One day the stranger comes back, to be greeted as a long lost friend. Just look at these details of the people relaxing at the restaurant. People start coming to the restaurant again, enjoying themselves eating, drinking and dancing. This magic dancing crane becomes the wonder of the neighbourhood. It is a magic crane which will turn real and dance if you clap your hands: To repay their kindness the stranger folds them a little paper crane. I’ve cropped this image to fit it in, but in the original you can see the father’s satisfaction with this oppertunity to fulfill his role again. Despite his beggar like appearance the father serves him as an honoured guest. The little boys concern is not mentioned in the text, but it is there in the pictures. Things change when a bypass diverts traffic away, and people stop coming to eat at his restaurant. Many people visit, and the father is happy and busy. The story in short: The Paper Crane is a story about a father and son. And its well worth the read, for insight into the creative process of image making or writing, as well as teaching. She writes about the process of creating this the Paper Crane on this page. I’ve not been that aware of Molly Bang before, but she is an intriguing combination of artist, writer and teacher.

What could be a more satisfying medium for this story than to tell it in pictures made up of folded and cut paper and collage? I love the freshness of the storytelling, the sensitivity and beauty of the artwork, and the quiet joy it radiates. For me, one such new discovery is “the Paper Crane ” by Molly Bang. Dont you just love an excuse to sort through your book collections? To be paging through old battered survivors of childhood, as well as look at new discoveries.

The paper crane by molly bang