Tiny Feet Between the Mountains

by Hanna Cha, Hanna Cha (Illustrator)

Overview

A young Korean girl comes up with a clever plan to help her village and a spirit tiger in this “gorgeous and moving debut” (Booklist, starred review) from Caldecott Honor– and Asian Pacific American Award for Literature–winning author-illustrator Hanna Cha.

Soe-In is a tiny child in a village full of large people. She struggles with completing chores due to her size, but she never gives up.

One day, when the sky grows dark and full of smoke, Soe-In volunteers to travel into the tall mountains to investigate. She’s surprised to find a spirit tiger there and learn he has swallowed the sun by mistake!

To help the spirit tiger and her village, Soe-In must come up with a clever idea to solve this gigantic problem. And while she’s at it, she just may prove that the smallest people often have the biggest, bravest hearts.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781534429925
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Publication date:	11/05/2019
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	9.10(w) x 10.60(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	AD630L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Hanna Cha is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design. She spent her childhood in both Korea and America, and currently lives in Boston where she loves crinkling her nose in the early morning breeze and snuggling her tiger-like cat, Hobac. Tiny Feet Between the Mountains is her first book. Visit her online at HannaCha.com.

Hanna Cha is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design. She spent her childhood in both Korea and America, and currently lives in Boston where she loves crinkling her nose in the early morning breeze and snuggling her tiger-like cat, Hobac. Tiny Feet Between the Mountains is her first book. Visit her online at HannaCha.com.

Editorial Reviews

* "This gorgeous and moving debut from Cha is a worthwhile addition to any picture-book collection."

STARRED REVIEW Booklist

"[Hanna Cha's] richly hued spreads swirl with inviting action, her tiger-themed panels especially burst forth in flaming swaths of gold, orange, brown and black strokes, as if the tiger's energy can hardly be contained on the printed page."

Shelf Awareness

"This picture book will be a favorite as a read-aloud or during individual quiet time. Recommended."

School Library Connection

11/01/2019

PreS-Gr 2—Diminutive Soe-In works extra hard to keep up with the other villagers, but never lets her small stature become a problem. Cheerful and resourceful, the child finds a way to accomplish her tasks—even if the other villagers look at her askance. When the village is clouded in darkness and smoke, the chieftain asks for a volunteer to investigate. "The crowd was silent. When still no one spoke up, Soe-In took a deep breath and said, 'Sir, I will go.'" A chorus of voices shout their doubts, but Shoe-In is undeterred. She discovers that the source of the darkness is the Spirit Tiger who, not content with the mountains and forest, seeks to rule the sky and accidentally swallowed the sun. The great beast is miserable, crying and covered with fire as the sun torments him from inside his belly. Soe-In is confident that she can help despite the tiger's skepticism, and only briefly doubts herself when her first three strategies don't work. She perseveres and saves the day, earning the respect of her village and a blessing from the Spirit Tiger. Cha's illustrations are expressive and vivid, allowing readers to immerse themselves in Soe-In's world. An author's note about the history and meaning of tigers in Korean lore adds extra resonance to this charming tale. VERDICT Plucky Soe-In may be extra tiny, but her confidence and resourcefulness should earn her a large space on library shelves everywhere.—Anna Haase Krueger, Ramsey County Library, MN

School Library Journal

2019-07-14
Soe-In has a small round face, just larger than a persimmon, pink cheeks, and a long black braid. Her name, in Korean, means "tiny person."

One morning, the villagers find the sun missing from the sky. The air is filled with black smoke and red embers. When the chieftain asks for a volunteer to solve this mystery, everyone is silent—except for Soe-In. "I will go." The smallest people often have the bravest hearts. The courageous little girl packs up her pink bojagi (a scarf to carry her belongings) and travels into the dark forest. She comes face to face with the spirit tiger, who has accidentally swallowed the sun. (The symbolism of the tiger in Korean culture is explained in an author's note.) Cha's debut picture book captures the bold ethos of an ancient Korean legend with sparkling energy, dramatic fires, and giant tigers. It does not, however, overwhelm the modern sensibilities of this small and resolute girl, thoughtfully trying many solutions to solve this epic problem. While traditional clothing and architecture are lovingly portrayed, the presence of a tiny girl heroine is a contemporary twist. Although the range of emotions seen on the face of the main character is limited, the plot and pictures carry the story forward with theatrical drama.

A bold and mythic female underdog tale with the look and feel of an ancient Korean fable. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews