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The Funny Little Woman
40 pages
A delightfully spooky folktale where infectious laughter and a magic cooking paddle are the ultimate weapons against subterranean monsters.
What it feels like
Reading this classic folktale feels like gathering around a crackling fire for a story that is equal parts spooky and silly. The narrative moves at a brisk, tumbling pace, mirroring the protagonist's descent into a subterranean world of wicked, earthy monsters. Despite the mild peril of being captured by the oni, the atmosphere remains buoyed by an infectious, rhythmic joy, anchored by the little woman's constant, bubbling laughter. The prose is built for reading aloud, full of repetitive cadences and memorable sounds that invite children to chime in. It is a triumphant, whimsical experience that delights young readers who enjoy a gentle scare, ultimately reassuring them that cleverness, resilience, and a good sense of humor can outwit the darkest of underground beasts.
- Mood
- whimsical
- mildly spooky
- triumphant
- earthy
- Tone
- playful
- folkloric
- mischievous
- rhythmic
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- the power of laughter · outsmarting monsters · resilience · culinary magic
- The writing
- Rhythmic and repetitive, anchored by a classic oral-storytelling cadence and infectious onomatopoeia.
- The arc
- Begins in cheerful domesticity, plunges into a thrilling subterranean capture, and rises to a triumphant, giggling escape.
- Who it's for
- Young readers who love a mild, monster-filled thrill anchored by a clever, unflappable protagonist.
Content notes
- mild peril
- monsters
About the book
The story is set in "Old Japan." The title character likes to laugh ("Tee-he-he-he") and make rice dumplings.
Description from Open Library.
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