Suki's kimono

Chieri Uegaki

Book - 2003

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jE/Uegaki
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Subjects
Genres
Picture books
Published
Toronto ; Tonawanda, NY : Kids Can Press c2003.
Language
English
Main Author
Chieri Uegaki (-)
Other Authors
Stéphane Jorisch (illustrator)
Physical Description
unpaged : ill
ISBN
9781553370840
Contents unavailable.
Review by Booklist Review

K-Gr. 3. Instead of wearing something new or cool on her first day of school, Suki wears the kimono that reminds her of days with her grandmother. Her two older sisters pretend they know don't her, but Suki makes a new friend who accepts her funny clothes. In the classroom, the effervescent Suki demonstratesapanese dance to the class and receives a warm ovation, and the wry final page celebrates the value of being different. Sister-in-spirit toevin Henkes' Lily, Suki is a lively, irrepressible girl, who gives new charm to a familiar story line. The succinct narrative includesapanese words that are easily understood in context. Watercolor illustrations reveal that Suki's new teacher, Mrs. Paggio, also has a flair for distinctive fashion. A fine choice for multicultural units as well as youngsters dealing with differences. Suki's story will appeal to other independent-thinking girls as well. --Linda Perkins Copyright 2003 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

In Uegaki's appealing first book, a first-grader prefers to face scorn from her classmates rather than give up her beloved kimono. Stylish illustrations by Jorisch (Oma's Quilt) add pizzazz. Suki's grandmother buys her the beautiful blue kimono and takes her to the summer festival, where they dance together to Japanese music. Here Jorisch's urban backdrops give life to the pleasures and surprises of a small ethnic enclave in a good-size city. When Suki wants to wear the kimono on the first day of school, her older sisters' disapproval and warnings do not deter her. Jorisch's lightly tinted but gaily drawn watercolors show Suki as she strolls along with her arms out and her sleeves aloft, "like she'd grown her own set of wings"; she's blissfully innocent of the poking and giggling going on around her. When their teacher, Mrs. Paggio, asks the class about their summer vacations, Suki, by now aware of other children's reactions, describes the festival, then demonstrates the festival dance right in front of everyone. Jorisch captures the moment: Suki performs the steps in a series of vignettes, then waits alone, with scarlet cheeks, on the left-hand page while her classmates watch from desks on the right. Mrs. Paggio applauds, "and after a moment, so did the entire class." Given the true-to-life character, readers may feel like applauding, too. Ages 5-8. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review

Gr 1-3-"To spunky little kids everywhere," the dedication states, and it is an apt sentiment. Young Suki indeed fits that description. On her first day of first grade, she chooses to wear her beloved Japanese kimono to school, despite the objections of her older sisters and the initial laughter of other children on the playground. Fortunately for Suki, for whom the kimono brings back fond memories of her grandmother's visit over the summer, her day ends in triumph, with her teacher and classmates won over by her impromptu dance performance. Overall, this is an appealing story of courage and independence. Delicate, playful watercolor-and-ink illustrations perfectly capture the child's neighborhood and the characters' facial expressions; scenes of a Japanese summer festival are a particular delight. The handful of Japanese words scattered throughout the text are briefly defined at the beginning of the story, resulting in a smooth telling that seamlessly integrates the unfamiliar terms.-Sue Morgan, Tom Kitayama Elementary School, Union City, CA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review

Strong-willed first-grader Suki decides to wear to school the kimono her grandmother gave her. Ignoring some classmates' laughter, she bravely demonstrates a Japanese dance and is rewarded with sincere applause. Suki's warm relationship with her grandmother comes through in the elegant, lively watercolors that extend the text, which is as light on its toes as Suki. From HORN BOOK Spring 2004, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review

On the first day of school, Suki is determined to wear her favorite clothes, even though her two older sisters don't approve. She doesn't care about new or cool outfits, just about wearing the kimono, geta, and pink scarf her obachan gave her. Many kids at school do tease Suki, but she continues to hold her head up. When it's her turn to tell about her summer, she describes the festival she attended with her grandmother and begins to dance as her obachan taught her. Now instead of teasing, Suki has the respect of her classmates. And in a twist of irony, the sisters who told Suki she'd be teased for her outfit come home grumpy because no one noticed their new clothing, while Suki dances home with the wind in her pink scarf. Jorisch's watercolor illustrations are reminiscent of Japanese brush paintings. Her characters' faces are extremely expressive and perfectly portray their feelings. A wonderful story about being yourself, with the added bonus of teaching readers a little about Japanese culture. (glossary) (Picture book. 5-8) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.