THE CRANE WIFE

, , illus. by Gennady Spirin. . Harcourt/Voyager, $6 (32pp) ISBN 978-0-15-216350-1

Medieval Japan provides the backdrop for the classic tale of a sail maker who nurses a wounded crane to health. "Bodkin's finely tuned version abounds with drama and emotion in its rich presentation of morals, and near-perfect pacing sets the stage for the pathos of the ending," said PW in a starred review. "Spirin's compositions, filled with Japanese motifs and period details, cast an otherworldly mood." Ages 5-up. (Oct.)

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