Issun Boshi

Mick Gowar

Exciting stories from around the world told in fewer than 180 words, suitable for children who are starting to read independently. The series introduces readers to stories from other cultures and encourages them to find where the story comes from on a map.

This tale comes from Japan. Issun Boshi is a tiny boy, but he is very brave. He sets out to serve the emperor. Can he save the emperor's daughter from the evil ogre? The tale has echoes of Tom Thumb, another miniature hero with a gigantic heart!

Puzzles at the back of the book encourage children to reread and retell the story in their own words, and helps build vocabulary by matching words to characters.