Gigi and Ojiji: Food for Thought (I Can Read! Level 3: Reading Alone)

by Melissa Iwai (Author) Melissa Iwai (Illustrator)

Gigi and Ojiji: Food for Thought (I Can Read! Level 3: Reading Alone)

A Geisel Honor-winning series! Join Gigi as she tries natto, a traditional Japanese food, in this exciting and engaging Level Three I Can Read book by acclaimed author and illustrator Melissa Iwai.

Intergenerational relationships, Japanese culture, and social and emotional learning are highlighted in this sweet biracial story, perfect for sharing with children 3 to 6.

Ohayo! It's breakfast time and Gigi can't wait to make her favorite meal--Peanut Butter Toast. Yummy! But Ojiji doesn't like peanut butter. How can anyone NOT like peanut butter? Ojiji prefers Japanese foods--like natto, made from fermented soybeans. Will Gigi learn to love a new breakfast treat? This story highlights the close relationship of Gigi and her grandfather and the importance of trying new things!

This exciting and engaging I Can Read series is brought to you by author-illustrator Melissa Iwai, whose popular books include Soup Day and Dumplings for Lili.

Gigi and Ojij: Food for Thought is a Level Three I Can Read book. Level 3 includes many fun subjects kids love to read about on their own. Themes include friendship, adventure, historical fiction, and science. Level 3 books are written for early independent readers. They include some challenging words and more complex themes and stories. The story contains several Japanese words and a glossary of definitions.

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Kirkus

Highlighting a sweet intergenerational relationship, this is a wonderful addition to the early reader series.

School Library Journal

K-Gr 3--One morning, Gigi rises early to make her favorite peanut butter breakfast for her family. However, she is stunned when her Japanese grandpa, Ojiji, expresses gratitude but neglects to eat it. Her mother suggests that maybe Ojiji doesn't like peanut butter. Gigi is surprised: How can anyone dislike peanut butter? She wants to give Ojiji something he likes, so the next morning her mother makes a traditional Japanese breakfast of pickles, salmon, rice, miso soup, and natto (soybeans). But as Gigi takes a bite of natto, she realizes she doesn't like it. With kindness to her grandfather, Gigi is brave--she tries it again when her mother adds it to pancakes. But she still doesn't like it! In this endearing tale, Gigi learns firsthand that not everyone likes what she likes. Ojiji, originally from Japan, prefers traditional Japanese fare. Through both pictures and narrative, this story demonstrates empathy. The illustrations, presented in a muted primary color palette, show the warmth and love between family members as Gigi and Ojiji share the foods they love and the understanding that it's okay not to love everything. This early reader also presents acculturation themes, with Gigi enjoying the tastes of a traditional American childhood, but also learning the foods of her family's culture. Back matter includes an offering of Japanese vocabulary words. VERDICT A fine-tuned depiction of empathy and cultural identity development. Celebrating Japanese culture, this is a heartwarming family story for independent readers.--Jennifer Strattman

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes



Melissa Iwai
Melissa Iwai has illustrated many children's books, including Toolbox Twins, B Is for Bulldozer, and Good Night Engines. Soup Day is the first book she has both written and illustrated. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband and young son, Jamie (who loves to cook with his mom!).
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780063208117
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
HarperCollins
Publication date
September 05, 2023
Series
I Can Read! Level 3: Reading Alone
BISAC categories
JUV013030 - Juvenile Fiction | Family | Multigenerational
JUV030020 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | Asia
JUV043000 - Juvenile Fiction | Readers | Beginner
JUV074000 - Juvenile Fiction | Diversity & Multicultural
Library of Congress categories
-

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