The Teeny-Tiny Woman

Based on a traditional English folktale, the story follows a teeny-tiny woman who takes a walk, finds a small bone in a churchyard, and puts it in her pocket to make soup. After she goes to bed, a voice from the cupboard repeatedly demands, Give me my bone! The woman eventually loses her patience and shouts, TAKE IT! SENSITIVE TOPICS: The story involves a bone found in a graveyard (churchyard), which is handled in a secular, folkloric manner. The ghost is never seen, only heard, and the resolution is empowering and funny rather than macabre. EMOTIONAL ARC: The book utilizes a slow, rhythmic build-up of suspense through repetition. It moves from curiosity to mild dread and finally to a high-energy, humorous release that dissolves all fear. IDEAL READER: A child who loves the feeling of a jump-scare but needs it to be grounded in a safe, predictable structure. It is perfect for children practicing vocal inflection and those who enjoy interactive storytelling. PARENT TRIGGER: A child who is expressing a new interest in ghosts or monsters, or a child who is feeling slightly nervous about the dark and needs to see a character take charge of a scary situation. PARENT PREP: This book is best read with varying vocal volumes. Prepare to whisper the ghost's voice and end with a loud, joyful shout. It can be read cold, but practicing the rhythm helps the comedic timing. AGE EXPERIENCE: Toddlers will enjoy the repetition of the phrase teeny-tiny. Older children (ages 5-7) will appreciate the irony and the subversive humor of the woman losing her temper with a ghost. DIFFERENTIATOR: Tomie dePaola’s signature illustration style softens the Gothic elements of the English folktale, making it accessible to a much younger audience than other versions of this story.

This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.