The ancient Japanese tale of the Moon Princess and her Emperor of the ill-fated love between immortal and mortal dates back to 935 A.D. Toronto-based artist Jirina Marton traveled to Japan to form her historically and accurate inspired art for this adaptation. For Lady Kaguya, Marton has created 35 haunting, luminous, full-color paintings. (Available)
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Grade 3-5?A tiny baby girl is found by a childless bamboo cutter, who takes her home to his wife. As the child grows and the couple prospers, news of her beauty brings suitors. She says she will not marry, but to preserve the honor of the family, she will receive the suitors and give them tasks. These quests prove impossible, however, and one by one the suitors abandon their mission. The Emperor hears of this girl and determines to have her; when they meet, they fall in love, and she discloses her true self?she is a daughter of the Moon King, to whom she must return. When that time comes, she begs to stay human, but her father refuses her request. After her departure, the Emperor burns her farewell letter, which becomes the smoke rising from Mount Fuji. No sources are given, just a mention that this is an ancient Japanese tale. There are gaps and inconsistencies in the story; the beginning of the tale is strong, but as it proceeds, the threads gradually weaken. The oil-pastel illustrations vary in quality. Some are studied portraits recalling Japanese scrolls; others seem hurried and unfinished. The whole book has a Japanese air, with slender frames for the illustrations, stylized pale faces, muted colors, and a calligraphic font for the story. Average fare without much child appeal.?Angela J. Reynolds, West Slope Community Library, Portland, OR
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Gr. 3^-7. Marton uses a picture-book format for her adaptation of an old Japanese tale. A childless and penniless woodcutter and his wife lovingly raise Kaguya, a foundling girl, as their own. Good fortune and wealth follow the family ever after. Raised in the best of worldly circumstances, Kaguya becomes a bright, beautiful, and strong young woman, who sends potential suitors on challenging tests of courage and endurance to prove their worthiness for marriage. She finds true love, but the circumstances of her birth bring about great conflict. Marton's softly muted oil pastels add to the emotional intensity and mystery of the story. The romantic situation will be especially appealing to middle-school girls, provided they can accept the picture-book format. Unfortunately, Marton does not include source notes and provides no pronunciation guidance. Karen Morgan
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Story of Amazement for everyone.,
By
This review is from: Lady Kaguya's Secret: A Japanese Tale (Library Binding)
Though I have not actually read this book or been formally told the story of The Bamboo Cutter, I know most of it legend. After watching InuYasha; The Movie 2, Castle Beyond the Looking Glass (reffering to Kaguya's moon palace) I was very interested. If you have seen the series by Rumiko Takahashi (InuYasha, that is) then you'll know of InuYasha red kimono that is indestructable. It's made of the fur of a fire-rat which I believe is one of the things Kaguya orderred a man to fetch (in the stories, not in InuYasha {in InuYasha she must collect firerat fur and the other items like the Stone Cup of Buddah (which happen to be the things Kaguya ordered men to get in the stories) to oppen her moon palace. You see in InuYasha Kaguya was evil (and it's funny because she was working with a minion of the real baddie in InuYash a who was named KaguRA) so the story wasn't the same of course!}) And InuYasha isn't the only anime/manga Kaguya has been in or refferenced in. Sailor Moon and Oh My Goddes also feature Kaguya. I think it's cool to learn about something and then hear about it somewhere else. Though you can simply but a Bamboo Cutter story book, It's much more interesting to learn about things in the form of a chapter book. Definentally a choice to make.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Kids: it's better than TV!,
By A Customer
This review is from: Lady Kaguya's Secret: A Japanese Tale (Library Binding)
This is a wonderful retelling of a classic myth. It educates young readers about the origin of some symbols and themes that they have already seen in popular cartoons and comics such as Naoko Takeuchi's "Sailor Moon", Kosuke Fujishima's "Oh My Goddess" and Yuji Moriyama's "Project A-ko"
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