My Thoughts:
The story of Issunboshi is from a Japanese children's tale. Issunboshi is the Asian variety Tom Thumb, but this small warrior, raised by an older couple who prayed for a child, is timely in this time of renewed Asian hate crimes and "oni" or ogre behavior in society.
The illustrations by Ryan Lang seem three-dimensional even in black and grey. The detail and movement in these panels are just beautiful. They lend to the legendary status of this story. In addition, like any good modern hero, Issunboshi is playful and hilarious. He has been left in the dark about his past so that he could grow up in a loving, peaceful little village, but the time has come for him to embrace his destiny, even if he does not understand what it is. As for his elder parents, even they understand that this gift of time they had with him was just in preparation for his future mission.
The excerpt I got from the publishers was just enough to understand the conflict, understand the mission (before the characters) and bind the reader to this little hero. This is a must have for the middle grades classroom and it will continue to be passed around.
From the Publishers:
In a feudal Japan where creatures of myth and folklore are real, a demon sets out to reforge an ancient weapon to take over the world. The only person who can stop him is a six-inch-tall would-be samurai, who also happens to be the final and most important piece of the weapon.
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