This book delivers a wonderful message of caring about pepople and respecting others. It is a beautifully illustrated book about the Japanese and its customs. This book is funny as well as a treat for the eyes. ( )

Beautiful oil, pencil, and collage illustrations and creative use of typesetting come together in this classic folktale to form an engaging and provocative picture book. This adaptation of the Japanese folktale "Smells and Jingles" tells the story of Yoshi, a fan maker, and his neighbor Sabu, an eel broiler. The eels Sabu broils smell delicious, but Yoshi won't buy them; he just smells them cooking while he eats plain rice. When Yoshi tells Sabu that he'll never buy the eels because he can smell them for free, Sabu gets angry and gives Yoshi a bill. Yoshi "pays" the bill in a clever way. Although they reach an impasse, in the end the neighbors cooperate. Sabu makes money, and Yoshi gets to eat eels for free. The simple text and engaging illustrations will appeal to a range of ages, and the story will prompt discussion on topics such as fairness, teamwork, and creative problem solving. 2000, DK Publishing, $15.95. Ages 6 to 14.Eileen Hanning (Children's Literature)