BIBLIOGRAPHY
Say, Allen. 1991. TREE OF CRANES. Illus. by the author. Houghton Mifflin: Boston, MA. ISBN: 0-395-52024-X.
PLOT SUMMARY
A young boy disobeys his mother’s requests and is repeatedly playing in the pond with the carp. He knows his mother will be upset with him when he returns home. She places him in a hot bath, puts him in his nightclothes, makes him a hot meal, and sends him to bed. While his mother is upset, the son realizes that she is distracted by something. He sees his mother folding origami cranes and digging up a tree planted when he was born. His mother explains that when she was younger, she decorate a tree with candles and cranes. The two enjoy the flicker of the tree’s candlelight. The boy wishes for a kite to be under the tree in the morning. The mother requests that her son promises her that he will not return to the pond as her present. When the boy awakens, a kite is waiting for him. In haste, he runs out to use it but finds the world covered in snow and makes a snowman instead. This is a very special first Christmas family celebration.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
TREE OF CRANES is the story of a boy’s first Christmas. When the story begins, the readers may not be aware of this, but the author successfully weaves a tale of family and tradition.
The plot of this story is straightforward. A young boy goes to a forbidden pond. When he returns home, his mother behaves in a strange manner. He expects her to be upset. She does things that make him think she is upset, such as take a bath alone, eat rice gruel and put on his bedclothes early but does not show any angry emotion. She acts strangely and the boy watches her as she folds paper cranes, digs up a tree, and decorates it. The tale reaches its climax as the boy and his mother light the candles on the tree and make promises in the candlelight. The boy awakens in the morning to find the gift he wished for, a kite, but the snow on the ground prevents him from using it. Instead he builds a snowman with his father.
Although there are few characters, they are very well developed. The boy is transparent. The reader knows what he is thinking based on his facial expressions and reactions. He knows he should not be at the pond but cannot stay away. Still he fears consequence. This diminishes the stereotype that all Asian children are obedient and passive. This boy disobeys his mother repeatedly.
When he arrives home, he is greeted with an unexpected outcome. He is not sure if his mother is upset. She gives him a bath alone and sends him to bed but is not outwardly angry or disappointed. But she seems distracted. This behavior is disconcerting to the boy. He watches his mother dig up the tree that represents his long life. Readers are not explicitly told, but one can infer that the boy is troubled. Perhaps he feels his mother will disown him for his behavior. Fortunately, the boy’s mood is brightened as he and his mother share her memories of a California Christmas. While the specific setting of this story is not known, it is apparent that the mother lived in the United States as a girl. The readers could assume that this story occurs in Japan. The drawing of the house does not seem to show an American style. This Japanese woman could be an Asian American immigrant to Japan. This is fascinating twist!
The mother is an equally interesting character. It seems that she should be upset by her son’s disobedience. However, she does not yell or lecture the son, as many Western parents would. Rather she robotically goes through a ritual treating him as if he is sick and needs tending. Readers realize that perhaps she is simply distracted by her memories and work on the tree or perhaps she has an alternate plan to correct his disobedience. As the evening progresses, the mother reveals the meaning of the tree. She cleverly uses this opportunity to garner a promise from her son to never go to the pond again. The chill that fills the family’s home earlier is melted as if by the candles on the tree.
The theme of the story is one that is considered a common theme in Asian Pacific American literature. The mother is teaching her son about her family’s past tradition and bringing it to his generation. She is sharing this with her son but also with the readers as well. The mother chooses an inventive method to teach her son. She does not explain anything to him prior to her efforts. She simply begins working and leaves the boy to watch and wonder. This builds anticipation on the boy and in the reader. It is not until the last sentence of the text that the reader realizes that this is a Christmas celebration.
The illustrations are tremendous. They are vivid and detailed. The book consists of one page of text and an accompanying illustration that supports the text and furthers the reader’s understanding. First, the illustrations provide insight into a Japanese home. The window style, the decoration and furniture, and the clothing all reveal a glimpse into their lifestyle. When the boy is eating his food in his room, he is on a pallet on the floor. He eats his food with chopsticks. The bathtub is a large wooden box with a top on it. Clothing is also important. The mother and the son are both dresses in traditional clothing.
While depicting a Japanese home, Mr. Say is careful to avoid stereotypes and inaccuracy.
The mother and son look similar because they are related, not because they are fitting into a mold that states that “all Asians look alike”. Their facial features are distinguishing and intricate. The mother, son, and father have the same hair color but distinctive styles. Their clothing is colorful not drab or lifeless. It is interesting to note that the mother and son are dressed in traditional clothing while the father is dressed in a suit and tie. He is a professional man and dresses accordingly.
Other glimpses into the Japanese culture are written into the text. The reader is not told the age of the boy. Instead readers are told that this happened when the boy was “not yet old enough to wear long pants”. This is a unique phrasing. Western children wear pants at any age. Pants are not age specific. The boy eats rice gruel. Gruel is not commonly eaten in the United States. Most Americans may only think of gruel when they recall the musical OLIVER! This food is part of this family’s culture. The tree’s decorations are not typical Western Christmas tree decorations. They are unique to this woman’s family history. She was in California but still Japanese. This is a fantastic example of blending two cultures. One is not absorbed; they are mixed.
TREE OF CRANES is a touching and interesting story about a Japanese mother sharing her American childhood memories with her young son. This story would be an excellent addition to any library.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
From KIRKUS REVIEWS: “Say's exquisitely designed illustrations are as elegant as those for The Boy of the Three-Year Nap (1988, Caldecott Honor). Geometric forms in the austere Japanese architecture provide a serene background for softer lines defining the appealing little boy and his pensive mother.”
From BOOKLIST: “Infused with gentle nostalgia, the quiet, graciously told picture book is a perfect blend of text and art. Fine-lined and handsome, Say's watercolors not only capture fascinating details of the boy's far away home--his tall, wooden tub, his futon, his mother's tiny tree--but also depict, with simple grace, the rich and complex bond between mother and child that underlies the story.”
From PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY: “The story is a poignant one, illuminated with finely drawn illustrations reflecting the serenity of a Japanese home and the quiet love between mother and son.”
CONNECTIONS
Students will learn about origami. Then each student will make his/her own crane for a classroom Tree of Cranes.
http://www.biausa.org/elements/media/make_origami_crane.pdf
Origami
Students will participate in an author study on Allen Say. They will investigate his website. Students will listen to an interview with Mr. Say. After students have read this book, another Allen Say book will be selected. Students can compare and contrast the two books. How are they alike? Different?
Official Publisher's site for Allen Say
Allen Say Webcast (Library of Congress)
Allen Say Biography (Illustrator/Writer) — Infoplease.com
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