Tsunami! - A Memorable New Book
Monday November 2, 2009
The picture book Tsunami! is the dramatic story of a tsunami and one man's sacrifice that saves all of the people in a Japanese village threatened by the giant waves. Both the story by Kimiko Kajikawa and the striking artwork by Ed Young are strong enough to stand alone, but together, they create a memorable experience for the reader. I recommend Tsunami! for children six and older, as well as teens and adults. Ed Young's picture book Wabi Sabi, by Mark Reibstein, is on my list of the Best Illustrated Children's Books of 2008.
(Cover art courtesy of Penguin)
Unfortunately, every able-bodied man & only a few such women would rush to the fire up the hill. Yes, he saved them, but most of their loved ones would be killed.
Unless the book handles the above sensibly, the story will allow children to not consider consequences properly. Parents who read with their children should point that out.
Reading should be about thinking through what one reads, and how it applies to the real world, not simply immersing oneself in a contrived world where superficial happy outcomes simply make one feel good.