch her work. Adults will anticipate the tragic outcome of this well-known tale. Bodkin's finely tuned version abounds with drama and emotion in its rich presentation of morals, and near-perfect pacing sets the stage for the pathos of the ending. Spirin's watercolor-and-gouache compositions, filled with Japanese motifs and period details, cast an otherworldly mood. Expanses of sky and clouds provide a sense of airiness, appropriate for a bird-inspired tale. Several gorgeous scenes showing trees in autumn and snowy winter and people draped in the elegant costumes of historical Japan are particularly memorable. Ages 5-up.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books (September 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152014071
• ISBN-13: 978-0152014070
• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 8.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,746,471 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I love the Pictures but Not all of the Story, December 3, 2000

By 

izzyfree "izzyfree" (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Crane Wife (Hardcover)

"The Crane Wife" is one of those tragic Japanese love stories.

Osamu is poor sail maker and he loves to watch cranes. He thought that cranes were very special and pretty. Osamu wants a wife but because he's poor, Osamu doesn't think he could get a wife. One night, a crane came by his door and the crane was hurt. Osamu nursed it back to life and the crane left. Time passes and a lovely woman came by and she became his wife, her name is Yukiko. When Osamu and Yukiko had no more money for food, Yukiko decided to make a magic sail. She makes one and tells Osamu to sell it. When Osamu sells it, he gets enough money to last for six months. Osamu starts to get greedy but Yukiko tells her husband that making these magical sails, take too much of her. Nevertheless Osamu demands Yukio to make these sails but when Osamu demands Yukiko to make these sails, would he destroy her?

I love the pictures that come with this story. It's really detailed and very pretty and the colors made the pictures very vivid. The only thing that I hated about this story was how this story illustrates its moral of not taking things for granted. It's a tragic love story but in a way Osamu deserved it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Haunting Lovely Story!, October 28, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Crane Wife (Hardcover)

This story is so touching and moving it is hard to forget. I borrowed it from the library a few years ago and always remembered it. When I ran into it at a book store, I bought it immediately. The book really touched me and I love the story.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A book that younger children may not appreciate..., June 30, 2003

By 

Kimberly Dickson "km_dickson" (Denton, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Crane Wife (Hardcover)

I think adults may appreciate this one more than the children will. I've attempted to read it to my younger sisters (ages 4 and 6) and they're just not into it. It's a beautifully illustrated book with an interesting and tragic story, and you might want to save it for those a little older.