Tree of Cranes

A young Japanese boy, having disobeyed his mother and visited a nearby carp pond, gotten wet and then taken a chill, is given a steaming bath and put into his pajamas by that disapproving parent in this lovely picture book from author/illustrator Allen Say. The boy's mother seems oddly distant, and at first he thinks it must be because of his behavior, but in truth she is consumed with memories of her childhood in a far-off land called California, where, on this day, she recalls seeing the most beautiful decorated trees. Digging up the boy's pine tree, she decorates it with origami cranes and candles, and shares some of her memories of this special day with her son...

As with all Allen Say titles, Tree of Cranes is a lovely book, one show more which pairs a gentle but deeply moving narrative with beautiful watercolor artwork. Although I first read it years ago, and many times since, it appears I never listed or reviewed it online, something I am rectifying this holiday season. The words and visuals here work seamlessly together, creating a warm, inviting feeling for the reader—an atmosphere of quiet joy and contemplation, and a sensation of sinking into someone else's memories. How appropriate, for as the boy shares his mother's memories, we share his! Highly recommended to any picture book readers looking for Christmastime stories with a somewhat different setting, or for stories about memory, cross-cultural experiences, and the bond between mothers and sons. show less

Mama brings from her birth home in California the concept of the decorated tree, of family, of the joy of giving, and the hope for goodwill & peace on earth. Considering that Say was born in 1937, and that this seems to be a memoir, I can easily empathize with Mama's desperation... perhaps this took place just after Pearl Harbor....

No baggage of Santa Claus or Christ, but a focus on the universals that so many of us on this small crowded planet wish we could share with one another. Beautiful, and engaging. The child's confusion, desires, and dreams feel fully authentic.

A gentle, poignant story about a young boy in Japan whose mother shares her memories of Christmas in California by bringing in a tree from their garden and decorating it with origami cranes and candles. To her, the holiday is about feelings of peace; nothing religious is mentioned. The illustrations, of course, are beautiful and capture the mood of the story.

A tree of Cranes is a story of an Asian boy who has his first Christmas. That morning he had done his usual routine he played at the pond his mother forbidden him to go. However, when he came home his mother was acting strange. She was making silver doves and then she went outside and dug up a tree they had planted when he was born. She then explained that in California she remembers the bright Christmas trees there and now she wanted to do this for her son.

This book has vividly illustration that helps unfold the story. Also, the book is multicultural and would be a great book to read aloud to children.

This is a good book for teachers to read if they have Asians in their class. Also, a good activity for parents to do with their kids is show more create their very own special ornament for their Christmas tree. show less

Faraway in Japan, a little boy breaks the rules. He knows he will be in trouble. When he returns home, he expects his mother to be waiting for him. Instead she ignores him. Is she really so angry she won't even talk to him? After a hot bath and a hot lunch, the little boy is sent to bed. Confused and hurt, he worries about his mother who seems so distant. Why is she acting so strangely?

Soon his mom returns with silver paper cranes, a little tree, and candles. Today is a very special day in the land where his mother grew up. It is Christmas. In the soft glow of candlelight, the little boy shares this special day of peace and love with his mother as she remembers her faraway home.

The Bottom Line: This sentimental tale celebrates the show more merging of two cultures. Say's gentle words combined with beautiful, soft watercolors highlights a time of peace, love, and hope as a mother shares a treasured tradition with her child. Highly recommended holiday reading for kids ages 4 - 8.

This review also appears at the Mini Book Bytes Book Review Blog. show less

I had mixed feelings about this book for a couple of reasons. I like the writing throughout the story because it is descriptive so if there were no illustrations in the book then you could still picture what the writing is saying. For example, outside, everything was covered with snow. That gives me a picture in my mind of the ground being covered in snow and tress. I didn’t like the book because the illustrations were really interesting to me. I guess because the illustrations weren’t really too colorful but more just plain. For example, in one illustration, the boy was just standing in a big, square tub. The colors were so plain and boring. They didn’t really attract my eye. I liked the meaning of this story which was just show more because you are from a different country, doesn’t mean you can`t learn the celebrations of the country you are in. You can mix the two celebrations and make it meaningful but putting in some of your culture in with the new culture you are learning. I enjoyed it also because the ending of the story really took me by surprise. show less

This was an exceptional book. It really brought up the issue of cultural education from another point of view, that of a Japanese mother teaching her son about an American custom, namely celebrating Christmas. It was a good book and I'd be open to sharing it with an audience of children as a means of opening a discussion of cultural differences and mutual respect. Also it's an unusual point of view for a Christmas story, one that would interest children.