Suki's Kimono [Hardcover]

Chieri Uegaki (Author), Stephane Jorisch (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Suki's favorite possession is her blue cotton kimono. A gift from her obachan, it holds special memories of her grandmother's visit last summer. And Suki is going to wear it on her first day back to school -- no matter what anyone says. When it's Suki's turn to share with her classmates what she did during the summer, she tells them about the street festival she attended with her obachan and the circle dance that they took part in. In fact, she gets so carried away reminiscing that she's soon humming the music and dancing away, much to the delight of her entire class! Filled with gentle enthusiasm and a touch of whimsy, Suki's Kimono is the joyful story of a little girl whose spirit leads her to march -- and dance -- to her own drumbeat.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 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
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

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 demonstrates Japanese dance to the class and receives a warm ovation, and the wry final page celebrates the value of being different. Sister-in-spirit to Kevin Henkes' Lily, Suki is a lively, irrepressible girl, who gives new charm to a familiar story line. The succinct narrative includes Japanese 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 © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Kids Can Press; 1St Edition edition (September 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1553370848
• ISBN-13: 978-1553370840
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.1 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #734,651 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Go, Suki!, October 20, 2003

By 

(alice) (Vancouver, BC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Suki's Kimono (Hardcover)

This charming story is one that every child should read (or have read to them!). Not only does it have an encouraging message and introduce aspects of Japanese culture; it's also VERY beautifully illustrated, and Chieri Uegaki's writing is a pleasure to read. I love the way she phrases things, like when Suki sits close to the taiko drummers and feels "like she'd swallowed a ball of thunder and her whole insides quaked and quivered." Buy this book -- you won't be disappointed.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An exuberant story, October 18, 2003

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Suki's Kimono (Hardcover)

Suki's Kimono is the heartwarming picture book story by Chieri Uegaki of Suki, a young girl determined to wear her favorite blue cotton kimono to school because it is a cherished gift from her beloved grandmother. Suki's friend warns her that it seems weird, but young Suki is determined to follow her own heart. A delightful tale Suki's Kimono is an exuberant story which is wonderfully enhanced for young readers with the brightly colored illustrations of Stephane Jorisch.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Book About Appreciating Your Heritage!, March 9, 2011

By 

K. Nash (Washington, D.C.) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Suki's Kimono (Paperback)

Suki's Kimono is a very nice book about a Japanese girl who is teased for wanting to wear her kimono on her first day of school. Instead of feeling embarassed about her clothes, Suki embraces her differenced and explains to her teacher and friends why she wears her Japanese clothes! A fun read for preschoolers and probably elementary school kids too.