Paper boat, paper bird by David Almond. Illus. by Kirsti Beautyman

Award winning author David Almond has written another lyrical and memorable story set in Japan. Mina and her mother are visiting Kyoto and when she is travelling on a bus, she watches a woman make a beautiful origami boat. The woman generously gives it to her and makes a bird as well. Mina’s imagination soars as she sails the boat and flies the bird, leaving Kyoto behind.

Beautiful illustrations enhance the story, showing the vivid red boat and bird in the city and tourist attractions. The drawings are in black pencil against a white background with red as the predominant colour of the origami as well as in stripes on a shirt and skirt, fish, and cars.

The story is simple, yet lingers in the mind, leaving the reader with a desire to visit Japan and learn how to make origami. Words in Japanese are pronounced throughout the story and tourist spots are explored. Almond gives background to his visits to Japan over the years and to the origins of the story. There is an excerpt from Skellig, which will encourage the reader to revisit this Carnegie Medal, Whitbread Children's Book Award winning book, as well as My name is Mina where Mina was first introduced. 

Paper Boat, Paper Bird is a lovely introduction to Japan for children. Its warmth and emphasis on the imagination and creativity, make it a very positive feel-good experience, both as a read aloud and for the independent reader. Activity sheets and teacher's notes are available.

Themes: Japan, Travel, Origami.

Pat Pledger