Tsunami!

Tsunami!: The Story

Both the story by Kimiko Kajikawa and the artwork by Ed Young in the picture book Tsunami! are strong enough to stand alone, but together, they create a memorable experience for the reader. The story begins quietly with the words, "Long ago in Japan, there was a wise old rice farmer who lived near the sea" and a striking collage of a peaceful scene looking down from the mountain on which the man's cottage stands over the fields to the village and the sea. The old man, known as Ojiisan ("grandfather") is, through a simple act that takes all of his wealth, to become a hero to all who know him and to be remembered in folklore by future generations.

A feeling of unease keeps Objiisan home from the rice harvest celebration in the village and his grandson, Tada, stays with him. A double-page spread shows a colorful celebration in the village while the story tells us that a mild earthquake has hit. The story and the artwork get more and more dramatic as Objiisan realizes that a life-threatening tsunami is on its way and the villagers are too far away to hear his warning. Rather than giving up, Objiisan sets fire to his rice to get the villagers' attention.

When they rush up the mountain to help, the villager are shocked to learn Objiisan set the fire. They don't understand why until the tsunami strikes the village with a boom and a roar. At this point, the artwork takes center stage as the giant wave, the villagers rushing up the mountain through the turbulent spray of water, and the destruction of the village are depicted in a series of double-page spreads that churn with ominous movement.

As the sea became calm again, the villagers realized what Ojiisan had sacrificed for them. "His wealth was gone. But he had saved 400 lives." The villagers never forget what Ojiisan did for them. This is a wonderful story with magnificent illustrations.

The illustrations were created in gouache, pastel and collage. The story was adapted from Lafcadio Hearn's story "A Living God" from Gleanings in Buddha-Fields, published in 1897.

The Author of Tsunami, Kimiko Kajikawa

According to the publisher of Tsunami, “Kimiko Kajikawa is the daughter of an American father and a Japanese mother, and she credits her family for inspiring much of her writing.” Her other picture books include Close to You — How Animals Bond, Sweet Dreams — How Animals Sleep, and Yoshi’s Feast. Kimiko Kajikawa has written additional children’s books under the name Evelyn Clarke Mott.

The Illustrator of Tsunami!, Ed Young

Ed Young has illustrated more than 80 books and is also the author of 17 of them. Young was born in Tientsin, China and grew up in Shanghai. He later moved to Hong Kong. Ed Young initially came to the United States to study architecture but instead became a visual artist. He graduated from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. His artwork reflects the different cultures in which he has lived, particularly that of China.

Ed Young's picture book, Wabi Sabi, by Mark Reibstein, is on my list of the Best Illustrated Children's Books of 2008. His stunning Beyond the Great Mountains: A Visual Poem About China is on my list of Children’s Books Adults Will Love. Young won the Caldecott Medal for Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China and two of his books have been recognized as Caldecott Honor Books: The Emperor and the Kite and Seven Blind Mice.

Tsunami!: My Recommendation

I believe that a wide range of ages will enjoy both the story and the dramatic illustrations in Tsunami!. The words and the artwork combine to create a story that grips the reader's imagination and emotions. I recommend Tsunami! for children six and older, as well as teens and adults. (Philomel Books, A Division of Penguin Young Reader Group, 2009. ISBN: 9780399250064)