Momotaro and the Island of Ogres (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9780807615522)

The amazing adventures of Momotaro, a boy found inside a peach and raised by an elderly couple, is one of Japan's most popular folktales. An exquisite handscroll painted by Kano Naganobu (1775-1828) contains one of the finest illustrated versions of the tale known today. The illustrations are reproduced in their entirety as the story follows Momotaro's journey to the terrifying Island of Ogres. After befriending a dog, a monkey, and a pheasant, Momotaro crosses the sea with his new companions and lays siege to the demons' fearsome mountain fortress. The battle is a fierce one, but Momotaro and his friends prevail; they recover the demon's ill-gotten treasure and restore it to its rightful owners.

One of the first Japanese folktales to have been translated into English, the story of Momotaro is a delightful and lively voyage of the imagination that can be enjoyed by young and old alike. A lengthy postscript to the tale looks at the tradition of illustrated folk stories in Japan, with examples of Momotaro pictures and related imagery in various forms of art, including painting and woodblock printing. The career of the artist, Kano Naganobu, and the artistic climate in which he worked are also reviewed.

Author: Stephanie Wada
ISBN-10: 0807615528
ISBN-13: 9780807615522
Publisher: George Braziller
Language: English
Published: 05/17/2005
Pages: 47
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.30lbs
Size: 8.78h x 12.32w x 0.48d

Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Review - Children 05/01/2005 pg. 548
Booklist 05/15/2005 pg. 1655
School Library Journal 08/01/2005 pg. 149
Hornbook Guide to Children 07/01/2005 pg. 356 - Recommended, Satisfactory
Multicultural Review 05/01/2006 pg. 64
Library Journal 08/02/2005