Synopses & Reviews
In this award-winning Japanese folktale, a courageous little girl rescues the villagers' babies from ogres.
"Belly buttons, belly buttons, tasty baby belly buttons!"
Here come the terrible giants, chanting their terrible chant, in search of their favorite treat -- baby belly buttons!
But when the giants kidnap the babies, a fearless little girl sets out to rescue them with the help of her dog, a pheasant, and a monkey.
Young children will cheer at the triumph of small over big as the giants are reduced to bawling like babies. Fun to read aloud, this lively retelling brings one of Japan's most exciting folktales to English-speaking children everywhere.
About the Author
Judy Sierra was a puppeteer, a storyteller, and a professor of children's literature before becoming a full-time writer of children's books. She is the author of Antarctic Antics, Counting Crocodiles, Nursery Tales Around the World, and other highly acclaimed books. She lives in Eugene, Oregon.
Meilo So was born in Hong Kong. She attended secondary school and Brighton College of Art in Great Britain, returning to Hong Kong to begin her career. She is the illustrator of the award-winning The Beauty and the Beast: Poems from the Animal Kingdom, selected by Jack Prelutsky. She now lives on the south coast of England.