Criss-crossing the great snow capped mountain, a narrow
path worn by generations of feet winds its way down to the small busy village below. Along
this footpath there lives a happy, contented woman named Sue Ming, who offers a gesture of
friendship by sharing food and laughter to the weary travelers. One day when the last
supply of her aromatic rice is cooked, it is patted into a great round, delicious cake and
placed on a small wooden dish to cool, the rice cake begins to spin and turn, hop and jump
and lands on the floor, rolling through the door and down the path, over a bridge and
toward a deep and dark cave inhabited with long toothed monsters. Sue Ming has no choice
but to journey inside the cave to try and retrieve her lunch from the bad eating manners
of the underground creatures. But this is no simple matter, for the monsters have fallen
in love with her cooking and force her to stay in the dark cave to cook for them. Her
heart brings memories of sweet birds singing and the faces of all the passing people and
the vision inspires her to plan an escape to her little home on the edge of the mountain.
How does she manage to flee the clutches of the monsters? This clever woman is resourceful
as well as being brave and you will delight in the end.
COMMENTARY:
This is a spirited story with a thrill of monsters that
live in deep dark spooky caves. Creatures who make scary noises, and the courage of one
small woman who wanted to laugh in her own house again and cook rice cakes for those who
would really appreciate all of her work.
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