The Funny Little Woman



This book is a 1973 Caldecott Medal Winner

Exposition: This story takes place "long ago, in Old Japan." (p. 2.) Our main character is a funny little woman who enjoys making rice dumplings. She lives up on a hill in  a little house.

Conflict: One morning one of her rice dumplings rolls down a hill. She chases and falls into a deep underground tunnel filled with talking statues that warn her of the evil "oni."

Rising Action: Once discovered by the evil "oni" she is taken to his house and forced to make rice dumpings for all the evil "onis." She is given a magic paddle that produces a pot full of rice from only one grain.

Climax: One day she decides to escape. She takes the magic paddle, hops in the boat and paddles away. However, only halfway across the evil "onis" discover her and, because they don't swim, the slurp up all the water in the river.

Falling Action: The funny little woman was left stuck in the mud where she made quite the funny little sight.

Resolution: Stumbling around in the mud made the evil "onis" laugh out loud, in turn, releasing all the water back into the river. This allowed the funny little woman to hop in the boat and go back home. And since she had the magic paddle she was able to make many, many rice dumplings.

The illustrations in this book are lovely. They are exquisitely detailed with a blend of watercolor and ink. I love when the funny little lady is underground that her home on the hillside is still portrayed in black and white. It seems to be a lonely little house waiting for it's owner to return.



Mosel, A., & Lent, B. (1972). The funny little woman. New York: E.P. Dutton.