New Arrival/New American Books

Written by Debbi Michiko Florence
Illustrated by Elizabet Vukovic
Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Eight-year-old Jasmine Toguchi is a flamingo fan, tree climber, and top-notch mess-maker!

She’s also tired of her big sister, Sophie, always getting to do things first. For once, Jasmine wishes SHE could do something before Sophie—something special, something different. The New Year approaches, and as the Toguchi family gathers in Los Angeles to celebrate, Jasmine is jealous that her sister gets to help roll mochi balls by hand with the women. Her mom says that Jasmine is still too young to join in, so she hatches a plan to help the men pound the mochi rice instead. Surely her sister has never done THAT before.

But pounding mochi is traditionally reserved for boys. And the mochi hammer is heavier than it looks. Can Jasmine build her case and her mochi-making muscles in time for New Year’s Day?

Primary ISBN: 9780374304102
Available As: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook
Chapter Book, Age 06 or older

Community Represented: Japanese/Japanese American

Themes: Award Winner, Celebrations, Cultural Empowerment & Joy: Food, Engagement Tool: Arts, Engagement Tool: Audio or Podcast, Family Relationship: Grandparents, Family Relationship: Parents, Family Relationship: Siblings, Generation: 1st, Generational Differences: Gender Roles, Immigrant: Education, Recommended: Counterpoint to AAPI Hate

Setting: United States (California)

Character’s New Arrival/New American Status: 1st Generation

Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience

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Activities

EXPLORE Jasmine Toguchi Activities

Podcast