Ralph F. McCarthyBesprekingen

Interesting. I wonder if this is a traditional Japanese tale? The Japanese accompaniment is pretty advanced, and even if you were using it to learn english, it's not simple. I suppose this could be used to good effect for bilingual children as a bed time story.

It is a very sweet story and a bit empowering in some sort of detached way, as fairy tales are wont to be.

A classical Japanese/Korean fairy tale.
Great to expand students minds on fairy tales not of European origin.
Also great intro into stars (milkyway) and foreign childrens' culture.
Introduces some Japanese words.
The story takes us into Japan's past and gives us visuals of the dress and culture of the time. It's a love story between a celestrial being and a mortal. This concept may be hard for young children to understand so perhaps 3rd grade would be the lowest grade to read this to. Tie it into a space lesson or intro to multicultural understanding and it would work wonders.

One of a number of traditional Japanese folktales presented by Kodansha as part of their Bilingual Children's Classics series - other entries in the collection include: The Moon Princess, The Adventure of Momotaro, the Peach Boy, Kintaro, the Nature Boy, and The Inch-High Samurai - this lovely little picture-book follows the story of Urashima Taro, a kindhearted young fisherman who saves a sea turtle from the boys who have captured it, and is taken on a fantastic journey beneath the sea as a reward. Brought to the Dragon King's palace, where he is entertained by the king's own daughter, Urashima is beguiled, staying underwater at the palace, and eventually falling in love with the princess. When, after a time, he thinks to return to land to visit his parents, the princess gives him a box, instructing him to keep it closed at all costs, if he wishes to return to her...

This tale, in which the hero journeys to a magical underwater kingdom, discovering, upon his return to land, that centuries have passed in the human world, has been compared to the American story of Rip Van Winkle. While I can certainly see the similarities between the two, I think the better parallel is between this, and the Irish tale of Oisín in Tír na nÓg, who also returns to land from a watery world of enchantment, only to discover that hundreds of years have passed. Leaving aside these comparisons, this story is always entertaining, in and of itself, and this poetic telling, though the rhyming feels a little forced, is quite engaging. The artwork by Shiro Kasamatsu is just lovely, with an appealing palette and many delightful details. All in all, this is an engaging retelling of a classic tale (one that can also be found in collections like Florence Sakade's Urashima Taro and Other Japanese Children's Favorite Stories), one I recommend to all young folk and fairy-tale enthusiasts.

The classic Japanese tale of Momotaro, a boy who is born out of a peach, becoming the beloved (and long wished-for) son of an elderly couple, and of his journey to the island of the demons, is here retold as part of the Kodansha Bilingual Children's Classics series, which also includes: The Moon Princess, Urashima and the Kingdom Beneath the Sea, Kintaro, the Nature Boy, and The Inch-High Samurai. Blessed with an extraordinary strength, even as a baby, Momotaro decides that he must fight the demons that have long plagued the land, picking up canine, simian and alectorine companions on his way, and triumphing - with their help - over his enemies...

An engaging story, one that I have seen retold many times - George Suyeoka's Momotaro, Stephanie Wada's Momotaro and The Island Of Ogres, Florence Sakade's Peach Boy and Other Japanese Children's Favorite Stories, to name just a few - this traditional tale is presented, in this edition, in rhyming verse, together with the beautiful artwork of Ioe Saito. A smaller book - part of a five-book boxed set I was lucky enough to find on a book cart, one day - it is still large enough to appreciate the colorful illustrations. Recommended to young folk and fairy-tale enthusiasts, particularly those with an interest in Japan.

One of five traditional Japanese folktales included in the Kodansha Bilingual Children's Classics series, issued individually and in a boxed set - the others are: The Moon Princess, The Adventure of Momotaro, the Peach Boy, Urashima and the Kingdom Beneath the Sea and The Inch-High Samurai - this story of an incredibly strong young boy who enjoys cavorting with his animal friends in the forest, until the famous samurai lord, Minamoto Raiko, recruits him into his band, and he goes off to win glory by battling demons, is presented in both English and Japanese. A small book, easily held by young hands, it boasts colorful illustrations by Suiho Yonai, and a rhyming narrative provided by translator Ralph F. McCarthy.

