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MIEKO by Leo Politi

MIEKO

By

Pub Date: April 14th, 1969
Publisher: Golden Gate

Satisfaction long postponed puts a strain on a picture book, and here the first post-ponement leads only to a second, indefinite deferment: Mieko, too young to be queen of the Ondo Parade the first time, is told, after she's prepared and practiced all year, that she is still much too young to be considered. She had wanted to surprise her parents--""to live up to her name (Mieko = beautiful graceful girl) and to make them proud of her."" Their assurance that they are proud of her ""every day"" may hearten Mieko (who is being consoled at the close) but it's a wan way to end a long, festive story. For although the colors are vivid to the point of being livid, the pageantry, and, to a lesser extent, the import of Japanese customs do come across.