Tree of Cranes

by Say, Allen. (Houghton, 1991 ISBN 039552024x. Order Info.) Picture Book. 32 pages. Grades 2+.
This book was reviewed by Carol Otis Hurst in Teaching K-8 Magazine.

Review

This appears to be the childhood memory of the author as he recalls a time when he played too near the goldfish pond in the garden in the winter and got a little bit wet. He knew that his mother would be angry, but he didn't think she'd be so angry as to dig up the tree in the garden that had been planted to symbolize his life. She sends him to bed and ignores him, a terrible punishment for this little boy. At last she shows him that what she has done in his absence is to put together a Christmas tree based on memories she has of her life in California. The illustrations show a lot of the Japanese home-- spare with beautiful lines. This is a beautiful book.

Related Areas of Carol Hurst's Children's Literature Site

• Winter and Children's Literature. Featured Subject.
• The Christmas House by Ann Turner. Book Review.