There was a story that Mama read to Jiro:Once, in old Japan, a young woodcutter livedalone in a little cottage. One winter day hefound a crane struggling in a snare and set itfree.When Jiro looks out the window into Mr. Ozu’sgarden, he sees a crane and remembersthat story.Much like the crane, the legend comes tolife—and, suddenly, Jiro finds himself in aworld woven between dream and reality.Which is which?Allen Say creates a tale about many thingsat once: the power of story, the allure ofthe imagined, and the gossamer line betweentruth and fantasy. For who among us hasn’timagined ourselves in our own favoritefairy tale?
