Little Inchkin

Little Inchkin, the hero of this well-known Japanese tale, is no bigger than a pea pod, but he has large dreams nonetheless. Taking a sword made from a needle and millet straw, and clad in ``armor of beetles' wings,'' young Inchkin sets off to make his fortune. After bravely protecting Prince Sanjo's daughter from two fiery demons, the small hero is rewarded by Lord Buddha, who grants his dearest wish--to be as tall as other men. Inchkin not only marries his princess in the end, but ``small or tall'' he becomes ``the most honored samurai swordsman in the land.'' French's ( Snow White in New York ; Anancy and Mr. Dry Bones ) economical and well-paced prose is perfectly matched by the brilliance of her full-spread illustrations. Her paintings, similar in style to Leo and Diane Dillon's The Tale of the Mandarin Ducks , recall 18th-century Japanese art. Like theater curtains, intricate right and left borders set off the center stage, where stylized figures with Kabuki faces enact the story. French's complex designs, especially of the dragon-like demons and the costumes of Inchkin and his princess, are dazzling without being overwhelming, opulent but never cluttered. The combination of elegant compositions and lush colors lends unusual depth. Ages 4-8. (May)