The brave little boy who sailed to the Capital in a teacup and fought a demon with a needle to win the love of a Lady is a Japanese cousin to Tom Thumb.
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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
One of three titles published this fall from Kodansha's series of classic Japanese folktales ( Grandfather Cherry-Blossom and The Moon Princess are the others), this story of a childless couple who gives birth to a tiny boy ("no bigger than your toe") will captivate readers. Inchy Bo may be small of stature, but he has courage to spare and, determined to become a samurai, sets off in a rice bowl (with a chopstick for an oar, of course) to seek his fortune. Hired to serve as bodyguard for the lovely Lady Haru ("So cute!" she said. "And yet, so brave!"), Inchy soon proves his worth, rescuing first a poem his charge has written that falls into the goldfish pond, and later vanquishing a monster many times his size. Transformed to the height of a man by a magic mallet, our hero wins the hand of his beloved and lives happily ever after. Retold by McCarthy in droll, boisterous verse, this tale features many of the common themes running through Western fairy tales, yet retains a uniquely Japanese flavor. The artwork (reproductions from Japan's golden age of illustration) is in the classic tradition--formal, stylized and as graceful as cherry blossoms in springtime. The series will be a worthy addition to the multicultural bookshelf. Ages 5-8.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Booklist
Ages 5-8. Inchy Bo is a Japanese cousin of Tom Thumb and Thumbelina, a tiny person who refuses to let his diminutive size keep him from performing mighty deeds. Inchy Bo leaves his loving parents and tiny village and uses a chopstick to propel his rice-bowl boat upstream to the capital, where he enters a great estate and boldly applies for work. As a bodyguard for the lord's daughter, Lady Haru, he wins her admiration and her heart. When he bravely battles and beats a mighty ogre, the monster drops a magic mallet. Lady Haru holds it and wishes, "May Inchy Bo no more be small! / Brave Inchy Bo, be tall! Be tall! / And, sure enough, he started / sprouting up before her eyes." Naturally, the two marry, he takes his bride home to meet his delighted parents, and they all live happily ever after. McCarthy's octaves, with their unusual rhyme scheme, retell the old folktale delightfully, while Kasamatsu's paintings, executed more than 50 years ago, completely fill the pages with exquisite color and movement. Sheilamae 0'Hara
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Delightful Retelling,
By KB (Massachusetts) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Inch-High Samurai (Kodansha International) (Hardcover)
My sixth grade students enjoyed "The Inch High Samurai" as a read-aloud. The unexpectedly charming rhythm, rhyme, and wit pulled everyone in. There is something elemental in the hero's drive to make something of himself against all odds; even the most sophisticated children sat up and took notice. The beauty of the bilingual presentation from illustrations to the paper itself make this a gift-quality book.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Issunboushi Picture Book,
By
This review is from: The Inch-High Samurai (Kodansha International) (Hardcover)
Konnichiwa. I got this book when I was 6. I think this is one of the best picture books on the entire earth! It really sparked my interest in the Japanese culture. Now I am 12 and am immensely interested in the Japanese language and culture still. I highly encourage you to buy this book. I love it soooo much!!! Domo Arigato Gozaimasu.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful and enjoyable!,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Inch-High Samurai (Kodansha Children's Classics) (Hardcover)
This is a wonderful book with a good message about the value of inner strength as opposed to external size. The pictures are great and the rhyme scheme throughout the story adds a lot. My 2nd grade students want me to read it again and again!
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
In Naniwa, in old Japan, There lived a woman and a man Who hadn't any children, so they spent their days alone. Read the first page New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
In Naniwa, in old Japan, There lived a woman and a man Who hadn't any children, so they spent their days alone. Read the first page New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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