THE ORIGAMI KID

A Japanese American boy literally makes new friends and embarks on a wild journey.

Mike is bored. It’s raining, and he has no one to play with, so he decides to set off on an adventure. Going alone would be no fun, so he makes a friend using origami—a paper dog he names Zoe. They soon find themselves in the jungle. After exploring for some time, they get lost, but an origami monkey comes to their rescue. Together, the new friends head to the sea, where Mike folds an origami boat. The trio sail to a mysterious island, where they must face an oni, a grumpy, troll-like creature. Based on the Japanese folktale “Momotarō,” this is a quick but fun escapade. The unseen narrator poses questions at critical junctures (“How would they find a way out?”); the origami directions offer answers. Seven origami projects are included, with clearly expressed written and visual instructions. Mike and the page background are drawn in a minimalistic cartoon style, while his friends are folded out of actual origami paper, with cartoon faces imposed on them. The illustrations rely on only a handful of colors, matching the hues of the origami paper. The book opens with helpful information on common origami folds and symbols; it also includes 28 sheets of origami paper and a recipe for gyoza (folded dumplings).

A winning combo of creative craft and absorbing story.