A former coworker and a good kid (I have known them since they were a customer of about 7-years-old) told me about their friends’ book, Tiny Feet Between the Mountains. My friend said that Hanna Cha was also a good person and they really liked the book. I love a good recommendation and found a copy.
My first thought was that it has some very lovely illustrations. The cover alone was worth the price of admission. Then, there is a sweet, modern story about being little, but showing that you can still do big things. This book is as good as they said it was. It is long enough to fill in the details needed for a folktale, but not so long that it drags. There is also information about the tiger in Korean society also provided.
If I have one complaint, it is that it has been done before. The main character is a young girl, who is plucky and the smallest of the village. And of course, everyone thinks she is too small to help them when the village is in danger. And equally of course, she is the one that saves the day. Yet, there is the Korean element that does make this “girl power” story different. It is a strong first book, Cha’s illustrations are one point. Great, deep, rich color. There is some wildness and abstractness to some and realism to others. It is a grand mixture. The story might not be for the very young as said, slightly longer but also it is a bit of a thriller) but five and up (and of course, adults) could really enjoy each piece of Tiny Feet Between the Mountains.