The Funny Little Woman 

by Arlene Mosel

Summary: While chasing a dumpling, a little lady is captured by wicked creatures from whom she escapes with the means of becoming the richest woman in Japan.

This book won the prestigious American Library Association’s Caldecott award for illustrations. The illustrations mostly use simple dull colors, but this allows for the funny little woman in bright red and orange to stick out. The story is a Japanese folktale that is wonderful for a multicultural unit lesson. 

Interest Level: grade k-3

Reading Level: grade 4