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Issun Bôshi: das Kind, das nicht größer als ein Daumen war
Dieses klassische japanische Märchen erzählt die Geschichte von Issun Bôshi, dem winzigkleinen Sohn eines alten und lange kinderlosen Elternpaares. Klein und tapfer das sind die beiden auffälligsten Merkmale von Issun Bôshi. Seine Mutter hatte sich so sehr ein Kind gewünscht, dass sie unbedarft hinzufügte: Und wenn es auch ganz klein ist.
Und tatsächlich wird den betagten Eltern noch ein Sohn geboren: gerade ein Zoll (drei Zentimeter) groß. Fortan wird er Issun Bôshi, der Ein-Zoll-Junge genannt. Sehr liebevoll ziehen die Eltern den Jungen auf, bis ihm eines Tages klar wird, dass er nicht weiter wachsen wird. Er verlässt also sein Elternhaus und begibt sich auf die Reise, um seinen Platz in der Welt zu suchen. Und da er sich als Schwertkämpfer, als Samurai, versteht, rüstet er sich entsprechend aus: Eine Nähnadel ist sein Schwert, eine Suppenschüssel sein Boot, und als Ruder benutzt er Essstäbchen.
Wie in jedem ordentlichen Märchen muss Issun Bôshi natürlich einige Abenteuer bestehen!
Und tatsächlich wird den betagten Eltern noch ein Sohn geboren: gerade ein Zoll (drei Zentimeter) groß. Fortan wird er Issun Bôshi, der Ein-Zoll-Junge genannt. Sehr liebevoll ziehen die Eltern den Jungen auf, bis ihm eines Tages klar wird, dass er nicht weiter wachsen wird. Er verlässt also sein Elternhaus und begibt sich auf die Reise, um seinen Platz in der Welt zu suchen. Und da er sich als Schwertkämpfer, als Samurai, versteht, rüstet er sich entsprechend aus: Eine Nähnadel ist sein Schwert, eine Suppenschüssel sein Boot, und als Ruder benutzt er Essstäbchen.
Wie in jedem ordentlichen Märchen muss Issun Bôshi natürlich einige Abenteuer bestehen!
32 pages, Hardcover
First published May 8, 2014
253 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
June 12, 2023
A charming and beautifully rendered picture book on the legend of a boy of one inch high. Adventures and romance ensues, and transform our main character
Charming and gorgeous in illustrations.
Charming and gorgeous in illustrations.
October 2, 2025
для мене події цієї історії відбуваються в тому ж всесвіті що й «соловей» андерсена
August 4, 2014
In the past, determining a bias in the publication of folk and fairytales was a fairly straightforward business. Too many European maids of hair as fair as the silk of corn on your shelves? Bias. But now we’re in the thick of a downturn in the publication of folk and fairytales. We not only need diverse fairy and folktales but we need more fairy and folktales at all! If you can find more than twenty published in a given year, that’s considered a good year. But desperation can lead to poor choices. A librarian might clutch at straws and snap up any such story, just so long as it fulfills a need. In the case of the latest adaptation of the story of Issun Bôshi to the picture book format, however, put your mind at rest. You rarely find such a meticulous combination of stunning art and melodic text as located here. Adapted from a Japanese folktale, Issun Bôshi by Icinori is a stunner. Regardless of whether or not you collect fairy and folktales, you need this on your shelf. Stat.
“We’d like a little boy, any size at all. / We’d like him little, we’d like him small. / We’d love him tiniest of all.” Be careful what you wish for? Not really. When a childless peasant and his wife sing this song on their walk to and from the fields where they toil they are nothing but delighted when the wife gives birth to a kid that would give Stuart Little a run for his money. A clever fellow, Issun Bôshi (for so he is named) grows up and when the time comes he sets off to seek his fortune with just a needle and a rice bowl to his name. Along his travels he is waylaid by a fowl and tricky ogre. Issun Bôshi leaves him and continues further, but when a nobleman’s daughter is taken by that same sneaky demon, it is Issun Bôshi and his incredible size that saves the day once and for all.
