A boy helps an injured crane, and the good deed is rewarded with the arrival of a mysterious guest who weaves beautiful silk for the family. Includes author's note about Japanese folktales and poetry, information about red-crowned cranes, and pronunciations.

Shiori, princess of Kiata, has a secret: Forbidden magic runs through her veins. On the morning of her betrothal ceremony she loses control, and it forestalls the wedding she never wanted-- but it also catches the attention of Raikama, her stepmother. Using a dark magic of her own, Raikama banishes the princess, turns her brothers into cranes, and warns Shiori that for with every word that escapes her lips, one of her brothers will die. Peniless,...

A lonely girl finds a friend when she and her grandfather rescue a wounded crane.

"As this wordless story opens, a crane lays an egg and contentedly sits on it. But when a gust of wind from a sudden storm blows the egg from the nest, the heartbroken crane flies away. And then, from high overhead, the bird spots something. Upon closer inspection, it appears to be an egg. And since it seems to be all alone, the crane takes it back to the nest and incubates it. When sounds start coming from the egg and it's time to hatch, what emerges,...

Illustrations and simple text show the parallels between a pair of sandhill cranes building a nest and a construction crane being used to build a cabin for a family.

Milk is the polar bear postmaster of the forest. One day he receives a card that says "Please help!" It is from a red-crested crane couple whose chick has gone missing. Spring gives way to summer and Milk receives another post card--this time from a red-crested crane couple who live in another district telling him that they have been taking care of a lost crane chick and asking for help in finding its family.--Publisher.