Book Review: The Magic Fan | By: Committee for Children By Keith Baker Reading Level: Preschool–Grade 3 In his village, Yoshi is a beloved builder of useful things: wagons, walls, tables, fences. But when he loses his desire to build these everyday things and longs instead to build things that “reach beyond the village,” his life begins to change. A magic fan appears in the sea and provides inspiration for Yoshi to build a boat with a golden sail chasing the moon, a giant kite that floats with the clouds, and a bridge like a rainbow. The villagers disapprove of Yoshi building these strange and seemingly useless things. But when an earthquake strikes and a tsunami looms near, Yoshi calls the villagers to the top of the bridge, saving them—and losing his magic fan in the process. Fearful that he has lost the magic that inspired him, he despairs of being able to help rebuild his community, until he realizes that “the fan wasn’t magic. The real magic was his very own.” Readers of all ages will delight in the beauty of this unusual folk tale with its fan-shaped cut-out illustrations. Yoshi learns to believe in himself, and the entire village learns the importance of finding ways to support one another’s unique strengths. Yoshi’s sense of loyalty toward his community, even when members are displeased with him, is a powerful lesson in responsibility for others. Social and Emotional Lessons in The Magic Fan Although The Magic Fan is a wonderful read-aloud for early learners, older children will derive something more complex from its messages. It’s frightening to stand up for what one believes. It’s hard to trust that you can rely not only on your own skills and instincts, but on the support of your community. Yoshi makes a leap of faith in building his boat, kite, and bridge, but he needs to lean on “magic” to do so. Eventually, he lets go of the magic fan—literally and figuratively. And when he does so, he frees himself to support his fellow villagers with his “very own” Yoshi magic. After reading The Magic Fan in class, teachers can ask children to think about a time they felt differently about something from everyone else (for example, playing a different board game, not wanting to play with someone their parents want them to play with). Ask students: Did you say how you felt? How did that feel? How did others respond? Do you think Yoshi was scared to build things the villagers didn’t want him to build? How do you think Yoshi felt when he realized he didn’t need the fan for inspiration—that everything he needed he already had? Do you think Yoshi felt stronger with the fan or after he lost the fan?