The strongest boy in the world

Jessica Souhami

Book - 2014

Retells the traditional Japanese tale in which a boy, who has defeated all the other boys in his village in wrestling, travels to the city to test his skill at a sumo tournament, but along the way he meets a girl who is even stronger than he.

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Subjects
Genres
Picture books
Folk tales
Published
London : Frances Lincoln Children's Books 2014.
Language
English
Main Author
Jessica Souhami (-)
Physical Description
1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 28 cm
ISBN
9781847804112
Contents unavailable.
Review by Booklist Review

Kaito knows he is skinny, but he thinks he is tough enough to be a sumo wrestler. It takes a girl named Hana to point out that he really is feeble and weedy and in need of a trainer. Hana takes him on as her protégé, and after three grueling weeks of exercise, carbohydrates, and protein, she declares him ready for the tournament. Poor Kaito is the target of much mockery when he arrives in Kyoto and meets the famous bulky wrestlers, but like many a good folktale, this one ends happily. Kaito defeats most of the wrestlers, scares off the others, and wins the emperor's admiration, as well as a prize. The humble and endearing boy then returns happily to the countryside, gives Hana the prize and his gratitude, and brings good fortune to his village. Crisp, colorful illustrations on white backgrounds and peppy, enthusiastic prose give this thirteenth-century folktale a contemporary feel that young readers will enjoy.--Chaudhri, Amina Copyright 2014 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review

K-Gr 3-This retelling of a 13th-century Japanese tale has been rewritten with a boy as its hero. Kaito longs to be a Champion Wrestler. These men were celebrities, often popular and very rich. On his way to the city of Kyoto to fulfill his dream of entering the wrestling tournament, Kaito meets a girl and soon finds out that she is no ordinary child. She is a legendary strong woman of Japanese myth, and she agrees to train small, thin Kaito for the three weeks leading up to the event. The hard work pays off when Kaito easily wins a fight against the largest and heaviest of wrestlers. When Kaito is awarded his prize, he doesn't forget the young woman who helped him fulfill his dream. His village is blessed, and the people are happy. The collage, watercolor, and pencil illustrations are almost paperdoll-like with simple backgrounds and minimal graphite streaks to show movement. These unassuming images fit nicely with the simplicity of the tale and its message of determination and fortitude.-Carol Connor, Cincinnati Public Schools, OH (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review

In this retelling of a Japanese tale, a scrawny country boy named Kaito heads to Kyoto to enter a wrestling tournament. He leaves his village filled with confidence about his chances against the "Champion Wrestlers" he hopes to compete against. He's tempted to tickle a girl he meets along the way to make her spill the bucket she's carrying on her head. She's far stronger than he is, though, and doesn't spill a drop. Her name is Hana, and she offers to help him prepare for the tournament. Kaito spends the next three weeks training in her cottage, then goes to Kyoto, where he wins the championship despite his small stature. There's humor in the fact that Hana is stronger than Kaito, even after he's crowned champion. The mixed-media collage of watercolor and pencil on brightly colored paper set against a white background works well with the book's lighthearted tone. Souhami plays with the typeface, incorporating the text into the design to highlight parts of the story. The change in protagonist from the 13th-century tale's mature warrior learning to be "invincible" to a puny boy able to defeat the outsized sumo wrestlers may strain readers' suspension of disbelief. Modern boys who dream of athletic prowess should find this appealing. (author's note) (Picture book/folk tale. 4-7) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.