The Paper Crane

There are two reasons I like this book and they are the plot and the way it is written. There are really two big messages portrayed in this book. The first one is to never give up on something that makes you happy just as the owner never gave up on his restaurant even though it had become a place no one went too any longer. The other message of the book is to always help those in need and be charitable. The owner didn’t have to feed the stranger that walked into his restaurant without any money but did because it was the right thing to do. And while you may not always be rewarded monetarily for charitably actions the true reward is the pleasure and joy you feel after helping someone less fortunate then yourself.
The plot in this book show more is very well written and draws readers into the story of a restaurant owner just trying to survive and the saving grace he receives from a complete stranger. Each page of the book continues the plot and makes the reader feel all the emotions that the owner is experiencing throughout the story. For example, on the very first page of the book it shows how much love and joy the restaurant brought to its owner and how he as aged with the restaurant. In contrast on the next page it tells the story of a big highway being built and the owner losing all his customers because they didn’t need to use the road his restaurant sat on anymore. This makes the reader feel disheartened for the owner as he could possibly be losing his dream. This creates a very interesting conflict and makes the reader want to continue reading the story to see whether or not the owner finds a solution. As the story progresses and the stranger enters the restaurant and is promptly greeted, sat and fed by the owner even though the man has no money it makes the reader want even more for the owner to become successful again because he truly is a good charitable person. As the story concludes with the owner using the crane the stranger left him to get customers to return the reader gets to see the owner happy again with his son knowing that the restaurant will be alive and well for generations.
The other aspect of this book that I liked was its clear and concise writing style. From the very first page to the very last the writing engages the reader and draws them into this heart warming story of a restaurant owner and the stranger that saves his business with a paper crane. The writing also flows very well as each page feels connected to the last and never loses the rhythm of the story. For example, when the stranger gives the owner the crane and tells the story of how it will come to life and dance at the simple clap of the hand, it shows on the very next page the crane moving and dancing thus continuing the story and keeping it entertaining. The writing also helps to enhance the moderately simplistic illustrations and brings them to life for the reader by describing the scene perfectly before the reader looks at the illustration. As the book concludes and the reader gets to see the man happy again with his thriving restaurant they feel overjoyed for him as they followed him through this journey and the writing certainly makes those feelings possible by actively engaging the reader in the story. show less

This was a fun and heartwarming read. It almost feels like an opposite of other folktales where instead of a man turning away a beggar and becoming cursed, he helps the beggar and becomes blessed. The big message of the book is to help others in need, even if you do not have an abundance to give. The restaurant owner did just that, even though his business became very poor, and he was rewarded immensely. What's great about this book is that even though it is fantasy, it shows a real reality of what happens to small businesses when the city moves in. The illustrations fit well with the story as they are all made of collage and paper. The story is about a paper crane, so there is a great connection there. It's curious, the people and show more setting in the story are made out of paper collage, but the actual paper crane in the story is painted in. It makes you wonder if the author meant something by doing that. All in all, a great quick read with a good message. show less

I really liked this book because the main idea was to treat everyone with kindness and I think that this is an important message for young children. I really liked how the author chose to portray this message as well. This book told the story of a man that owned an unsuccessful restaurant but his fortune turned around when he was kind to a man that didn't have enough money to pay for his meal. The language and writing was clear and straight-forward. The language went hand-in-hand with the illustrations and the illustrations enhanced the story and gave the reader a terrific idea of the true setting. I really like how the plot was organized and how the success for the business-owner was depicted. The author made sure to show that his show more success didn't happen all at once. I also liked how a variety of ethnic groups were shown in this book. I think that is a component in children's literature that is oftentimes lacking. It is important to represent many different types of cultures so that all children are able to connect to the story. show less

The story is mystical and mesmerizing on its own, albeit short, but the illustrations are what take this book to the next level. At first glance, I thought the paper collage was clever in relation to the title, but it turned from witty to incredible when I realized the complexity and depth of each individual image and the utilization of various materials. It’s a sweet and hopeful tale and indeed visually innovative.

"The Paper Crane" was an enjoyable book that caught my attention with this message "good things can come if you accept and tolerate others". That message was supported with a strong story that walks the reader through the story, and shows them what happened when the owner of the restaurant agreed to let the old man pay with the crane. The magnificent illustrations act as a window into the story that can make the reader feel as though they are part of the story and seeing things as the characters see them. This story is a modern retelling of an ancient Japanese folktale.

I liked this book for three reasons. First, I liked the main message of the story about kindness and generosity being rewarded in the long run. The main character of the story is a failing restaurant owner who offers a strange man, who comes in without money, a free meal. In return, the stranger makes the restaurant owner a dancing paper crane that draws customers to the main character's restaurant. The second thing I liked about this story is the illustrations that went along with the text. The style of the illustrations are very unique and fit the written folklore text very well. Finally, I enjoyed the language used throughout the book. It was very descriptive and clear. All in all, this book would be a great read aloud in the show more classroom to teach children about always respecting others and being generous. show less

Summary: An old man owns a popular restaurant, where he serves good food since he loves to cook. Once a highway is built by his restaurant, travelers no longer stopped to eat there, and the old man became very poor. One day while the old man was cleaning with his grandson, a stranger came through the door and had a gentleness about him. The old man offered the stranger food, and the stranger thanked him by making a crane out of a piece of paper. The stranger told the old man and his grandson that they need to clap their hands for the bird to come to life. When the bird came to life, word got around town and many people started coming to the restaurant to see the magical paper crane, and to eat food. Months later, the same stranger came show more back and took his crane back, although guests still go to the restaurant to hear the story about the "gentle stranger and the magic crane."

I really enjoy this book and the storyline behind it. I like the multicultural aspect of it, since it takes place in Japan. The illustrations are very different since it appears that they are made out of paper. I really like how diverse the book is, which can be seen at the part where his restaurant was full of guests of different ages, who were White, African American, and Asian. This resembles a sense of unity as they all sit together and watch the paper crane dance. The central message of this book is kindness/generosity, because even if you cannot "afford" to pay for something, it is always nice to show your appreciation and to be generous. show less