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The owner was happy again, for
his restaurant was always full of
guests. He cooked and served
and had company from morning
until night.
The weeks passed…and the
months. One evening a man came
into the restaurant. His clothes
were old and worn, but he had an
unusual and gentle manner. The
owner knew him at once and was overjoyed. The stranger, however, said nothing.
He took a flute from his pocket, raised it to his lips, and began to play.
The crane flew down from its place on the shelf and danced as it had never
danced before. The stranger finished playing, lowered the flute from his lips, and
returned it to his pocket. He
climbed on the back of the
crane, and they flew out of the
door and away.
The restaurant still stands by
the side of the road, and guests
still come to eat the good food
and hear the story of the gentle
stranger and the magic crane
made from a paper napkin. But
neither the stranger nor the
dancing crane has ever been
seen again.
overjoyed: very happy —Molly Bang
About the Author
Molly Garrett Bang (b 1943) is an award-winning children’s book illustrator and author. Her works include Ten, Nine, Eight,
The Grey Lady and the Strawberry Snatcher and When Sophie Gets Angry—Really, Really Angry.
‘The Paper Crane’ won the Boston Globe/Horn Book Award in 1987.
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