The Strongest Boy in the World

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