Although (as with the other titles in the series) I am not sure that the rhyming narrative here is always to my taste - it sometimes feels a little forced - it does make for a fun reading experience, while the lovely illustrations, done in such detail, will keep readers involved. Having now read all five of the installments in the series, which I was lucky enough to find in boxed set a few years back, I can say that it provides a enjoyable foray into the world of Japanese folklore. I do wish that there had been more of a balance between male and female protagonists, and that, if only one female was to be included, she had been a less passive one than the Moon Princess. But then, if the editors were going by the most famous of the tales in the folk tradition, perhaps that wasn't possible? In any case, I recommend Kintaro, the Nature Boy, and all its companions, to any young readers who enjoy folk and fairy-tales, particularly if they are interested in Japan and Japanese culture.

Part of Kodansha Bilingual Children's Classics series, which also includes such titles as The Adventure of Momotaro, the Peach Boy, Urashima and the Kingdom Beneath the Sea, Kintaro, the Nature Boy, and The Inch-High Samurai, this lovely little picture-book offers a bilingual retelling of a classic Japanese fairy-tale about a moon princess who descends to earth, and lives for a time as the daughter of a bamboo-cutter and his wife. Sought by many princes, Princess Shining Bright has no desire to wed, and eventually returns - much to the sorrow of her earthly parents - to her lunar home.

I have owned this book, together with its companions, for a number of years now - I found them for sale in a wonderful little boxed set, and purchased them on the spot! - but it took an online friend's glowing review to convince me to take it down off the shelf, and actually give it a try. I'm glad that I finally did, as I enjoyed both story and artwork (especially artwork), and now plan to read the rest of the set right away. This story feels very familiar to me, but I'm struggling to think of another retelling I have read. I know that there is the Tale of the Shining Princess, but I haven't read that in some time, and am struggling to recall the details. In any case, wherever I encountered this tale before, it was agreeable to encounter it again, in such a lovely edition!

Part of the Kodansha Bilingual Children's Classics series, which presents traditional Japanese folktales in both English and Japanese - other titles in the set include The Moon Princess, Urashima and the Kingdom Beneath the Sea, The Adventure of Momotaro, the Peach Boy, and Kintaro, the Nature Boy - this story of a tiny, inch-high boy, born to a couple who have long desired a child, who sets out for the capital city to seek his fortune, becoming a mighty samurai and winning the hand of a beautiful princess, despite his small stature, is here retold in rhyming verse by Ralph F. McCarthy, together with the illustrations of Shiro Kasamatsu.

The result is a delightful little picture-book that children will enjoy reading, while poring over the detailed, colorful artwork. I think that, of all the illustrators involved in this series - Kancho Oda, Ioe Saito, Shiro Kasamatsu, and Suiho Yonai - I have enjoyed the work of Kasamatsu, who worked on both The Inch-High Samurai and Urashima and the Kingdom Beneath the Sea, best. His palette is lovely, and his figures expressive, within the confines of this particular style. All in all, a sweet little retelling of a wonderful tale from Japan, one I would recommend to any young reader with an interest in folklore or fairy-tales.

I purchased this book as I am a collector of all things related to the Swiss illustrator, Warja Honegger-Lavater. Late in her career she produced a fan-fold "Leporello" book entitled "Kaguyahime : une imagerie en transparence d'après le conte japonais" (1997), which is the same tale as "The Moon Princess." This Japanese-English bilingual edition of the fairy tale goes nicely with Honegger-Lavater's work. With both works, I'm able to see more depth and context in the tale.

Within the last two years, my daughter has started learning Japanese, and this book has been a useful addition for items with which she can practice. For a simpler work, I might recommend "I Am Maru", which has even simpler English-Japanese phrases for the same purpose.

In any case, this book is a small, beautiful work in its own right. I can easily give it 4 (out of 5) stars.

(This review has also been posted on Amazon.com)