A pair of mandarin ducks, separated by a cruel lord who wishes to possess the drake for his colorful beauty, reward a compassionate couple who risk their lives to reunite the ducks.
The Tale Of The Mandarin Ducks (Picture Puffins)
Japan
Materials from Japan
The Farmer And The Poor God: A Folktale From Japan
A poor god living in the attic of an unsuccessful family prepares to move with them and causes a reversal of their fortunes.
Maneki Neko: The Tale of the Beckoning Cat
This book retells the Japanese folktale about how the beckoning cat became a symbol of luck and prosperity in Japan.
Mad at Mommy
Little Bunny is VERY MAD at his mommy. She sleeps too late. She talks too much. She watches her silly shows instead of cartoons. And she gets mad for no reason — just a few little bubbles on the floor. The only thing left to do is run away. But does he really want to leave Mommy behind forever? With the charming illustrations and spot-on understanding of young children’s thinking that distinguished THE SNOW DAY and EMILY’S BALLOON, Komako Sakai brings us a REALLY ANGRY — and ultimately sweet — new story.
The Boy in the Garden
After Jiro encounters a life-like garden statue of a tall bird, he falls asleep and dreams of the story his mother once told him about a grateful crane.
Vermonia #3
The quest to save Vermonia continues! Fabulous manga artwork highlights this tale of four friends who hold the fate of three worlds in their hands. In part three of the Vermonia series, General Uro’s reign of terror spreads through the Turtle Realm. When the three skateboarders from the planet Blue Star–Doug, Naomi, and Jim—-are brought to a village burning under the evil Uro’s command, Naomi merges with her warrior spirit, the red phoenix, to help put out the flames. Now that the friends have the power of their guardian animals, they draw closer to finding and freeing Mel, who is trapped in a bubble guarded by one of General Uro’s brainwashed soldiers.
Vermonia #4
The quest to save Vermonia continues! Fabulous manga artwork highlights this tale of four friends who hold the fate of three worlds in their hands.The Four pillars supporting life in the Turtle Realm— fire, wind, water, and thunder— are under threat from General Uro’s army. Mel and her guardian, Ruka, remain imprisioned in the castle of Captain Acidulous. To rescue Mel and protect the pillars, Naomi, Doug, and Jim must dive deep into the Oritsa Ocean and join forces with the Aqami People. In this exciting fourth episode, the tribes of the Turtle Realm, led by the Blue Star Warriors, confront Uro’s dark Yami magic in two epic battles.
Across the Nightingale Floor (Tales of the Otori, Book 1)
This is the first book in a new epic trilogy that has already become a bestselling sensation in England and Australia, earning comparisons to The Lord of the Rings. It begins with the legend of a nightingale floor in a black-walled fortress-a floor that sings in alarm at the step of an assassin. It will take true courage and all the skills of an ancient Tribe for one orphaned youth named Takeo to discover the magical destiny that awaits him…across the nightingale floor.
See the review at WOW Review, Volume 3, Issue 1
Blood Ninja
Is Taro, a fisherman’s son, destined for greatness? In the course of a day, Taro’s entire life changes: His father is murdered before his eyes, and Taro is taken by a mysterious ninja on a perilous journey toward safety. Someone wants Taro dead, but who — and why? With his best friend, Hiro, and their ninja guide Shusaku, Taro gets caught in the crossfire of a bitter conflict between rival lords for control of imperial Japan. As Taro trains to become a ninja himself, he’s less and less sure that he wants to be one. But when his real identity is revealed, it becomes impossible for Taro to turn his back on his fate.
Vermonia #2: Call of the Winged Panther
The epic quest to save Vermonia continues! Four friends set out to find their true warrior spirits in a graphic tale featuring fabulous manga artwork.Doug, Jim, and Naomi continue their quest to save their friend Mel and the world of Vermonia from the clutches of evil General Uro. After defeating Sassella, the Stone Monster who turns everything she touches to stone, the three friends, along with the help of Rainbow and Fly, journey to the Telaam village. Meanwhile, Jim must answer the call of his spirit guide and protector, Suiran, the Winged Panther, by defeating the sea monster Ickhaby. Once released from his spell, Suiran grants Jim his protection and his powers of flight through the gift of a charmed bracelet. The friends reunite in the village of the Telaam, where the Seer Hanata, keeper of the Vermonia tarot cards, divines the future fate of the four young warriors from Blue Star and predicts a difficult yet promising path to rescuing Mel and returning Vermonia to the peaceful rule of Queen Frasinella.