Sumo Boy

What child hasn't wished he were a superhero at one time or another? Young readers can have the experience vicariously through the titular fellow, who can transform himself into a modern-day Superman: "I am Sumo Boy. I fight for justice." Nakagawa's (the Chocolat series) story follows a routine plot line: the hero swoops in to save a defenseless girl and accomplishes a job well done. As with any growing boy, his day ends with a nourishing meal that gives him the sustenance he needs. But Japanese words and wrestling terminology, plus the tightly constructed urban backdrop, set this book apart. Larger-than-life watercolor images of Sumo Boy lend credence to such adages as "size matters" and "bigger is better." In fact, Hasegawa's (Otama's Rice Porridge ) illustrations use practically every inch of space on the pages. His precise yet rapid brushstrokes aptly mirror Sumo Boy's wrestling moves. But because the story follows a rather familiar trajectory, readers will be able to keep pace. Wrestling aficionados are treated to four pages' worth of illustrated moves and accompanying descriptions, as well as a brief glossary of Japanese vocabulary. Ages 2-5. (Apr.)