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The Greatest of All: A Japanese Folktale
A humble field mouse proves himself the most worthy of all.
32 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1991
About the author
Eric A. Kimmel
145 books113 followersEric A. Kimmel is an American author of more than 150 children's books. His works include Caldecott Honor Book Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins (illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman), Sydney Taylor Book Award winners The Chanukkah Guest and Gershon's Monster, and Simon and the Bear: A Hanukkah Tale.
Kimmel was born in Brooklyn, New York and earned a bachelor's degree in English literature from Lafayette College in 1967, a master's degree from New York University, and a PhD in Education from the University of Illinois in 1973. He taught at Indiana University at South Bend, and at Portland State University, where he is Professor Emeritus of Education.
Kimmel lives with his wife, Doris, in Portland, Oregon.
Kimmel was born in Brooklyn, New York and earned a bachelor's degree in English literature from Lafayette College in 1967, a master's degree from New York University, and a PhD in Education from the University of Illinois in 1973. He taught at Indiana University at South Bend, and at Portland State University, where he is Professor Emeritus of Education.
Kimmel lives with his wife, Doris, in Portland, Oregon.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 26, 2020
When mouse maiden Chuko asks her father to be allowed to marry Ko Nezumi the field mouse, her proud father at first refuses. As mice who live in the Japanese Emperor's palace, Father Mouse believes that they are special, and is determined to have only the greatest of bridegrooms for his daughter. Beginning with the Emperor himself, Father Mouse offers his daughter to various prospective grooms, only to continually discover that there is always someone greater, whether it be the sun, the clouds, the wind, or the wall. Eventually his search leads him to an unexpected but entirely appropriate match for Chuko...
According to author Eric A. Kimmel's brief author's note, the source material for The Greatest of All: A Japanese Folktale was Yoshiko Uchida's story, The Wedding Mouse, in the collection The Dancing Kettle and Other Japanese Folk Tales . This tale type, in which a father mouse seeks the grandest of all possible mates for his daughter, is one I have seen in multiple cultures, and encountered in various picture-books. Ed Young tells a Chinese version of it in his Mouse Match , whereas Ekkehart Malotki relates a Hopi version in The Mouse Couple . I have also seen a Mayan variant, retold by Judith Dupre in The Mouse Bride . It's interesting to see the same story retold by such geographically distant cultures! However that may be, I found Kimmel's telling here engaging, and I also enjoyed Giora Carmi's artwork. Recommended to all young folklore enthusiasts!
According to author Eric A. Kimmel's brief author's note, the source material for The Greatest of All: A Japanese Folktale was Yoshiko Uchida's story, The Wedding Mouse, in the collection The Dancing Kettle and Other Japanese Folk Tales . This tale type, in which a father mouse seeks the grandest of all possible mates for his daughter, is one I have seen in multiple cultures, and encountered in various picture-books. Ed Young tells a Chinese version of it in his Mouse Match , whereas Ekkehart Malotki relates a Hopi version in The Mouse Couple . I have also seen a Mayan variant, retold by Judith Dupre in The Mouse Bride . It's interesting to see the same story retold by such geographically distant cultures! However that may be, I found Kimmel's telling here engaging, and I also enjoyed Giora Carmi's artwork. Recommended to all young folklore enthusiasts!
September 3, 2021
There are many stories of people searching for the prize elsewhere when it is already nearby. The classic “Wizard of OZ” is the best known. This book for children is another rendition of this tale, this time the main characters are rodents, and the location is Japan.
A family of mice live in a corner of the Emperor’s palace and one day pretty daughter Chuko came to her father and told him that a field mouse named Ko Nezumi has expressed a desire to marry her. Since he lives in the Emperor’s palace and eats crumbs for the royal plates, her father considers himself the mouse equivalent of royalty. Therefore, he forbids his daughter from marrying a commoner.
In an attempt to find a much better husband, the father consults the Emperor and asks that the Emperor marry her, for he is the best possible match. The Emperor declines, saying that the sun is greater. This begins a chain of “better thans” that goes through the clouds, wind and a stone wall. The end result is that the father discovers that the common field mouse is the best match of all.
This is a great story for children and is a lesson in multicultural studies as well. Although the plot is classic and has been used many times, it never ages or loses relevance.
A family of mice live in a corner of the Emperor’s palace and one day pretty daughter Chuko came to her father and told him that a field mouse named Ko Nezumi has expressed a desire to marry her. Since he lives in the Emperor’s palace and eats crumbs for the royal plates, her father considers himself the mouse equivalent of royalty. Therefore, he forbids his daughter from marrying a commoner.
In an attempt to find a much better husband, the father consults the Emperor and asks that the Emperor marry her, for he is the best possible match. The Emperor declines, saying that the sun is greater. This begins a chain of “better thans” that goes through the clouds, wind and a stone wall. The end result is that the father discovers that the common field mouse is the best match of all.
This is a great story for children and is a lesson in multicultural studies as well. Although the plot is classic and has been used many times, it never ages or loses relevance.
September 9, 2019
the illustrations on this are only ok, but the story is presented in a way that might be easier to grasp that the stonecutter I am used to.
September 12, 2016
Picture book, fiction
Genre: Folk Literature
Awards: none
Summary: This story is about a family of field mice who live in the emperor's palace. The father field mouse goes on a journey to find "the greatest of all" for his daughter to marry. His journey leads him to someone he never expected.
Critique: The art work in this book really shows the Japanese culture. The story teaches the powerful lesson that what you are looking for may not always be the fanciest, the largest, or the strongest. Sometimes it's something small and humble that is right in front of you. Young readers will enjoy this book for both its art and its story.
Teacher Prompts: Each time the father mouse goes to someone he thinks is "the greatest of all," the person tells the father mouse that there is still someone greater. The teacher can have the students predict who is greater.
Craft Elements: On page 27, there is a haiku. Have the students write their own haiku about this story or another story they have read and enjoyed.
Genre: Folk Literature
Awards: none
Summary: This story is about a family of field mice who live in the emperor's palace. The father field mouse goes on a journey to find "the greatest of all" for his daughter to marry. His journey leads him to someone he never expected.
Critique: The art work in this book really shows the Japanese culture. The story teaches the powerful lesson that what you are looking for may not always be the fanciest, the largest, or the strongest. Sometimes it's something small and humble that is right in front of you. Young readers will enjoy this book for both its art and its story.
Teacher Prompts: Each time the father mouse goes to someone he thinks is "the greatest of all," the person tells the father mouse that there is still someone greater. The teacher can have the students predict who is greater.
Craft Elements: On page 27, there is a haiku. Have the students write their own haiku about this story or another story they have read and enjoyed.
February 20, 2014
This was a cute story about a mouse father who thinks a humble field mouse is beneath his daughter's station and looks for a more suitable mate. In his journey, he learns a lesson. I smiled as I read it.
September 20, 2009
A mouse searches for the mightiest husband of all for his daughter in this classic Japanese folktale. A bit of Zen to share with younger children who will enjoy the illustrations and the sweet story.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews