Review by Booklist Review
With the tender realism of Yoko Writes Her Name (2008) and other books about the Japanese kitten, Wells blends the immigrant-child story with the universal thrill of learning to read. Yoko and Mama love reading their three books from Japan together, and Yoko knows them by heart. But how will she find more stories? Mama cannot read English, so with the help of Yoko's teacher and the school librarian, Yoko starts following stories by looking at the pictures in great books like The Red Fox. She points at English letters and sounds them out ( Snug as a bug in a rug ). She recognizes words in signs around her ( Bus stop, Library ), and then she is teaching Mama. The bright, beautifully detailed illustrations in oil pastels and collage show Yoko's cozy home, the loving family bonds, and the rising excitement as a young child opens up new worlds. Brand-new readers will recognize the powerful discovery. The blissful cover picture of Yoko curled up in an armchair with a book says it all. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Almost 15 years after she first appeared on the scene, kindergarten kitten Yoko remains one of the most familiar furry faces in picture books.--Rochman, Hazel Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 1-Yoko's class is learning to read, and Mrs. Jenkins gives her students a beautiful leaf for each book they finish. Yoko has only three books at home (all in Japanese) and is feeling glum because her classmates boast about how many more leaves they have put on the class book tree. After Yoko discovers the library and increases the books available to her, she earns as many leaves as her classmates. As she reads at home, her mother begins to learn to read in English, too. The story is very simple; the audience may be somewhat limited to emerging readers who are eager to share the wonder of the reading experience. The beautiful papers and patterns in the illustrations, including those on the kimonos Yoko and her mother wear, and the sweet cast of cat characters are sure to appeal.-Mary Hazelton, Elementary Schools in Warren & Waldoboro, ME (c) Copyright 2012. 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
In this fifth story featuring Yoko the cat, she and her mother love to read the three Japanese children's books they have at home, but Yoko needs to start reading in English. Soon enough she is--and teaching her mother, too. Yoko's excitement about recognizing new words is accurately portrayed. Wells's oil pastel and collage art is as eye-catching as ever. (c) Copyright 2012. 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
(Picture book. 4-7)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
