16 Jun / Tsunami! by Kimiko Kajikawa, illustrated by Ed Young
High atop a mountain lives a wealthy, wise, kind old man everyone calls Ojiisan, which means ‘grandfather’ in Japanese. While the rest of the village gathers to celebrate the annual rice ceremony, Ojiisan chooses to stay home, feeling something is not quite right. His prescience is well rewarded, as he sacrifices his own golden rice fields to a blaze large enough to warn the villagers below of the impending destruction in just enough time to save their very lives.
Once again, Caldecott Medalist Ed Young uses stunning collage to capture the old man’s mountaintop refuge, the undeniable force of the giant swirling wave that literally lifts then decimates the village in its wake … and finally the pride and hope on the young grandson’s face as he regales the villagers of his grandfather’s heroic sacrifice. The exciting story, by the way, is based on one of the late 19th-century tales of Japan from the world-famous ex-pat Lafcadio Hearn.
Readers: Children
Published: 2009
Ed Young seems to pick such good tales to illustrate, and I’ve just seen how many:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Young_(illustrator)#Works
I have his The Lost Horse
http://nehouse.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/the-lost-horse.jpg
which as well as being a great tale, has a horse-puppet included!
Ed Young is a mega-superstar for sure! And have you discovered Allen Say yet? Oh, goodness gracious! Oh, and Peter Reynolds, too!
This could get expensive. Maybe I can get revenge…
Two of my favourites that you don’t seem to have mentioned:
Satoshi Kitamura
http://simonsterg.wordpress.com/2007/03/12/you-cant-go-wrong-with-satoshi-kitamura/
Mitsumasa Anno
http://simonsterg.wordpress.com/2009/02/07/anno-and-mr-fox/
I LOVE Anno’s books. My kids love Anno, too … when they were younger, we would spend such lovely time searching for the little man with the hat! Oh those days seem so long ago. They are way too grown already!
I guess his titles somehow got overlooked in the blog … there are many missing pieces here, I readily admit. It’s all a matter of when I read what when and for whom I was reviewing. So certain titles have just gotten lost in the shuffle … but will try and remedy that …
Will definitely check out Kitamura’s titles, too, when we get back. We’re wandering South America over winter break and today has been my one and only day for internet access. No more until our return to the U.S. in two weeks … good thing for my little brain to be a bit disconnected, I’m sure!
Happy, happy!
Winter wandering in South America sounds wonderful. Without-Web for a fortnight sounds worthwhile too.
You won’t read this then, but I’ll wish you best (unread) winter-wandering wishes!
Another airport wifi hotspot, whooo whee!! Not enough time to do much, but a quick happy happy to you!
PS Provoked by what you said, I got out Anno’s Journey and Sam and I followed him on his horse, spotting Don Quixote and Red Riding Hood and many other things. He’s 9 but still very willing to look at a picture book with me. After all in a way they are more “grown up” that many a children’s (or adults’) novel.