The Paper Crane

The Paper Crane
Bang, Molly
Folklore
Harper Collins Publishers (1987)
k-3
The paper crane is a fantastic story about restaurant owner who loved working in his restaurant and was very happy until a new road was built and customers stopped coming to his restaurant. Soon he became sad and poor. One day and old many with a gentle manner came into the restaurant and the owner fed him a feast even though he could not afford to pay for his meal. Instead of giving him money he made a paper crane and told the owner to clap his hands and the crane would come to life. The owner clapped his hands and the crane came to life as the man said. Soon his restaurant was busy again with people who came to see the dancing crane. One day the old man returned and flew away with the crane but the owners business remained.

Bang did a wonderful job creating this mystical story thats part fantasy and part reality. I think that children would absolutely eat this book up. this would be an excellent book to use to introduce children to the Japanese art form of origami which was used to create the crane. A teacher could even teach students how to make origami. This book teaches compassion for others though the owners willingness to feed the old man when he new he could not pay him. This is a good point to bring across to students.

The double page illustrations in this book are photographs taken by Ned Manter of full-color art cutouts by Molly Bang. this unique technique is amazing. The illustrations are so spectacular that I could barely take my eyes off of them. I think this art form would be a cool activity to teach children. Molly Bang is the full package in my opinion. She writes amazing stories and does incredible art work.