Think of all the great fairytales and folktales that involve little people. You’ve your straight fairytales like Thumbelina and Tom Thumb. Your tall tales like Hewitt Anderson s Great Big Life and folktales like Pea Boy. That’s not even mentioning all the tales of elves and dwarfs and what have you. It hardly matters what culture you’re in. Little people, ridiculously little people, are a storytelling staple. I suppose tiny people make for instantaneous identification. Haven’t we all felt insignificant in the face of our great big world at some point in our lives? Wouldn’t we love it if we could overcome our shortcomings (ha ha) and triumph in the end? One of the interesting things about Issun Bôshi is that by the end of the tale he does attain tall status but only as a last resort. When offered height earlier in the tale he shows no interest whatsoever. Sure, he’d like to prove to the nobleman’s daughter that he’s more than a living doll, but as the ending of the book notes, “People say that Issun Bôshi sometimes misses being small.” Read into it whatever you want (missing childhood, missing the simple life when you’ve become “big” in the world, etc.).
The art of the picture book translation is such that as an American who essentially speaks just one language, I am in awe. I’ve also read enough stilted, awkwardly translated books for kids to know when a book is particularly well done. All we know about the translation of Issun Bôshi is that the publication page says “Translation of French by Nicholas Grindell & Co. (Berlin & Ryde)”. So who knows whom the genius was who worked on this book! Whoever it was, it was someone who knew that this folktale would have to be read aloud many times, often to large groups. Heck, the very last line of the book is so beautiful and subtle that I’ve gone back to it several times. It reads, “People say that the nobleman’s daughter has taken a different view of Issun Bôshi and that their story is not yet over.” I vastly prefer that to a romantic ending or even the old standard “and they lived happily ever after.” This ending suggests that there could be more adventures to come and that their fate is not as fixed as your standard folktale would assign. Heck, we don’t even know for certain that they become romantically involved.
Text text text. What about the art? Because it seems to me that in this world you’re often only as good as the pictures that accompany your tale. The author/illustrator of this book is listed only as the mysterious one-namer “Icinori”. Naturally I had to learn more and so in the course of my research (research = looking up information about the publisher) I discovered that Icinori actually two artists. On the one hand you have Mayumi Otero, a French illustrator. On the other you have Raphaël Urwiller, a graphic designer and illustrator. No word on who precisely was responsible for the wordplay here. All we really know is that for this book the art appears to consist of beautiful prints. The Japanese artistic influence is clear, though Icinori has come up with a very distinctive look of their own overall. The primary colors in the palette consist of blue, orange, and yellow. Best of all, there’s time for two-page silent spreads of pure unadulterated beauty. For example, once Issun Bôshi has set out to see the world the story slows down enough for you to witness a gorgeous river landscape, the water and sky a pure white while all around vegetation and animals vie for your eye. I love too how Icinori isn’t afraid to shift scenes between a busy city street scene and the tri-colored drama of Issun Bôshi being dropped down an ogre’s gullet.
There is a sense of relief that one feels when a book turns out to sound as good as it looks. Covers can be misleading. A title that looks like a gem on the outside can yield particularly dull or overdone results inside. Issun Bôshi, I am happy to say, never disappoints. It skips, it hops, it dives, it sings. It entertains fully and leaves the reader wanting more. It does not, therefore, ever come across as anything but one of the finest folktale adaptations you’ve ever seen. High praise. Great book. Must buy.
For ages 4-7
“We’d like a little boy, any size at all. / We’d like him little, we’d like him small. / We’d love him tiniest of all.” Be careful what you wish for? Not really. When a childless peasant and his wife sing this song on their walk to and from the fields where they toil they are nothing but delighted when the wife gives birth to a kid that would give Stuart Little a run for his money. A clever fellow, Issun Bôshi (for so he is named) grows up and when the time comes he sets off to seek his fortune with just a needle and a rice bowl to his name. Along his travels he is waylaid by a fowl and tricky ogre. Issun Bôshi leaves him and continues further, but when a nobleman’s daughter is taken by that same sneaky demon, it is Issun Bôshi and his incredible size that saves the day once and for all.
