THE HUNGRIEST BOY IN THE WORLD
By Lensey Namioka Illustrated by Aki Sogabe
Image Credit: www.lensey.com
1. Bibliographic
Namioka, Lensey, and Aki Sogabe. The Hungriest Boy in the World. New York: Holiday House, 2001. Print. ISBN 9780823415427
2. Plot Summary
Jiro is a young Japanese boy who puts everything into his mouth including the Hunger Monster. Jiro begins to eat everything and his parents call in the family doctor, village priest, and a medium to figure out why Jiro is eating everything including a fish net and his blanket. With the help of a puppet and a puppeteer, they lure the Hunger Monster out of Jiro. The Hunger Monster gets swept out the door.
Jiro is a young Japanese boy who puts everything into his mouth including the Hunger Monster. Jiro begins to eat everything and his parents call in the family doctor, village priest, and a medium to figure out why Jiro is eating everything including a fish net and his blanket. With the help of a puppet and a puppeteer, they lure the Hunger Monster out of Jiro. The Hunger Monster gets swept out the door.
3. Critical Analysis
THE HUNGRIEST BOY IN THE WORLD appears to be an old folktale but the author does not include this information if the story is indeed a folktale. Jiro is the main character of the story who is always hungry due to the Hunger Monster and takes every ones food. We also see a family that cares for their son and would do anything to cure him. Many children will find this story humorous due to Jiro eating his blanket, fish nets, seaweed, and fish guts.
There are many culture markers present in this story. These cultural markers include food, customs, doctors making house visits, and fisherman as an occupation. Many of the names include Jiro, Taro, and Awaji which are names we would find in the Japanese culture. The readers is also introduced to the bowing custom to show respect and thankfulness. "Jiro's father bowed back. 'Our food is poor, but we are honored by your presence. Please don't hold back.'"
The illustrations are full page with bright colors and many details including food and objects that Jiro is eating. The skin color is light brown and the clothing is traditional Japanese. We also see tables low to the ground, pallets on the floor, and the style of houses found in Japanese.
Due to the story line and bright illustrations, I would recommend this story for a read aloud. Many children would enjoy hearing a story about the Hunger Monster.
THE HUNGRIEST BOY IN THE WORLD appears to be an old folktale but the author does not include this information if the story is indeed a folktale. Jiro is the main character of the story who is always hungry due to the Hunger Monster and takes every ones food. We also see a family that cares for their son and would do anything to cure him. Many children will find this story humorous due to Jiro eating his blanket, fish nets, seaweed, and fish guts.
There are many culture markers present in this story. These cultural markers include food, customs, doctors making house visits, and fisherman as an occupation. Many of the names include Jiro, Taro, and Awaji which are names we would find in the Japanese culture. The readers is also introduced to the bowing custom to show respect and thankfulness. "Jiro's father bowed back. 'Our food is poor, but we are honored by your presence. Please don't hold back.'"
The illustrations are full page with bright colors and many details including food and objects that Jiro is eating. The skin color is light brown and the clothing is traditional Japanese. We also see tables low to the ground, pallets on the floor, and the style of houses found in Japanese.
Due to the story line and bright illustrations, I would recommend this story for a read aloud. Many children would enjoy hearing a story about the Hunger Monster.
4. Review Excepts
~SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (4/2001): "The story is told economically but with wit and humor. Sogabe's illustrations, created using cut paper over rice paper that has been colored by airbrush or watercolor, complement the text with their elegant simplicity."
~BOOKLIST (4/2001): "The silly, farcical story is spiced with images kids will love (Jiro eats "a bucket of fish guts,"for example), and Namioka adds to the story's texture with family dynamics every kid can relate to. Sogabe's striking, cut-paper-and-paint illustrations extend the comedy with full-page pictures of round-cheeked Jiro that kids can spot at a distance. A good choice for reading aloud."
~SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (4/2001): "The story is told economically but with wit and humor. Sogabe's illustrations, created using cut paper over rice paper that has been colored by airbrush or watercolor, complement the text with their elegant simplicity."
~BOOKLIST (4/2001): "The silly, farcical story is spiced with images kids will love (Jiro eats "a bucket of fish guts,"for example), and Namioka adds to the story's texture with family dynamics every kid can relate to. Sogabe's striking, cut-paper-and-paint illustrations extend the comedy with full-page pictures of round-cheeked Jiro that kids can spot at a distance. A good choice for reading aloud."
5. Connections
~Students could write a continuing story of what happened to the Hunger Monster after his left Jiro.
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