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Hachiko : The True Story of a Loyal Dog (Bccb Blue Ribbon Picture Book Awards (Awards)) :: 0618140948
Description
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Imagine walking to the same place every day, to meet your best friend. Imagine watching hundreds of people pass by every morning and every afternoon. Imagine waiting, and waiting, and waiting. For ten years. This is what Hachiko did.
Hachiko was a real dog who lived in Tokyo, a dog who faithfully waited for his owner at the Shibuya train station long after his owner could not come to meet him. He became famous for his loyalty and was adored by scores of people who passed through the station every day. This is Hachiko"s story through the eyes of Kentaro, a young boy whose life is changed forever by his friendship with this very special dog.
Simply told, and illustrated with Yan Nascimbene"s lush watercolors, the legend of Hachiko will touch your heart and inspire you as it has inspired thousands all over the world.Editorial Descriptions are usually submitted by the manufacturers, publishers and authors. Contact us if you are one of them, and wish to change the above description. |
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Author: Guest
This is a well known old story in Japan. It is a sad, but beautiful story of a friendship with a human and dog. Hachiko is a Akita that somewhat stubborn but truly royal disposition. He was waiting his owner even in a cold snow day until he died.
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Author: Guest
A parent was speaking to me the other day in my library (I'm a children's librarian, you see) and she wanted some nice picture books on dogs for her child. Naturally my mind jumped to such modern day classics as Bob Graham's, "Let's Get a Pup, Said Kate". "No", the parent said. "Something about a real dog". That's a significantly more difficult request. Right off the top of my head I had a hard time thinking up any seriously well-written non-fiction doggish titles. We scanned the 636.7's, when my eye alighted on a very new book indeed. I suggested, "Hachiko: The True Story of a Loyal Dog" without hesitation. After all, it had appeared on the New York Public Library's list of the great children's books of 2004. However, when I described the plot the patron pooh-poohed it as "depressing". And since I had not actually read the book myself, I was powerless to disagree. Now I come back to "Hachiko", having read it at long last, and I'm mighty sad that I wasn't able to defend it to the dog-seeking patron. Though containing sad elements, the book is a loving testament to one canine's love for his master.
Our hero is Hachiko, a large Akita dog that was owned and loved by its master, Dr. Ueno. Through the eyes of a small boy we see the dog return to the railroad station every day to wait for Dr. Ueno when he steps off the train from work. The boy loves the dog but is content to simply pet and hug it at the station. One day, the boy hears terrible news. Dr. Ueno has passed away, and naturally the boy's first question is, "What will happen to Hachiko?". Some kind relatives attempt to take the dog in, but to their surprise Hachiko continues to wait at the station every day for his lost master. For almost ten years, faithful Hachiko would wait for Dr. Ueno to come home. No one knows the dog's motivation, or if it really understood what it was waiting for. After its death, however, the people of the town raised the money to create a large bronze statue of the pup in its honor. A replica of that statue stands in the Shibuya Station of Tokyo to this day.
Okay, so maybe the whole idea of a dog waiting for its master to come home for years and years, not realizing that he's dead, is sad. But it's also the perfect material for a children's picture book. Not surprisingly, his tale was co-opted not only for this book but also for the slightly older reader, "Hachiko Waits" by Leslea Newman. But how well does it work here? First, I was surprised that it was categorized as non-fiction. Though the tale of the dog is true, the aspect of the boy who interacts with him was made up for the purpose of the story. The book is a bit sparse and formal as well. Long blocks of text will run on one page while the facing page shows a large full-page illustration or just a little picture with a sentence. This means that kids will probably have to have this book read to them, rather than the other way around. I could've enjoyed a more creative layout here. Fortunately, Yan Nascimbene's illustrations are lovely. Hachiko himself, oddly, looks a bit stiff for a hero. But the cherry blossoms, darkening evening scenes, and general feel is beautiful to the eye. It may be a little formal for a children's picture book, but no one can argue with its attractive qualities.
In a way, I don't blame the mother who wasn't inclined towardds the book. The audience for, "Hachiko" is a select one. But it truly is a lovely story, and one that I hope many kids will get a chance to hear at some point in their lives. Though not the most inviting package, it delivers a sweet emotional punch.
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Author: Guest
Hachiko is a young puppy who lives with his owner, Professor Ueno. Everyday when Professor Ueno goes off to work the dog is there to tell him goodbye. He waits for his owner at the train station all day long. One day the Professor Ueno dies while away at work. Hachiko waits for him still, ten years pass by. This story is told from the point of view of a young boy who witnessed this love and devotion.
This was a unique story. I had heard of it before so it was nice to see it told in picture book form.
I would recommend this book to all dog lovers. It's a very inspiring story.
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Author: Guest
THe true story of Hachiko is beautifully crafted in Pamela Turner's retelling. The little boy Kentaro, and his friendship with Hachiko a loyal dog, resonate with character, without being sentimental. Turner's poetic writing is complemented perfectly by Yan Nascimbene's deceptively simple illustrations, it has a timeless quality.My little boy (4) absolutely adores this gentle story, it will be a favourite with both of us for many years to come. I highly recommend it for children of any age.
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Author: Guest
In simple yet elegant prose, Turner tells the touching story of Hachiko, the loyal dog. Her writing is perfectly balanced by Nascimbene's delicate watercolor illustrations. It's hard to imagine any animal lover not being moved by this book.
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