The Crane Girl

By Curtis Manley, Lin Wang
Paperback: $12.95

In this magical retelling of a Japanese folktale, a mysterious girl weaves silk to help repay the kindness of a boy and his father until the father’s greed finally exposes her secret.

Description

While gathering firewood, Yasuhiro comes upon an injured crane hidden in the snow. He rescues and comforts the bird, then watches as it flies away over the wintry hills.

The next night, a mysterious young girl arrives at Yasuhiro’s home seeking shelter from the cold. The boy and his father welcome the girl, named Hiroko, to stay with them. When Hiroko notices that Yasuhiro’s father is struggling to earn money, she offers to weave silk for him to sell. After the fabric fetches a good price, the boy’s father becomes impatient for more silk, and his greed has a life-changing effect on them all.

Lyrical storytelling deftly interwoven with original haiku create a magical adaptation of a popular Japanese folktale–an inspirational story of friendship and the power of kindness to transform lives.

About the Creators

Curtis Manley

Curtis Manley is a full-time writer and a member of the Haiku Society of America. He enjoys watching the behaviors of birds and other animals--whether in his backyard or in the forests, deserts, and canyons of the western United States. In his travels, he always hopes to see a sandhill crane. Manley grew up in western Pennsylvania but now lives in the Seattle area with his wife and daughter. Visit him online at curtismanley.com.

Lin Wang

Lin Wang has illustrated several books for children, including Shining Star: The Anna May Wong Story and The Crane Girl for Lee & Low Books. She is a classically trained portrait painter with an MFA from the Savannah College of Art and Design, and her work has been recognized by the Society of Illustrators Original Art Show. Wang lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and their children.

Reviews

  • * "The polished, full-color illustrations, strongly reminiscent of art by the fairy-tale illustrator Adrienne Segur, complement the lyrical text. Interspersed, color-coded haiku reveal the characters' unspoken thoughts, adding an excellent dimension with potential for drama-group presentations. . . More from this team would be a welcome addition to folk-tale collections."

    - Kirkus Reviews
  • "This well-crafted tale offers students an introduction to traditional Japanese culture and folklore and should be a welcome addition in public and school libraries."

    - School Library Journal

Paperback

  • ISBN 9781643796840
  • Publication Date Mar 01, 2017
  • Trim Size 8.5 × 10 in
  • Weight 0.9 lbs
  • Page Count 40
  • Word Count 1105
  • Hardcover

  • ISBN 9781885008572
  • Publication Date Mar 01, 2017
  • Trim Size 8.5 × 10 in
  • Weight 0.9375 lbs
  • Page Count 40
  • Interests

  • Audience Children
  • BISAC Category 1 JUV / Fairy Tales & Folklore / General
  • BISAC Category 2 JUV / Legends, Myths, Fables / Asian
  • BISAC Category 3 JUV / Social Themes / Homelessness & Poverty
  • Themes Animal / Biodiversity / Plant Adaptations, Animals, Asian / Asian American / AAPI, Cultural Diversity, Empathy / Compassion, Fiction, Folktale / Folklore / Traditional Literature, Friendship, Gratitude, Kindness / Caring, Overcoming Obstacles, Poetry, Social & Emotional Learning
  • Reading Levels

  • Age Range Ages 6 - 10
  • Grade Range Grades 1 - 5
  • Guided Reading R
  • Spanish Guided Reading R
  • DRA 40
  • Interest Level Grades 1 - 4
  • Lexile Level 670
  • Reading Level 4
  • Bebop Reading Fluent
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