Think of all the great fairytales and folktales that involve little people. You’ve your straight fairytales like Thumbelina and Tom Thumb. Your tall tales like Hewitt Anderson s Great Big Life and folktales like Pea Boy. That’s not even mentioning all the tales of elves and dwarfs and what have you. It hardly matters what culture you’re in. Little people, ridiculously little people, are a storytelling staple. I suppose tiny people make for instantaneous identification. Haven’t we all felt insignificant in the face of our great big world at some point in our lives? Wouldn’t we love it if we could overcome our shortcomings (ha ha) and triumph in the end? One of the interesting things about Issun Bôshi is that by the end of the tale he does attain tall status but only as a last resort. When offered height earlier in the tale he shows no interest whatsoever. Sure, he’d like to prove to the nobleman’s daughter that he’s more than a living doll, but as the ending of the book notes, “People say that Issun Bôshi sometimes misses being small.” Read into it whatever you want (missing childhood, missing the simple life when you’ve become “big” in the world, etc.).
The art of the picture book translation is such that as an American who essentially speaks just one language, I am in awe. I’ve also read enough stilted, awkwardly translated books for kids to know when a book is particularly well done. All we know about the translation of Issun Bôshi is that the publication page says “Translation of French by Nicholas Grindell & Co. (Berlin & Ryde)”. So who knows whom the genius was who worked on this book! Whoever it was, it was someone who knew that this folktale would have to be read aloud many times, often to large groups. Heck, the very last line of the book is so beautiful and subtle that I’ve gone back to it several times. It reads, “People say that the nobleman’s daughter has taken a different view of Issun Bôshi and that their story is not yet over.” I vastly prefer that to a romantic ending or even the old standard “and they lived happily ever after.” This ending suggests that there could be more adventures to come and that their fate is not as fixed as your standard folktale would assign. Heck, we don’t even know for certain that they become romantically involved.
Text text text. What about the art? Because it seems to me that in this world you’re often only as good as the pictures that accompany your tale. The author/illustrator of this book is listed only as the mysterious one-namer “Icinori”. Naturally I had to learn more and so in the course of my research (research = looking up information about the publisher) I discovered that Icinori actually two artists. On the one hand you have Mayumi Otero, a French illustrator. On the other you have Raphaël Urwiller, a graphic designer and illustrator. No word on who precisely was responsible for the wordplay here. All we really know is that for this book the art appears to consist of beautiful prints. The Japanese artistic influence is clear, though Icinori has come up with a very distinctive look of their own overall. The primary colors in the palette consist of blue, orange, and yellow. Best of all, there’s time for two-page silent spreads of pure unadulterated beauty. For example, once Issun Bôshi has set out to see the world the story slows down enough for you to witness a gorgeous river landscape, the water and sky a pure white while all around vegetation and animals vie for your eye. I love too how Icinori isn’t afraid to shift scenes between a busy city street scene and the tri-colored drama of Issun Bôshi being dropped down an ogre’s gullet.
There is a sense of relief that one feels when a book turns out to sound as good as it looks. Covers can be misleading. A title that looks like a gem on the outside can yield particularly dull or overdone results inside. Issun Bôshi, I am happy to say, never disappoints. It skips, it hops, it dives, it sings. It entertains fully and leaves the reader wanting more. It does not, therefore, ever come across as anything but one of the finest folktale adaptations you’ve ever seen. High praise. Great book. Must buy.
For ages 4-7
December 9, 2021
Nice retelling of this foundational story from Japanese folklore. Issun Boshi embodies so many traits that were encouraged in young Japanese boys: tenacity and bravery while never forgetting filial responsibilities. I have heard that this was one of the stories that was looked at after WWII because it had 'militaristic traits' that needed to be carefully watched to prevent a resurgence of Bushidō. This retelling has wonderful illustrations that complement the story.
January 28, 2020
Pekne spracovana legenda o japonskom Jankovi Hraskovi :) akurat, ze v pripade Janka Hraska zili stastne az kym nepomreli a Japonci sa neboja nechat aj v rozpravke otvoreny koniec. Hladala som nejake poucenie, ale asi iba to - ze vyska/velkost negarantuje stastie a dostatok rozumu :D Detsky pohlad dava svetu novy rozmer.
