Little Fingerling: A Japanese Foldtale - Hardcover

Good things often come in small packages, according to this Japanese folktale. As the answer to his childless parents' prayers, Isson Bishou--"Little Fingerling"--is born. Although by 15 he is only "the height of his father's longest finger," the determined teen leaves his family's farm to seek his fortune in Kyoto. After a brief stint as a comb painter, Isson Bishou is welcomed into the home of a nobleman where he becomes enamoured of the beautiful Plum Blossom. The young woman recognizes a brave warrior trapped in the small body and the couple eventually becomes a perfect fit when they defeat two monsters and obtain a wish-granting mallet. With a nod to the Oriental flair for economy Hughes's phrasing and sentence structure create an air of formality from simple vocabulary. The plot's grand scope, however, detracts from the drama and prevents the reader from becoming more emotionally involved. Clark's pencil and watercolor illustrations are reminiscent of Japanese woodcuts, though her human figures are more animated. The white-capped river waves, thatched roof huts and richly hued kimonos all help to define an Eastern-flavored slice of time and place. Ages 5-8.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Kindergarten-Grade 3-- This familiar Japanese folktale, a cross between "Tom Thumb" and "David and Goliath," is given elegant treatment in this attractive picture book. Hughes's telling is leisurely and formal, with a ceremonial tone that suits the material. She doesn't spare gruesome details, either; the battle between Issun Boshi and the giants is quite graphic, in a way that may make even second-grade boys say, "Oh, gross!" In the end, romance prevails. Clark's watercolors are entirely appropriate for the text. The pictures, each of which is bordered with a delicate line and a touch of yellow, are simply and effectively composed. They are realistically done, with soft, true colors; expressive characters; and imaginative use or perspective to show the vulnerability of the tiny hero. Like the text, the pictures do well with both the beautiful (the kindly parents, the lovely Plum Blossom) and the gruesome (the satisfyingly horrible giants). Little Fingerling is for a slightly older audience than Morimoto's The Inch Boy (Puffin, 1988). Both books are lovely, and make a good contrast to one another. --Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.