AustLit

This traditional story explores notions of filial duty and 'forbidden fruit'. It has a storyline common to many such tales whereby a poor couple are rewarded for their kindness; but that reward comes with conditions which, when broken, lead to loss. It has parallels with the Biblical story of Adam and Eve and seems to endorse the old saying or adage: 'curiosity killed the cat'.

This story rewards imaginative thinking and kindness. It has some of the characterisitics of a cumulative or chain story in which one event leads to the next, but it does not sustain the repetition common to the genre.

Mouse's Marriage is another simple chain story. It is only through the illustrative text that its Japanese origins are revealed.

The environmental message in this book, along with an examination of the idea of rejection because of difference, makes it a compelling story. Kenju is considered 'slow' by the townspeople but he plants a forest which becomes a haven of green on the outskirts of a rapidly growing town. The forest also serves as an appropriate memorial to Kenju.

The main theme of this book centres on rejection because of difference. All the other birds make fun of Night Hawk because he is different from them. This is the story of his hope, his strength and his determination.

Morimoto's story is an adaptation of a Japanese folktale about a childless couple who eventually have a very small boy whom they name Issun-boshi, or One-Inch Boy. Issun-boshi sets off on his adventures imagining himself a tiny samurai.Read this story in association with other works of fiction on the small stature of the protagonist such as Hans Christian Andersen's Thumberlina (see below) and Tom Thumb. A useful approach is to look at issues of agency and gender.

For more fiction on the Samurai tradition see White Crane by Sandy Fussell from the Samurai Kids series listed on this Learning Trail. However, it is not to be confused with The White Crane, another Junko Morimoto picture book.

Unlike the other tales by Junko Morimoto, which are adaptations of earlier stories, this book appears to be her own story. The humour of the tale extends largely from the way in which the people of the village are able to get the better of the giant but there is also an appeal to the baser side when the giant suffers from flatulence.

The Source (http://www.magpies.net.au.ezp01.library.qut.edu.au/magpies/nologin/?MIval=m_member) describes it thus: "A beautiful book where design, colour, placement and line combine to produce a picture book which is close to perfection ... There is variety of perspective, wit and beauty on every page."

This is another humorous story brought to us by Morimoto. The ending allows the protagonists to retain their dignity without ever being put to the test; both have respect for each other based on misinformation. Compare this portrayal of the warrior tradition with that of The Inch Boy?

This story is an adaptation of an earlier story by esteemed Japanese writer, Kenji Miyazawa. His story, The Bears of Mt Nametoko, is told from the point of view of the bears but Morimoto's more recent version is told from the hunter's point of view. What effect does this have on the narrative? (For further information on this see the article by Helen Kilpatrick below).

Buddhism is intrinsic to Miyazawa's narratives and Kilpatrick sees a disparity between the principle Buddhist tenet regarding the 'equality and ultimate oneness of all beings and objects in the phenomenal world' and the anthropocentric western perspective which privileges humans over animals and nature, in a hierarchy which is fixed and naturalized (17) ... Kilpatrick highlights how the western adaptations are encoded with a more humanistic, ecological ideology which she argues, shows how fundamentally, 'different notions about death and the cosmos make it difficult to avoid acculturated beliefs'.

The moral of this story appears to be that one should not step outside of one's place in life but work diligently and loyally at one's assigned role. Of course, although the twin stars, Chunse and Pouse, were tricked by the comet they did have an exciting adventure.

No collection of the picture books of Junko Moriomoto would be complete without My Hiroshima. However, it is very different from her other works as it is based on the author's experiences as a thirteen-year old on the day the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Moriomoto was at home sick that day and, consequently, was saved from the fate that met most of her school friends. Compare Morimoto's recollections with other survivor stories.

'It isn’t easy training to be a Samurai, but for Niya the task is extra difficult – because he has only one leg. In spite of his disability, Niya dreams of being a great samurai and, in the meantime, of defeating all of the other competitors at the Annual Samurai Trainee Games. First, though, he must get through a gruelling training schedule and a difficult journey to attend the games.' (Source:Aussiereviews.com)

Although this book has a similar title to Junko Morimoto's picture book The White Crane it shares more similarities with other Morimoto picture books such asThe Inch Boy and The Night Hawk Star.