Jules Ober and Pierre-Jacques Ober, The Steadfast Tin Soldier in the Land of the Yōkai, Little Soldier Stories, April 2025, 62 pp., ISBN 9781763837119
The Steadfast Tin Soldier in the Land of the Yōkai adapts Hans Christian Andersen’s classic tale to a Japanese setting, offering both an exciting reinterpretation of a fairy tale and a fascinating glimpse into Japanese culture.
In an antique toy store in Kyoto, a tin soldier finds himself among fantastical toy characters and falls in love with a beautiful maiko doll. But a jealous, grotesque one-legged umbrella “Yōkai”—a supernatural creature from Japanese folklore—desires her too. In a fit of envy, the yokai conjures a whirlwind, throwing the soldier into the streets and setting off his perilous journey through Kyoto’s waterways. Can a brave and steadfast soldier survive this danger?
This picture book is unique for having photographic illustrations. It is created by Australian husband-and-wife duo, Pierre-Jacques Ober and Jules Ober, who are acclaimed for their award-winning photographic story books featuring miniature figurines.
They are clearly masterful photographers. The colourful close-up shots of the figurines’ facial expressions make them feel lifelike. In scenes depicting yōkai attacks, the composition gives an impression of movement, promoting the suspense of the story. I also noticed the contrast between dark backgrounds, which create a sense of foreboding, and bright, hopeful tones that signal moments of optimism. In addition, the detailed scenes of Kyoto’s streets, landscapes, and the cluttered antique toy shop evoke a traditional Japanese setting.
Formal turns of phrase have been used for dialogue, which promotes the classic, old world feel, whilst retaining an easy-to-read style. On the other hand, the narrative language is contemporary and concise with well-chosen descriptors and thoughtfully crafted metaphors to develop characters and heighten the suspense of the story.
This book is suited to older junior readers, aged 7-12 years old, due to its suspenseful narrative and complex plot twists which build to a tragic, unexpected ending. Its photographic illustrations fill the pages in an arrangement similar to graphic novels, which is also appealing for this older age group. Additionally, the concise text makes it highly accessible to reluctant readers.
Read more about the creation of this book here. We have reviewed two previous books by this creative pair, and interviewed them as well.
Reviewed by Barbara Swartz
