The Funny Little Woman
By Arlene Mosel
The Story
A cheerful little woman chases a runaway rice dumpling deep underground, where she falls into the clutches of a wicked three-eyed oni and must use her wits to escape.
Why It's Special
For the kid who loves a chase, a good laugh, and a heroine who never stops smiling even in a monster's lair, this one delivers all three.
- Big idea: Good humor and quick thinking can carry you through even the strangest, scariest trouble.
- Vibes: Playful, suspenseful, and rooted in the rhythms of an old Japanese folktale.
Perfect For Kids Who
- enjoy folktales with a touch of danger
- like to predict what happens next in a chase
- respond well to a heroine who laughs instead of panics
- are curious about stories and art from other cultures
Ask Your Little Reader
- Story & problem-solving: What do you think the little woman could do to get away from the three-eyed oni?
- Feelings & empathy: How do you think the little woman felt when she first fell into the oni's clutches?
- Imagination: If your favorite food ran away from you, where do you imagine it would go?
- Real-life connection: Have you ever laughed even when you were a little scared? What happened?
- Art & illustration: What did you notice about how the pictures show Old Japan?
