A winningly good-natured version of a familiar favorite. (Picture book/folk tale. 5-8)
Can peach dumplings save the world?
In this picture-book adaptation of the popular Japanese folk tales about Momotaro (usually translated as Peach Boy), a little girl springs out of a large peach found by “a farmer and her husband” outside their door. The girl soon is dressed in clothes made out of the peach skin by the farmer. The husband creates a helmet and shield from the peach pit. The girl declares that everything is “Peachy” and that her mission is “to make the world a better place.” She immediately sets off to find an ogre who is reputed to eat small children. Armed with only her wits, her courage and some delicious peach dumplings cooked by the farmer, she meets a monkey, a dog and a pheasant who, lured by the dumplings, accompany her on her quest. After they sail to the ogre’s island, the animals are too scared to approach its palace, but Momoko has no fear. She offers the Shrek-like ogre some dumplings, and they share them over tea. He even says “Peachy” when Momoko offers to come back with her parents. The acrylic paintings feature a winsome girl, three friendly animals and a jolly green giant whose friendliness belies the tales told of him. Despite its somewhat arbitrary use of American slang of an earlier decade, this story has a satisfying ring and a tasty ending.
A winningly good-natured version of a familiar favorite. (Picture book/folk tale. 5-8)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-927485-58-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Pajama Press
Review Posted Online: July 15, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2014
Extended family and friends are arriving for Clara’s Grandma’s birthday, and the air is full of Crioulo (African-influenced Portuguese) words, while the kitchen is full of Cape Verdean food reminiscent of what Grandma ate in her African homeland. Clara, who lives next door, misses her grandmother’s exclusive attention and wonders what to give her for a birthday present. Realistic, sometimes stiff acrylic illustrations portray Clara and her family and their American seaside home. When Clara and her grandmother steal some time together to go on a moonlit walk by the water, Clara learns that her grandmother left Africa and Clara’s great aunt, Aura, behind because of poverty and starvation. Grandma doubts she’ll ever make the journey back, and that night, Clara dreams of Aura and comes up with the perfect gift idea. A moving portrayal of a grandparent-grandchild relationship as well as a distinctive take on universal aspects of immigration. Includes a glossary and author’s note with information on Cape Verde and the author’s family. (Picture book. 6-8)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2010
ISBN: 987-1-60060-347-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Lee & Low Books
Review Posted Online: Sept. 1, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2010
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Three versions of the Hansel and Gretel tale are strung together in an early-reader format. Three modern kids (the illustrations show a brown-skinned girl, a white boy and an Asian boy) go to the park, dropping popcorn along the way, which reminds them of different versions of the classic tale from Europe, Africa and Japan. Each tells the tale he or she knows from childhood. Typeface changes signal that the narrative has switched from modern time to storytelling. Light black-and-white illustrations grace each page, adding interest to the rather bland text. The hugely artificial construct of three modern children hanging around and telling fairy tales to each other is a weak one, even for an early reader. The stories themselves are an amalgam of many versions, muddying the waters for teachers trying to introduce international versions of folk and fairy tales. That one tale is from Japan and the other two are from continents confuses the matter further. Good intent, poor execution. Other titles in this new series were not seen. (Early reader. 5-8)
Pub Date: Oct. 12, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-88776-953-5
Page Count: 56
Publisher: Tundra Books
Review Posted Online: Aug. 31, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2010
BOOK REVIEW
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
