Logo image
  • BookDragon
  • About
  • The Blogger
  • Review Policy
  • Smithsonian APAC
 
2990
post-template-default,single,single-post,postid-2990,single-format-standard,stardust-core-1.1,stardust-child-theme-ver-1.0.0,stardust-theme-ver-3.1,ajax_updown_fade,page_not_loaded,smooth_scroll

BookDragon Blog

16 Jun / Tsunami! by Kimiko Kajikawa, illustrated by Ed Young

TsunamiHigh 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

By Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center in Children/Picture Books, Chinese American, Fiction, Japanese, Japanese American Tags > BookDragon, Ed Young, Folklore/Legend/Myth, Friendship, Grandparents, Kimiko Kajikawa, Natural disaster, Tsunami
7 Comments
  • simonsterg

    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!

    Reply
    • terryhong

      Ed Young is a mega-superstar for sure! And have you discovered Allen Say yet? Oh, goodness gracious! Oh, and Peter Reynolds, too!

      Reply
      • simonsterg

        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/

        Reply
        • terryhong

          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!

          Reply
  • simonsterg

    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!

    Reply
    • terryhong

      Another airport wifi hotspot, whooo whee!! Not enough time to do much, but a quick happy happy to you!

      Reply
  • simonsterg

    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.

    Reply

Post a Comment
Cancel Reply

Smithsonian Institution
Asian Pacific American Center

Capital Gallery, Suite 7065
600 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20024

202.633.2691 | APAC@si.edu

Additional contact info

Mailing Address
Capital Gallery
Suite 7065, MRC: 516
P.O. Box 37012
Washington, DC 20013-7012

Fax: 202.633.2699

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

SmithsonianAPA brings Asian Pacific American history, art, and culture to you through innovative museum experiences and digital initiatives.

About BookDragon

Welcome to BookDragon, filled with titles for the diverse reader. BookDragon is a new media initiative of the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center (APAC), and serves as a forum for those interested in learning more about the Asian Pacific American experience through literature. BookDragon is inhabited by Terry Hong.

Learn More

Contact BookDragon

Please email us at SIBookDragon@gmail.com

Follow BookDragon!
  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Looking for Something Else …?

or