I am searching for the title of a child's book, and then the book
itself, published between the 60's and 70's. The book features water
color illustrations with a strong asian influence; the story is about a
girl who weeves beautiful silk fabric on a loom (the loom's sounds are
referenced a lot). Eventually you find out when the girl locks herself
away to weave, she becomes a swan weaving her feathers to make the
fabric. Please help me find this book!

efv-ga,

I knew this book sounded familiar but I was having a lot of trouble
finding it. Turns out I was looking for the wrong kind of bird. :)

The story you refer to is based on an old Japanese folktale about a
crane who becomes either a woman or a young girl and weaves her
feathers into cloth. Given the time period you mentioned, it's
probably this version you're looking for:

"The Crane Maiden" by Miyoko Matsutani (1968)
http://s1.amazon.com/exec/varzea/ts/exchange-glance/Y03Y6527695Y9628584/
(includes a scan of the cover)

There are many copies of this book available at
http://www.alibris.com/ . Just search on the title.


Other versions:

"The Crane Maiden"
Amergin Press
http://www.amergin.net/maiden.html (online text)

"The Crane Wife" by Odds Bodkin (2001)
Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0152163506/

"The Crane Wife" by Sukima Yagawa (1981)
Norfolk Public Library
http://www.npl.lib.va.us/cove/books/Yagawa_dhtml.shtml

"The Crane's Gift" by Steve and Megumi Biddle (1994)
Penguin Readers
http://www.penguinreaders.com/asp/detail.asp?ProdID=451
Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1569579326/


Hope that helps! If the book you remember isn't one of the versions
linked above, let me know.

liza-ga


Search terms:
book girl weaving silk feathers

---

Clarification of Answer by liza-ga on 18 Jun 2002 12:09 PDT

I forgot to mention the other search terms I used, after I realized
the bird was a crane:

* crane silk girl feathers
* japanese folktale crane cloth