Genre 2 - The Greatest of All: A Japanese Folktale

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Kimmel, Eric. Adaptor. 1991. THE GREATEST OF ALL: A JAPANESE FOLKTALE. Ill. by Giora Carmi. New York, NY: Holiday House. ISBN 0823412032

2. PLOT SUMMARY
A mouse father searches for the greatest husband for his daughter. He approaches the emperor, the sun, the clouds, the wind and a stone wall before realizing the perfect candidate was a lowly field mouse.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Kimmel’s retelling of the Japanese traditional tale, THE WEDDING MOUSE, is told with kindness and understanding. The story’s simple plot revolves around a protective father, Father Mouse, seeking the best for his daughter. Many adult readers will be able to relate to that feeling of wanting only the best for their children. Kimmel says, “Because he lived in an emperor’s palace, and dined off crumbs from the emperor’s table, and dressed in silk from the emperor’s wardrobe, he thought himself a splendid mouse indeed!” Readers might be turned off by Father Mouse because he appears to be snobby and stuck up. Carmi’s excellent illustration showing Father’s fine attire and large piece of cheese are further evidence to this fact.
The personification of the sun, cloud, wind and wall are incorporated nicely into the story. Carmi’s friendly faces of these objects make the reader feel like they are kind characters. It is easy to see why Father Mouse takes their advice.
The plot involves a traditional quest when Father Mouse travels to see the various suitors. Illustrations showing Father Mouse in the plains and on the mountains help describe the long journey. An especially vivid illustration is when Father Mouse is hanging onto the branch to talk to the wind.
Very few traditional Japanese cultural elements are included in the story. Besides the mentioning of an emperor and haiku, this story could be set anywhere. More cultural elements should be added for students to have specific cultural connections with the material.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: “Kimmel concisely retells this pleasant if low-key tale of a self-important mouse who lives in the emperor’s palace and dresses in fine silk. Warm colors and distinctive texture mark Carmi’s illustrations, which include effective renderings of the anthropomorphic natural elements. ”

KIRKUS REVIEWS: "Carmi uses tall frames and details of dress to suggest a Japanese setting; her style is lively and accessible but undistinguished, the illustrations’ muted tomato-soup borders more distracting than harmonious. Still, an acceptable setting for a good story.”

5. CONNECTIONS
*Read THE WEDDING MOUSE in Yochiko Uchida’s collection of Japanese stories, THE DANCING KETTLE. This was Kimmel’s source for THE GREATEST OF ALL. Make comparisons between the two stories.
*As recommended in the author’s note, read STONECUTTER by Gerald McDermott to see more similarities and differences.