Description

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Follow the travels of 17th century Japanese poet, Basho, through the beautiful and immersive writing of Dawnine Spivak paired with vivid illustrations by Demi.

Grass Sandals is the story of Basho—one of the best-loved poets in the history of Japan—and his journeys on foot around his home. Simple and observant, this book gives glimpses into the ancient culture of Japan, as well as a sense of what it is to be a poet, as the people and experiences that Basho enjoys find their way into his haiku.

Children will be charmed by Basho’s walking journey, his tenderness and scant belongings, and his attention to the small details of life.

About the Author

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Dawnine Spivak is living and writing in Vermont.  She lives in rented farmhouses where old maples line the dirt road, near violet mountains where cold and poverty protect the beauty of the land.  She has taught the Japanese novel and poetry at Hobart and William Smith Colleges.  Presently Dawnine teaches literature at Sterling College and was a recent member of the Vermont Anti-Hunger Corps.

Demi is the award-winning creator of numerous books for children, including The Empty Pot; Buddha; The Dalai Lama; The Legend of Saint Nicholas; Gandhi, which was named a New York Times Best Illustrated Book and received an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award; and Muhammad, which was named a Kirkus Reviews Editors’ Choice selection, a Booklist Editors’ Choice selection, one of the Booklist Top Ten Religion Books for Youth, and a Book Links “Lasting Connections” selection, and was cited in a Publishers Weekly starred review as a “timely, exceptionally handsome biography [that] serves as an excellent introduction to Islam.” Demi lives in Carnation, Washington.