Thursday, December 27, 2012

Book Review - Taro-San the Fisherman and the Weeping Willow Tree by Richard Hatch

Review:
By David Sharp
Taro-san the Fisherman and the Weeping Willow Tree
Author Richard Hatch
Illustrated by Andras Balogh
Translated by Yokishige Kadoya

Taro-san the Fisherman and the Weeping Willow Tree is a beautiful children’s book that should be in every library and for that matter every home where intelligent parents wish to have quality cross cultural education and enchanting stories for their children.

Every page has thoughtful narration of a gentle story of the dream of Taro-san to become a fisherman. The magic of the Kanji characters painted with a brush on the hull of the boat, cast a spell to disguise it as the Willow Tree where Taro-san caught fish as a child. Yokishige Kadoya has made the translations next to the English text of the story written by Richard Hatch. Japanese Kanji characters with English show children the cross cultural nature of language. It also gives this book appeal, to be read to children in Japan as well.

The masterful Illustrations are by Andras Balogh and remind one of the beautiful water colors and block prints of Japanese master artist Hokusai during the Edo Period. (circa, 1830)

In addition to having written this wonderful book, Richard Hatch is one of the most incredible Magicians in the country. He combines storytelling with magic. Richard and his wife do a live version with the “Nankin Tamasudare”, in which a bamboo mat is transformed into a myriad of figures to illustrate the story. Rosemary Hatch performs music on the Violin to match the narration and punctuate the magical transformations for Richard’s story.

Enchantment is the best word to describe this book and its author. A must have for any children’s library, and if you get to see the live show with magic as well you are fortunate indeed.

Published by
The Hatch Academy of Music and Magic
Copyright @ Richard Hatch2012

By David Sharp
Proprietor DBA Idlewild and Idlewild Recordings L L C
Member of the Utah Storytelling Guild
Business Agent of the American Federation of Musicians, Local 104

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