The Yellow Jar by Patrick Atangan

book 2 of 4 for the Once Upon a Time II Challenge

This book is truly a work of art. Atangan's art is amazing - nearly every frame could be an 18th century Japanese woodblock print. The style of his drawings transports you to ancient Japan where you first follow the story of a fisherman's quest to save his wife (whom he found inside the yellow jar of the title) from a demon warrior. The second story is of a gardener who mistakes two beautiful flowers for weeds and learns his lesson in the end.

I liked the stories themselves because they are familiar - yet with a definite eastern flavor. The farmer, while plain at first, becomes a hero in the end. The gardener doesn't see what's under his nose. You still get the same messages about honesty and faithfulness, courage and rewards. I suppose by changing a few words or characters they could be any Disney story - but the artwork and those subtle variations make for a more flavorful book. The writing wasn't particularly thrilling (a bit too dry for younger readers, I'd say) but the stories were well told. In the end, though, it was the author's mastery of Japanese style that made this book a winner for me.

A fine taste of Japanese folklore and artwork. Left me wanting more. In fact, I just found out that Atangan has done two more books: one of Chinese folktales and one of folktales from India. And for your viewing pleasure, some art :)