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Interviews | October 6, 2009

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This title in other formats:

Wabi Sabi

by Mark Reibstein

Wabi Sabi Cover

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

Wabi Sabi, a little cat in Kyoto, Japan, had never thought much about her name until friends visiting from another land asked her owner what it meant. At last, the master says, "That's hard to explain." And that is all she says.

This unsatisfying answer sets Wabi Sabi on a journey to uncover the meaning of her name, and on the way discovers what wabi sabi is: a Japanese philosophy of seeing beauty in simplicity, the ordinary, and imperfection.

Using spare text and haiku, Mark Reibstein weaves an extraordinary story about finding real beauty in unexpected places. Caldecott Medal-winning artist Ed Young complements the lyrical text with breathtaking collages. Together, they illustrate the unique world view that is wabi sabi. Wabi Sabi is a unique picture book that clearly explains a new way of seeing the world to readers.

Review:

"A glorious piece of bookmaking whose subject and execution will reach a wide age range." Booklist (Starred Review)

Review:

"Reibstein's plain yet poetic text...works harmoniously with Young's deceptively simple, vertically oriented collages of natural and manmade materials to create their own wabi sabi. Simply beautiful." Kirkus Reviews

Review:

"Wabi Sabi's quest and the splendid pictures will please younger children....The rest of us will be better prepared to appreciate the subtle interconnections among dialogue, poetry and collages fashioned from 'time-worn human-made as well as natural materials.'" Joanna Rudge Long, The New York Times Book Review

Review:

"Young's beautiful collages have an almost 3-D effect and perfectly complement the spiritual, lyrical text. While the story of Wabi Sabi's journey will hold some appeal for younger children, this is a book to be savored and contemplated..." School Library Journal

Synopsis:

Written in lyrical, spare text and haiku, and accompanied by breathtaking collage art by Caldecott Medalist Ed Young, this book follows a little cat in Japan as she searches for the meaning of her name — but finds much more.

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About the Author

Mark Reibstein is an English teacher and writer who has lived in New York, California, Hawaii, Japan, and Thailand. Now Mark and his daughter live near San Francisco with their good friend Arlo, who is also a cat. This is his first picture book.

Ed Young has illustrated for over 70 books and has been awarded the Caldecott Medal for Lon Po Po and the Caldecott Honors for Seven Blind Mice and The Emperor and the Kite. He lives in upstate New York with his daughters.

What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 1 comment:
Lola Foster, May 12, 2009 (view all comments by Lola Foster)
Wabi Sabi is a must-own book for both adults & children. The Japanese concept "wabi-sabi" has received popular attention in a variety of books in recent years. This simple yet profound book is sufficient to inspire philosophically and visually. Get it!!
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(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)

Product Details

ISBN:
9780316118255
Author:
Reibstein, Mark
Publisher:
Little, Brown Young Readers
Illustrator:
Young, Ed
Subject:
Animals
Subject:
Cats
Subject:
Animals - Cats
Subject:
People & Places - United States - Asian American
Subject:
Japan
Publication Date:
October 2008
Binding:
Hardcover
Language:
English
Illustrations:
Y
Pages:
40
Dimensions:
1139x1126x45 135
Age Level:
04-06

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