

Lexile Measure: 570 (What's this?)
School & Library Binding: 40 pages
Publisher: Turtleback; School & Library ed. edition (February 1, 1993)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 088103861X
ISBN-13: 978-0881038613
Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 0.4 x 9.1 inches
Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (52 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #1,110,560 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #111 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Humor > Theories of Humor #1037 in Books > Children's Books > Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths > Multicultural #1077 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Humor > Self-Help & Psychology
Age Range: 5 - 8 years
Grade Level: Kindergarten - 3

From the pen that brought us the adventures of "Tikki Tikki Tembo" (no I am NOT going to repeat his full name) comes the tale of "The Funny Little Woman". Funny, that is, because she finds everything in the world so very amusing. I'll begin by stating that this 1973 Caldecott winner is probably not very accurate in its representations of Japan. That said, let's move on and examine a story that contains elements of everything from "Strega Nona" and the song "On Top of Spaghetti" to that ancient tale of the "The Gingerbread Man".This is the story of a funny little woman who lives all by herself in her own little hut. She's a dumpling maker by trade, and one day a naughty dumpling escapes down a crack in her floor. As she reaches for it, the floor gives way and the woman finds herself on an ancient road surrounded by statues of gods. The statues warn the woman not to attract the attention of the local Oni (an evil demon) but the woman's giggles can't keep her hidden for long. Soon she's cooking for all the Oni in their homes with the help of a magic paddle. By the end, however, the woman wishes to return to her house and it is only when she is able to make the Oni laugh at her (rather than vice versa) that she is enabled to escape and prosper.Like all good folktales, this one contains elements that are familiar throughout the world. Illustrator Blair Lent (also of "Tikki Tikki Tembo" fame) has outdone himself with these pictures. The castles of the Oni are a deep jade green. When the funny little woman runs before them, her bright orange dress glowing brightly and the contrast is superb. The story is one that kids will enjoy as well. Though the Oni are fearsome, the threat they pose is somewhat minimal. After all, they just want to be fed.
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