Customer Reviews

Grass Sandals : The Travels of Basho

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
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In the story Grass Sandals, there is a Japanese man named after a banana tree called basho. Basho loved nature so much that he wrote about it as a haiku poet. He lived in his small house in Edo surrounded by the morning glories in the 1600's. But one day, Basho decides he wants to travel because he is restless back at his home in Edo. Before his trip, Basho's friends give him supplies for his trip including grass sandals. On the trip he writes about what he sees, meets friends, and discovers different places in this adventurous book!

I enjoyed this book very much because I loved all the places he traveled and all the creative poems he wrote. I recommend this book for all afes. It is very well written!

I read the book Grass Sandals. The main character is Basho. In the story, Basho travels all over Japan. He lives in Edo. The story takes place in the 1600's. Basho wrote poems about nature and by listening and looking at his surroundings.

It liked this book because it made me feel like I was there with Basho.

Grass Sandals is a great book about friendship and poems. The main character's name is Basho. Basho liked to have tea on his porch every morning under his basho tree. Basho lives in Edo. Basho likes to travel around his country. When Basho is traveling he gets many gifts from his friends. Basho is great for his blue grass sandals (from his friend) and for haikus. This story took place 300 years ago in Japan.

I really liked this book because of its illustrations and of how well it is written. I think that this book would be good for people who like books from other countries. I also think parents would enjoy this story too!

Brief but splendid. Buy this book. A wonderful adult message couched for the seeking child within.

I am a huge haiku fan, and it was that interest that lead me to this little book. Grass Sandals: The Travels of Basho offers a beautiful, multi-sensory introduction to Japanese literature and ancient Japanese culture. Indeed the peaceful, flowing artwork looks like fine paintings rather than images in a children's story, and thick, full pages speak for the book's quality.

Basho's journey is one of peace, curiosity, and observation. Along the way, lessons of simplicity, keen observation, genuine appreciation for the natural world, gratitude, promises, and respect are subtly revealed.

In addition to the story (told in prose) and well-placed haiku samples, certain pages include a unique Japanese character, pronunciation, and translation that highlights an event or observation from that part of the tale. Thus, with adult guidance, a child can learn to look into the illustrations for specific details, learn to read the text of the story and the haiku, learn to trace a Japanese character with his / her finger, and learn to speak a Japanese word. Engaged children may take their knowledge to the next level by attempting to write the characters or their own haiku.

This book definitely provides an appreciation for Japan, and it is worth reading, sharing, and discussing.

My favorite haiku sample from the text is this one:

a tiny pink crab
tickling me climbs up my leg
from glistening sea

This picture book presents Basho's travels, with a curious focus on the Japanese characters for various words in his haiku; I wished there had been more emphasis on the haiku themselves. But the illustrations are enchanting and evocative, deep and glowing, with a whimsical touch. While this book doesn't have the deep understanding of haiku found in Cool Melons - Turn To Frogs!: The Life And Poems Of Issa, it would be a charming supplemental text for grade school units on haiku, poetry, biography, and historical Japan.

Most interesting Japanese poetry and art book with four elements, all of them on the same page, making it a multi-functioning book that can be pondered deeper than just reading a child poetry. It contains prose concerning the topic, artwork that is gentle, Oriental (Japanese), and interesting, a Haiku poem with each art page set, and Japanese/Chinese letters/words with each set. So, a child can learn Chinese character/words with this book. (Japanese uses a couple of thousand common Chinese characters, in addition to its own alphabet).

If a school is interested in teaching children Chinese, which some are doing as a language course for grade school children, this is a very good primer. Children can practice Chinese lettering from grade school through high school, but this is more suitable for grade school.

Chinese calligraphy and learning a few Chinese words is a wonderful mental, mind-expanding exercise for children and even for adults. This opens the door for a nice afternoon project or day-off project that parents can do with their children (instead of going to the movies, or popping in a children's film).

Haikus in themselves force the mind to slow down and ponder. Both reading and writing Haikus is a beneficial experience for the mind. This provides good examples for any poetry student. Many times children's books are just as suitable for adults, we learn better when it is presented simply, as if to a child.

I'd recommend this book for any early childhood classroom to the fifth grade, or for similarly aged children at home. It can be a bonding book for parents and children.

I found this account of Basho's life, poetry and journeys a bit like a piece of modern art work; not sure exactly what the author was wanting to achieve and it seems it is for the reader (viewer) to interrupt as his / her fancy leads. Even as a juvenile's read it leave much to the imagination.