July 1, 2022
que libro más lindo por la chucha
October 25, 2024
ইচ্ছে থাকলেই উপায় হয়।
পিচ্চি গল্পটা এই লাইনটাই মনে করিয়ে দেয়।
পিচ্চি গল্পটা এই লাইনটাই মনে করিয়ে দেয়।
June 16, 2016
Un cuento de hadas tradicional japonés llevado de manera muy bella a la ilustración por este dúo de ilustradores. La historia es muy sencilla, nos presenta al protagonista sobrellevando distintas situaciones siendo un niño en miniatura, hasta que se enamora de una persona de estatura “normal” y decide querer crecer para poder mirarla de igual a igual.
September 9, 2018
Es un libro bello con una historia simple pero acogedora. Las ilustraciones hacen que sea un libro objeto por excelencia.
January 24, 2021
Krásny príbeh, ktorý v tomto prípade vyniká najmä situáciami. Do slovenských sŕdc sa asi zásadne nevryje, keďže máme jeho vlastnú verziu v podobe Janka Hraška.
March 10, 2026
I love this book. I don’t think the art style lends itself much to contemporary young readers, but it is beautiful.
January 9, 2015
Japanese Folktale
February 7, 2020
Een prachtig getekend prentenboek over Issun Boshi. Ik kende het verhaal al lang maar toch wilde ik dit boek proberen. Zou er iets veranderd zijn? En dan zijn er nog die prachtige platen waardoor ik het al niet erg vond als het verhaal hetzelfde was.
Dit gaat over een hele kleine jongen, echt heel klein, zo klein als een duim. Op een dag besluit hij op avontuur te gaan en naar de grote stad te gaan. Hij maakt van alles mee, wordt verliefd, en dat einde was geweldig.
Ja, ik heb genoten!
Dit gaat over een hele kleine jongen, echt heel klein, zo klein als een duim. Op een dag besluit hij op avontuur te gaan en naar de grote stad te gaan. Hij maakt van alles mee, wordt verliefd, en dat einde was geweldig.
Ja, ik heb genoten!
November 21, 2018
NO MAMEN QUE HERMOSO LIBRO
March 13, 2019
Que bonitas ilustraciones e historia y ay 💚🖤💚
January 23, 2022
Um conto de fadas que vale a pena ler.
February 1, 2024
Beautifully retold Japanese fairy tale, with illustrations that tell the story as well if not better than the prose -- read 10 times now, because once to myself, and 9 to my niece and nephews.
July 30, 2024
Una història petita i tendre com el seu protagonista, amb unes il•lustracions de colors ben suggerents
January 12, 2015
Publishers age advice: 4 to 8 years
Tycho's age advice: 4 to 95 years
Summary:
Lovely children's book based on a traditional Japanese tale, accompanied with magnificent illustrations by Icinori.
Tycho's age advice: 4 to 95 years
Summary:
"We'd like a little boy, any size at all"After the parents of Issun Bôshi sang this line he was born; a very tiny but brave young man. But when he realises that he won't grow any bigger than an inch Issun packs his rice bowl and goes on an adventure.
Lovely children's book based on a traditional Japanese tale, accompanied with magnificent illustrations by Icinori.
May 26, 2017
I read this with my niece and nephew. This book is really beautifully designed with absolutely gorgeous illustrations and colours. The text is quite easy to read and has a decent amount of repetition to make it fun for kids, including allowing them to practice reading themselves. Plus, it's fun to learn folktales from other cultures!
November 11, 2014
The art in this folk tale with its yellow, orange, and turquoise reminds me of the books I read as a kid. This is a wonderful retelling of a traditional Japanese tale, and the open ending makes a great writing prompt.
November 13, 2022
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November 22, 2014
Beautifully illustrated children's book.
December 10, 2014
What lovely, lovely art work.
January 25, 2015
One of the most beautifully illustrated picture books I have seen and a wonderful folk tale.
July 25, 2015
I have to say it is one most elaborated book in color and design, so intriguing that I favor this book more than my children do.
October 2, 2015
Exquisite!
September 26, 2016
The artwork was amazing and the writing style was pretty good too
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews