Yoko

We've read all of the Yoko books which include characters who are cats, racoons, mice and other animals. The characters are sweet and kind (well, maybe not so much The Franks!). These books are great because as a mom, I can read them over and over and they're charming and smart and teach lessons without being preachy. Also, Yoko is of Japanese descent (yes, I'm sure you couldn't tell by her name!). My daughter is half Japanese, so that is why we initially read the book. In this story, Yoko brings sushi to school and the other kids make fun of her. In the end, she makes a friend. Highly recommended.

My daughter is 3 and this is her current favorite book. The story is simple and sweet with some unexpected twists and the illustrations are beautiful. I think it's a good lesson in being open-minded and trying new things, which is perfect for a preschooler. It even has her excited about trying sushi.

You know how literary snobs can debate for hours whether such-n-such an author's work was better early in their career or late? Okay, that's what I do, only I do it with children's authors. Which, when you think about it, doesn't make a whole lot of sense. I mean, what's the point in comparing early Maurice Sendak to his later stuff? What are you really going to determine if you hold up William Steig's cohesive early picture books to his later messiness? But that's just what I do. It's what I like to do. And I have been doing it to Rosemary Wells for years. Ms. Wells was the picture book author I really and truly grew up with. I like to claim loftily that Tasha Tudor was my earliest childhood influence, but I'm just saying that to impress my fellow kiddie lit snobs. If I'm going to be honest, I grew up on Max and Ruby. Books like, "Max's Breakfast". When I became a children's librarian I finally saw Wells' later work and I was, frankly, shocked. To me, it seemed as if Wells had become sloppy in her later years. Max and Ruby books keep getting cranked out, but their plots have become gooey and the illustrations messy. So I grumbled to myself and refused to seriously consider reading and reviewing a single Rosemary Wells picture book ever again. Then, in the process of reading the New York Public Library's, "100 Picture Books Everyone Should Know" I realized that I'd have to read "Yoko". I didn't want to, but admittedly it looked appealing. Reluctantly, I checked it out of my library branch. Tentatively I opened it up and read it through. And just like that my late-Rosemary-Wells prejudice dropped like scales from my eyes. I still think that later Max and Ruby books haven't half the heart of their earlier predecessors. And I still think Wells is getting far too sloppy in her old age. But "Yoko" is honest-to-goodness really well written. It's also doggone cute to boot. It's a normal school day and for lunch Yoko's mother is packing her daughter all her favorite foods. She gets sushi containing, "the crispiest cucumber, the pinkest shrimp, the greenest seaweed, and the tastiest tuna". At lunch, Yoko enjoys her food but her fellow classmates are deeply disgusted. Mrs. Jenkins, the teacher, tries to convince poor Yoko that by snack time everyone will have forgotten to tease Yoko about her food. Unfortunately, Mrs. Jenkins is underestimating the power of ridicule. Poor Yoko and her red bean ice cream doesn't stand a chance. The minute she gets a chance, Mrs. Jenkins decides to have an International Food Day at school. Everyone will bring in a dish "from a foreign country" and Yoko's classmates will taste just how good sushi is. Everyone makes a dish, and at this point the reader has probably come to the comforting conclusion that everyone will try Yoko's sushi, decide it's good after all, and be her friend forever. Not so much. By the end of lunch everyone has tried almost everything, but not a single piece of Yoko's

This is a wonderful story that celebrates the diversity of our nation, and shows that these differences are cause for celebration not ridicule. My daughter enjoyed this book, and followed the childrens feelings of the unusual lunch dish. When she said "ick!" and slowly began to wonder what sushi actually tastes like, it made me smile. She learned the first lesson of the differences in everyone. Rosemary Wells provided the stepping stone for understanding and tolerance.

This book is a wonderful addition to the Rosemary Wells collection. What child hasn't felt different or excluded like Yoko is? Most of us can relate to bringing the wrong lunch to school and paying the social consequences. Yoko's teacher comes up with an inventive way to try to integrate Yoko's sushi into an international food day, but it fails. However, a curious friend tries Yoko's sushi and likes it, proving that just one friend can make all the difference. This book is a great stepping stone to talk to kids about respecting each other's cultural differences. And who can resist Wells's sweet illustrations? Look for old favorite friends Benjamin and Tulip!!!