Grandfather's Dream

Ages 5-8. Sarus cranes, long regarded as good luck, have disappeared from the Mekong Delta after canals drained the land during the Vietnam War. Now young Nam's village has an opportunity to lure the cranes back by building dikes to restore the wetlands feeding ground. The villagers are divided along generational lines. Nam's mother argues that drained fields are more useful for growing rice. But Grandfather values tradition and believes the cranes are entitled to their original home. The experiment is allowed a year's trial. During the following dry season, Nam's dogs retrieve two baby birds, and when he and Papa visit the feeding ground, they discover the birds have indeed returned. Grandfather happily joins other Tam Nong villagers as they admire the beautiful flock in flight. But he cautions Nam that it is "up to you" whether the birds will stay. Keller's argument for wildlife restoration springs from her involvement in project "Saving Cranes in Vietnam." Understandably, she gives little attention to arguments in favor of retaining land for farming. Clear ink and watercolor illustrations capture the stilt village and surrounding terrain well. However, only a small section of dike, which is critical to the villagers' strategy, is depicted in a single frame. This volume will be useful in geography curricula and in exploring war's consequences, as well as in environmental studies. Elizabeth Bush