Tasty Baby Belly Buttons

Those nasty oni are at it again, tromping through the village in search of their favorite delicacy—baby belly buttons. But the giant ogres, with their red and green faces, horns, and sharp teeth, have no idea what they’re getting into when they cross Uriko-hime. This remarkable little girl is furious at the audacity of the oni, and she is determined to fight back. (Luckily for her, she was born from a melon, and therefore has no navel!) With the help of her trusty dog, a bag of delicious millet dumplings, and a pheasant and a monkey she picks up along the way, Uriko stomps off to find the monsters and the kidnapped babies. This retelling of one of Japan’s most popular folktales is sure to enchant every belly-button-sporting reader in the family. Pitching small against big, brain against brawn, this is a uniquely satisfying endeavor, especially for the underdogs of the world. Meilo So’s gorgeous Japanese-style illustrations provide unusual and pleasing perspectives, looking from below up the mean oni’s nostrils, for example. Readers may spend hours lost in the exquisite patterns of the clothing or the rich colors of the pheasant. (Ages 6 to 10) (Amazon.com)