Book Thoughts: The Funny Little Woman (Mosel)

• a retelling of an old Japanese tale (called “The Old Woman Who Lost Her Dumplings, by Lafcadio Hearn)
• a constantly laughing woman runs into statues of gods (that speak to her) and then monsters (“oni”)
• convo points: gods, magic

Type: picture book
Ages: 3-6
Author: Arlene Mosel (retelling)
Illustrator: Blair Lent

Almost never do I understand why a book wins the Caldecott Medal–this one being no exception. It was strange!