A man finds an injured crane with a broken wing and assists it in recovering its full health and flying capability. The same night, a woman arrives at his home, asking to be his wife. He accepts, and they are very content together, and she admires him for his gentle heart. When they are low on money, she agrees to spin beautiful, radiant clothes and tapestries, but asks him never to look in upon her or watch as she spins the delicate fabrics. Eventually, his curiosity and greed cause him to break his promise and to violate her request. He realizes that she is the crane, who has been tearing out her own feathers to create the fabrics. She leaves him for breaking his world, and for dishonoring her.

I love how the illustrations show some Japanese cultural backgrounds. I already knew the story, but it is fun to read it in English. It teaches some culture, traditions, as well as life lessons that anybody can use such as not to take things for granted and always be appreciative.

Yagawa, S. (1979). The Crane Wife (Akaba, S. Illus.). New York: William Morrow & Company.

The Crane Wife is a famous Japanese folktale. It tells the story of Yohei, a poor county fellow who one night saves a crane from dying. Later that night, a woman knocks on his door and asks to be his wife. They marry, and during the winter supplies run short so the woman offers to weave for him. Before she begins she tells Yohei that he must never look in while she is weaving. Her fabrics earn a lot of money and Yohei becomes greedy and curious. On her third weaving attempt, Yohei looks in and discovers that his wife is not what he thinks. The illustrations are done in very light brush strokes and some illustrations are very sparse. The style complements the traditional Japanese folktale. An interesting folktale that teaches readers to be weary of greed overtaking oneself. ( )

This folktale is very popular in Japan. It has been made into plays, movies, and an opera. The good versus evil is present in Yohei's greed for more money. With his greed came the goodbye to his wife. The moral is to be happy with what you have and do not become too greedy. The setting of this story could happen almost anywhere. This story could occur in other countries, as well as at other times. The author does not include any information about where exactly the story takes place or when. Some of the details that are included are the deep snow and a nearby market where the cloth is sold. Other then that information there is not much more said or given through other details about the setting. ( )