Great Grandfather's House

From Publishers Weekly Keiko, a cosmopolitan and somewhat spoiled Japanese girl, has made up her mind not to enjoy herself well before she arrives at her great-grandparents' house in the country, where she must spend the next three months while her parents go to England. Keiko scorns the old-fashioned rural ways and pokes fun at her younger cousin Yoji, who is small for his age; nonetheless, the city girl finds it hard to resist Grandfather's spellbinding stories, Yoji's imaginative games and the abundant wonders of nature, all of which replace Keiko's transistor and mechanical toy as prime sources of entertainment. Strict discipline and Old Mother's unending patience gradually teach the stubborn protagonist the value of courtesy, prudence and self-restraint. Cheerfully accented by Littlewood's alluring illustrations, the masterly Godden's prose expresses the beauty of Japanese traditions as preserved in modern society. As winsome as the characters are the evocative images: nutshell boats floating down a stream, delicate teacups set out for a party, a frozen bird in the snow. The taste of this atmospheric work will linger. Ages 6-up. Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. From School Library Journal Grade 3-5-- Keiko, a spoiled and self-centered child, must spend three months with her grandmother and great grandfather in rural Japan. Even before she arrives, she decides she doesn't like Great Grandfather's house, and indeed life there is very different from that in the crowded city. She must keep her room tidy; help gather eggs; and learn to walk, talk, and eat with a modicum of decorum. Her cousin Yoji, a sweet-natured, imaginative little boy with an affinity for small wild creatures, helps Keiko appreciate both creative play and the peaceful, old-fashioned customs that their grandparents observe (though set in contemporary Japan, there is an Old-World feel to this book). Yoji is almost too noble a character, and one can almost forgive Keiko's jealous rages against him, especially since, in a subtle way, he is as bossy as she is overbearing. In the end, the two children help each other, and Keiko, who now loves Great Grandfather's house, doesn't want to leave it. She has learned to think of others during her stay in the gentle surroundings; happily, however, she retains some of her impulsive nature and much of her feistiness. Littlewood's delicate and often humorous illustrations provide a perfect complement to Godden's story. --Carla Kozak, San Francisco Public LibraryCopyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.