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

www.HatchAcademy.com

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

Happy Holidays

from

Idlewild

May your dreams and hopes come true.

Penny Whistle Class at the University of Utah - Life Long Learning

If you've ever wanted to learn the Penny Whistle now may be the time. Instructor David Sharp. We will study music from the Celtic countries, England and Europe. Song airs and traditional dance tunes. Bring a D Whistle to the class.


http://continue.utah.edu/lifelong/class/llmt_440_penny_whistle

The Chicken Manifesto

Chicken Manifesto

I went to feed my Chickens in their Chicken Coop you see

when suddenly I’d a notion just to set my Chickens free.

Chicken’s in the Barnyard, Chickens in the street;

Chicken’s at the neighbors house finding what to eat.

Chickens riding subways, driving Cars in town,

Chickens in the Super Market, running round and round.

Chickens wearing sneakers, walking down the street;

Smiling and they’re waving at everyone they meet.

Chickens in the bread pan kicking out the dough;

Chickens stuffing pillows with feathers don’t you know.

Boneless Chickens, chicken pox, chickens aching back;

Chickens in the doctor’s office, some say he’s a quack.

Chickens riding skateboards, betting at the track;

The Banks they have no money, just bird seed in a sack.

There’s Chickens in the Library, Chickens in the schools’

Chickens that are scientists and Chickens that are fools.

Chickens need no Oil Wells no New-cler energy;

Won’t be no more frakin, cause Chicken poop is free.

Chickens in the legislature, House and Congress too

Chickens declaring peace on Earth, no more Chicken Stew.

by David Spalding Sharp

copyright 2012

Lifelong Learning Intro to Mountain Dulcimer | Continuing Education at the University of Utah

Lifelong Learning Intro to Mountain Dulcimer | Continuing Education at the University of Utah

Colonel John Francis Sharp MD and family

 

 

 

My Grandfather Colonal John Francis Sharp - Commanding officer of the Army Hospital Unit from Utah. Seen here before heading off to establish a field hospital in the conflict with Pancho Villa, near the Mexican border. He was the units commander during World War I as well. My Grandfather is holding Uncle Gil, who later taught at the New York Art Academy with Uncle Mahonri Young. Standing next to him is his wife Sally Luella Ferin Sharp, who was a Handcart Pioneer descendent and star Soprano of the Salt Lake Oprea Company. She was a favorite student of Madame Von Klenner where Colonel Sharp and she met in New York while taking instruction from her. The oldest child, front and center is Marion, who later was a fulbright in Opera, and member of the Paris and San Francisco Opera Companies. The tallest boy next to her was Klink (Klenner), named after Madame von Klenner and Bones (Harlow), my fathers older brothers and Naval Doctors in the Pacific in WWII. In the foreground is Aunt Martha, she later married Wallice Toronto and wrote a book called "A Cherry Tree grows behind the Iron Curtain". This picture was taken in Liberty Park, Salt Lake City, Utah, circa 1916.

 

 

 

Unkown Union band in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. I like the Chinese paper lanterns in the foreground and the banner in German with Gothic lettering behind the band. They have a Banjo player, and I love Banjos.....

Salt Lake may have been more ethically diverse in the early days than people today realize. The date on the picture says 1918, the union came here in 1902 one hundred and ten years ago.

Trom the archives of the American Federation of Musicians, Local 104 photo archives.

D. Sharp