Sword of the Samurai: Adventure Stories from Japan

by Eric A. Kimmel, Michael Evans (Illustrator)

The way of the Warrior The samurai warriors of ancient Japan were taught to fight with their hearts and minds as well as with their swords. But even the best of training doesn't prepare a samurai for every situation...

Genres: Historical Fiction, Japan, Short Stories, Adventure

112 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Eric A. Kimmel is an American author of more than 150 children's books. His works include Caldecott Honor Book Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins (illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman), Sydney Taylor Book Award winners The Chanukkah Guest and Gershon's Monster, and Simon and the Bear: A Hanukkah Tale.
Kimmel was born in Brooklyn, New York and earned a bachelor's degree in English literature from Lafayette College in 1967, a master's degree from New York University, and a PhD in Education from the University of Illinois in 1973. He taught at Indiana University at South Bend, and at Portland State University, where he is Professor Emeritus of Education.
Kimmel lives with his wife, Doris, in Portland, Oregon.

Reviews

[Christina Pilkington · Rating 3 out of 5]

* 3.5 stars

A thoughtful and interesting collection of short stories featuring the lives of samurai. My kids and I enjoyed learning more about samurai culture and their history.

[Colin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great legends from feudal Japan, many with a supernatural element! My littles (6 & 8) really enjoyed them!

[Reagan Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sword of the Samurai is good for young readers that like action and adventure. The author could have added a little bit more details about the arts of the samurai. It had good parts and it had boring parts that is why I gave it 4 stars. The reason I liked this book is because I have a martial arts background. It talks about respect to others.It jumps around from 1 person to 3 person so that is another reason for the 4 stars. The setting of the book was in the shin high dojo. I had the connection to the samurai because it has to do with respect and hard work and when i did taekwondo we learned about all of that stuff. I would recommend this book to kids around the age of 10-14 years.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a kid I went to karate and our sensei would start each class with a quick story involving ninjas or samurai and almost all of the stories in this book could've been used back then. Think Miyagi meets Buddhist Koans meets O. Henry. (You'll probably never see those 3 names used in the same sentence again in your life!)

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of short stories about samurai, each of which does a good job illustrating "the way of the warrior". This is a good read for a little boy interested in knights to maybe expand his knowledge of other knight-like people. However, beware of an inordinate amount of head severing. Doesn't read too gruesome but for kids with an overactive imagination, it might result in some interesting pretend-play later.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of eleven stories about the noble medieval Japanese warrior caste, each with an introduction highlighting various aspects of Japanese and Samurai culture. Also offers a respectful glimpse of Japanese history. Stories include “The Samurai and The Dragon, “The Coward,” and “Tomoe Gozen” (about a female Japanese warrior). All of these make fascinating reading, as well as a fascinating read aloud/booktalk for children grades 4-6.

[Alenette · Rating 5 out of 5]

For ages 10 and up
This book is composed of very entertaining and enlightening collection of samurai stories. Some are funny, some are profound. I really enjoyed reading the different stories not only about samurais but also about what they've been through, etc. The stories may contain violence but it's only a little bit. This book amused me and I am sure it will do the same to you!

[Luke Ewell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it a lot. Back then if you were a Samurai and if you had a son or a daughter you wouldn't care for them very much. It was one of the rules, when you became a Samurai, was not to care for your life or for others lives.

[Jean-Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

We read this to complement our middle ages history lesson about Japan. We really enjoyed this collection of Samurai stories. It gave us just enough of a taste of the culture of the time and what it was like to be one of the "knights of old Japan."