THE SILVER CHARM

Another folktale adaptation from that master of the form, this one originates with the indigenous people of the island of Hokkaido, Japan. Little Satsu must obey two important rules: never go near the ogre’s woods and never lose his good-luck charm. When Satsu wanders too near the woods and the ogre indeed catches him, he bargains for his freedom with his good-luck charm. With the help of his pet fox cub and puppy, he escapes from the ogre, only to fall ill upon his arrival home. Knowing Satsu must have his charm back if he is to recover, his pets set out to steal it back from the ogre. With the help of a magic spell revealed to them by a mouse, the two animals outsmart the ogre and return with the charm, saving their master. San Souci (The Birds of Killingworth, above, etc.) knows how to keep a story moving while including details that anchor the tale in time and place: “Dance! commanded the ogre, sitting beside a lacquer box filled with sake, rice wine. He dipped up a bowlful and drank noisily.” The atmospheric watercolors beautifully convey a sense of the traditional culture of the Ainu people. (Picture book. 5-8)