The Man Who Sang to Ghosts: A Japanese Legend, Retold from the Story of Hoichi and Based on The Tale of the Heike - Hardcover

Shepard, Aaron

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1620355701 ISBN 13: 9781620355701

Publisher: Skyhook Press, 2018

Synopsis

A young, blind bard counts himself lucky when invited to live with the monks at a prominent Buddhist temple -- and more lucky still when asked to perform his epic verses at the court of a high-ranking lord. But why is his noble audience so violently moved by his tales of long-dead heroes?
 
For ages 10 and up. Not illustrated!
 
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Aaron Shepard is the award-winning author of "The Baker's Dozen," "The Sea King's Daughter," "Lady White Snake," and many more children's books. His stories have appeared often in Cricket magazine, while his Web site is known internationally as a prime resource for folktales, storytelling, and reader's theater. Once a professional storyteller, Aaron specializes in lively retellings of folktales and other traditional literature, which have won him honors from the American Library Association, the New York Public Library, the Bank Street College of Education, the National Council for the Social Studies, and the American Folklore Society.
 
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SAMPLE
 
Hearing something, Hoichi stopped his playing and listened. Through the night came footsteps, measured by a steady CLANK, CLANK -- the sound of armor.
 
A samurai coming to the temple, thought Hoichi. What could he want at this hour?
 
The footsteps moved through the back gate of the temple and across the garden. CLANK, CLANK. They were coming straight toward him! As the young man's heart beat faster, the footsteps halted before the veranda.
 
"Hoichi!"
 
"Sir!" replied the young man. Then he added, "Please, sir, I am blind. I cannot see who you are."
 
"You have nothing to fear," said the voice. "My master, a lord of high rank, is lodging nearby. He came to visit Dan-no-ura, the scene of the famous battle. Now he hears of your talent in reciting the tale of the Heike. He wishes you to come at once to perform for himself and his attendants."
 
"I am most honored," said Hoichi.
 
The young man slung his biwa on his back and slipped into his straw sandals. Then his arm was clasped in a grip of iron, and he was led rapidly away.
 

 

About this title

From the Author

SAMPLE Hearing something, Hoichi stopped his playing and listened. Through the night came footsteps, measured by a steady CLANK, CLANK -- the sound of armor. A samurai coming to the temple, thought Hoichi. What could he want at this hour? The footsteps moved through the back gate of the temple and across the garden. CLANK, CLANK. They were coming straight toward him! As the young man's heart beat faster, the footsteps halted before the veranda. "Hoichi!" "Sir!" replied the young man. Then he added, "Please, sir, I am blind. I cannot see who you are." "You have nothing to fear," said the voice. "My master, a lord of high rank, is lodging nearby. He came to visit Dan-no-ura, the scene of the famous battle. Now he hears of your talent in reciting the tale of the Heike. He wishes you to come at once to perform for himself and his attendants." "I am most honored," said Hoichi. The young man slung his biwa on his back and slipped into his straw sandals. Then his arm was clasped in a grip of iron, and he was led rapidly away. 

From the Inside Flap

THE SKYHOOK WORLD CLASSICS SERIES BY AARON SHEPARD #1 ~ THE MOUNTAIN OF MARVELS: A Celtic Tale of Magic, Retold from The Mabinogion. The story of the magical lady Rhiannon, the king who loved her, and the magician who hated and aimed to destroy them. #2 ~ THE SONGS OF POWER: A Finnish Tale of Magic, Retold from the Kalevala. In a story born in the time of shamans, two magical heroes vie for the hand of a maiden and wind up battling her mother, whose powers rival their own. #3 ~ THE MAGIC FLYSWATTER: A Superhero Tale of Africa, Retold from the Mwindo Epic. Mwindo's father, the chief, never wanted a son and tries to get rid of him -- but Mwindo has other ideas, as well as the powers to make them happen. #4 ~ THE MONKEY KING: A Superhero Tale of China, Retold from The Journey to the West. From a comic epic about one of the most popular characters of all time. When Monkey decides he wants to become a god, Heaven had better watch out! #5 ~ THE SWAN KNIGHT: A Medieval Legend, Retold from Wagner's "Lohengrin." In a boat pulled by a swan, a knight arrives to rescue and marry a duke's daughter -- but only if she promises never to ask his name. OTHER CHAPTER BOOKS BY AARON THE MAN WHO SANG TO GHOSTS: A Japanese Legend, Retold from the Story of Hoichi and Based on "The Tale of the Heike." A blind bard meets the ghostly heroes of his own songs. TIMOTHY TOLLIVER AND THE BULLY BASHER. A modern retelling of the Golem legend. Fourth-grade inventor Timothy Tolliver finds a way to bring his robot to life to protect him and his friend from bullies -- if only now he can keep it under control.  

Edition details

• Publisher: Skyhook Press
• Publication date: 2018
• ISBN 10: 1620355701
• ISBN 13: 9781620355701
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 40