Kamishibai Man

Author: Allen Say
Illustrator: Allen Say
Publisher: Walter Lorraine Books
Copyright Date: 2005
Number of Pages: 32
Reading Level: Ages 9-12





Summary:
In this story an old Japanese couple lives with no children. One day the old man says that he wants to go our on rounds. He was an old kamishibai man. He banged his wooden blocks together to invite the crowd and began telling his story of how he used to tell stories to many children. How he would give candies out and tell his many stories. Then one day the television was invented. Fewer and fewer children listened to his story until there was only one left, the poor boy that could never afford to buy candies. That was the last day that the man had told any stories until that day. Then a man proclaimed that he was that boy. When the old man looked up he saw that a huge crowd of adults had gathered around him and listened to his story. They were so pleased because they had been the children that used to listen to him. They had grown up with the mans stories. They requested their favorite stories. That night when the man went home his wife asked if he would be going out the next day. He proclaimed that he would be and he asked her to make him more candies to give out.

Personal Response:
This was a great story that is very informative about a different culture, the Japanese. It is a wonderful description of what life was like before television. The illustrations are beautifully made and they do a great job at supporting the story and adding to it.

Potential Problems
I couldn't find any problems with this children's book.

Recommended to...
I would recommend this book to children that are interested in other cultures. I would also recommend this book for parents to read this book to children that watch too much television, so they can see what life was like before television.