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PrintCollection Name: Drachen Foundation Collection
Collection Number: 2391
Post Type: Book
This item was entered by Matthew Sutton. They assume full responsibility for all content.
Artist or Author: Mercer Mayer
Creation Year: 1999
Length: 0.00
Height: 0.00
Width: 0.00
Summay:
ISBN: 0-7614-5054-8 Language: English Description: "She says she will not come down until
the city below her is as beautiful as
the palace, or the palace is as squalid
as the city."
This is the message that Shibumi,
daughter of the emperor, passes down to
her father as she dangles from a majestic
kite that flies high above the city. Raised
within the walls of the beautiful palace,
the princess has always believed that
the city beyond her walled garden is
even more lovely. When she discovers
that it is, in fact, a horrible place, she
wonders how her world and the one
outside can be so different. And she
devises a plan to end the suffering.
With the royal kitemaker's assistance,
Shibumi flies a magnificent kite from the
castle tower, vowing not to come down
until the emperor agrees to her
demands. But her father's greedy nobles
interfere and both the princess and the
kitemaker are lost to the winds. In his
profound grief, the emperor resolves to
fulfill her wishes, and works day and
night to improve the lives of his people.
As the years pass, the emperor grows
old and tired, and often wonders, "Am I
doing all this for nothing? I f only my
daughter were here."
One day a young samurai determines
to find the princess, and he sets out on
a long and difficult journey which
eventually brings Shibumi back to her
father and a transformed city.
In eloquent text, Mercer Mayer captures
the rich imagery and profound symbolism
of an enchanting, original fairy tale. Glowing,
full-color paintings transport readers to a
beautiful, haunting province they will want
to return to again and again, uncovering
new wonders every time.
43 pages
Geographic: Japan
Materials: Paper
Images: (Click to open in viewer.)
