Review: Tiny Feet Between the Mountains, written and illustrated by Hanna Cha
- amiller8979
- Feb 6
- 2 min read
Inspired by Korean mythologies, this tale and colorful illustrations captivates readers of all ages. The main character, Soe-In, is a tiny child who is never too afraid to take matters into her own hands. This text provides students with a mirror, window, and door to understanding how people of different times and cultures view themselves, the natural world, and the perils and rewards of life. The simple plot structure of this folktale makes it a great text for developing younger students' early sense of story. It can also be used with older students to develop their understanding of structure, common themes, and archetypes.
At the story's beginning, we learn that the main character's name, Soe-In, means “tiny person,” which perfectly fits the small girl. Soe-In’s small size never stopped her; she never gave up, even when she struggled with completing chores. 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 accidentally swallowed the sun! To help the spirit tiger and her village, Soe-In must devise a clever idea to solve this gigantic problem. And while she’s at it, she proves that the smallest people often have the biggest, bravest hearts.
Soe-In provides young readers with a strong example of the hero archetype, as her character ultimately fulfills a necessary task and restores harmony to the community. Cha’s beautifully illustrated picture book not only captures the ethos of an ancient Korean legend with sparkling energy, dramatic fires, and giant tigers, but it also features a bold and mythic female underdog turned hero, and it exposes the reader to the historical importance of the tiger in Korean culture. Hanna Cha's website features these downloadable activity sheets for use in the classroom.
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