The Origami Kid: A Paperfolding Adventure by Robert McGuire

What worked:

The author indicates his family shares two cultures and this story is a new version of a Japanese folktale, Momotaro (The Peach Boy). Origami is a Japanese art form and it becomes a central part of this book. The main character is Mike and he folds paper to make new friends or to make items that will help during his adventure. The author includes directions for the origami and there are even pieces of thin origami paper in the back. The early origami requires simple folds while the later ones are more detailed.

The colorful illustrations will catch the eyes of young readers as Mike travels through the jungle, sails across ocean water, and lands on an island. He encounters an oni (a demon or ogre from Japanese folklore) and isn’t sure what to do. The folded friends are added to the graphics as they become part of Mike’s team. The exception is Oni as readers must wait until the end to learn how to fold him.

What didn’t work as well:

While this book is considered middle-grade, the story itself probably won’t entertain middle-grade readers. It has a very plain format that’s appropriate for picture books. Middle-grade readers will most enjoy the origami.

The final verdict:

The reading level of the story is for young children but the instructions for paper folding are more appropriate for middle-grade readers. Older readers who enjoy origami will like this book but they will find the story lacking. The author summarizes the story of Momotaro at the end but I suggest reading the actual book and comparing it to The Origami Kid.