Peachboy: A Japanese Folktale (Rabbit Ears) [Hardcover]

Eric Metaxas (Author), Jeffrey Smith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1995 | Series: Rabbit Ears

Momotaro, the Peachboy, sets out on a heroic quest to the Isle of Death to conquer the ogres tormenting his people, in an audio version of the Japanese folktale featuring music by Ryuichi Sakamoto. Read by Sigourney Weaver.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-5?An elderly couple in ancient Japan long for a child. Their wish is granted when they find a huge peach that opens to reveal a baby inside. Momotaro grows rapidly and soon is strong enough to challenge the evil oni that prey on his community. Three companions, each with separate strengths, join the hero on his quest: a dog, a monkey, and a pheasant. While Smith's illustrations, imitating traditional Japanese watercolor sketches, are compelling, the accompanying text is overlong and sometimes stilted. One variant detail here, found in no other English versions, results in a serious lapse in plotting. Another generates a full-page picture of a fortress of skulls and bones, as if horned red and blue ogres?standard in every version?are not grotesque enough. Without a source note, the origin of these odd inclusions remains a mystery. Linda Shute's Momotaro (Lothrop, 1986) is a better choice for group read-alouds, as is Gail Sakurai's Peach Boy (Troll, 1994). The authentic and engaging illustrations in both books interpret the story's dramatic action more appropriately for a younger audience. Eric Quayle's The Shining Princess and Other Japanese Legends (Arcade, 1989) contains a strong, graceful retelling for older children. Not a first purchase.?Margaret A. Chang, North Adams State College, MA
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Hardcover
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster (Juv) (September 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689801920
• ISBN-13: 978-0689801921
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,159,083 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Eric Metaxas is the New York Times bestselling author of Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery. His writing was first published in Atlantic Monthly, and has appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, Regeneration Quarterly, Christianity Today, National Review Online, Beliefnet and First Things. The American Booksellers Association chose Metaxas's The Birthday ABC as a 1995 Pick of the List and Amazon.com honored his Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving with their Number One Bestseller Award for Thanksgiving 1999. He has been featured numerous times on CNN, The Fox News Channel and other television networks, and has been a guest on NPR. He is the founder and host of Socrates in the City: Conversations on the Examined Life, a monthly event of entertaining and thought provoking discussions that feature such speakers as Sir John Polkinghorne, Dr. Armand Nicholi, Os Guinness, Lauren F. Winner and Peter Kreeft. Metaxas serves on the vestry of Calvary/St. George's Episcopal Church, and lives in Manhattan, New York, with his wife and daughter.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Japan's Greatest Folktale!!!, August 23, 2009

By 

Kirara "dragonsonic4" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Peachboy: A Japanese Folktale (Rabbit Ears) (Hardcover)

When I have read "Peachboy" for the first time, I was so excited about the story, especially by the narration by Sigourney Weaver, Ryuichi Sakamoto's Japanese influence music and Jeffrey Smith's beautiful illustrations.

This story is about how an extraordinary boy named Momotaro, who was born out of a peach, decides to make a journey to the Island of Death in order to stop a band of ogres from stealing anymore children. Along the way, Momotaro meets a dog, an ape, and a pheasant who all end up helping Momotaro in his journey to the Island of Death.

Sigourney Weaver's narration is soothing as she narrates this popular Japanese children's folktale with feeling. Ryuichi Sakamoto's music is beautiful as it gives the story a Japanese atmosphere. Jeffrey Smith's illustrations are beautiful and detailed, especially of Momotaro himself and the ogres. "Peachboy" is an excellent book for people who love the Rabbit Ears stories and love Japanese folktales. This is actually one of my favorite Japanese folktales besides "The Boy Who Drew Cats" and I'm sure that you will enjoy it too.