Sumo Joe

by Mia Wenjen, Nat Iwata (Illustrator)

Overview

In this sweet and funny story, Sumo Joe and his friends enjoy pretending to be sumo wrestlers. But when his little sister wants to join their boy-only game, what should Sumo Joe do?

On Saturday mornings, Sumo Joe is a gentle big brother to his little sister. But on Saturday afternoons, he and his friends are sumo wrestlers! They tie on makeshift mawashi belts, practice drills like teppo, and compete in their homemade dohyo ring. They even observe sumo's ultimate rule: no girls allowed! But when Sumo Joe's little sister wants to join in the fun, Sumo Joe is torn between the two things he's best at—sumo, and being a big brother.

Fists, feet, and martial art forms collide in this sweet yet spirited rhyming story by author Mia Wenjen and illustrator Nat Iwata.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781620148020
Publisher:	Lee & Low Books
Publication date:	05/14/2019
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	97,907
Product dimensions:	9.60(w) x 9.60(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	5 - 6 Years

About the Author

MIA WENJEN is a business owner and blogger of Pragmatic Mom, a popular online resource for parents and educators. As the co-founder of Multicultural Children’s Book Day, Mia is passionate about representation in children’s picture books. In her spare time, she can be found kickboxing or on hikes with her dog. Wenjen lives in Newtown, Massachusetts with her husband and three children. You can visit her online at pragmaticmom.com and follow her at @pragmaticmom.

NAT IWATA is an artist working in the entertainment industry, and the author/illustrator of The Steampunk Alphabet. Like the characters in Sumo Joe, he's of Japanese descent, and has even practiced a little Aikido, although he has yet to try sumo wrestling. Nat lives in the beautiful Dutch city of Haarlem with his wife and three boys, all of whom serve as an endless source of encouragement and inspiration. You can visit him online at iwataillustration.com.

Editorial Reviews

04/15/2019

A sister eagerly wakes her big yet gentle older brother, “Sumo Joe.” As the girl leaves, Joe welcomes two friends to “practice sumo!” in “the ring” (pillows in a circle), each wrapped in a mawashi. Wenjen describes their sumo moves in straightforward rhymes: “Hands on knees,/ leg raised slow,/ practice shiko.” When the sister arrives home, she “wants to join/ boy-only place./ She’s not allowed/ in sacred space.” Joe hesitates (readers may bristle), but his sister breaks out her aikido skills: “Aikido Jo beats Sumo Joe!” Newcomers Wenjen and Iwata—who illustrates in a playfully expressive style—offer an affectionate story about good-natured sibling rivalry and refusing to be underestimated. Back matter includes an author’s note and an illustrated glossary relating to sumo and aikido. Ages 5–6. (May)

Publishers Weekly

"This is a refreshing new take on the martial arts genre." — Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2019-03-17
Friendly sibling rivalry sparks a face-off between the two Japanese martial art forms, sumo and aikido.

Spare rhyming text introduces Japanese-American Sumo Joe as a "Strong big bro, / built for sumo," who is "gentle, though." While sister Jo must go to aikido, Joe's friends arrive to "practice sumo!" His two friends, both boys of color, are quick to help tie the special belt and construct their makeshift wrestling ring with various throw pillows. They continue with "teppo," or drills, including flinging salt to purify the "dohyo," or ring. Japanese terms, printed in boldface on first occurrence, are seamlessly incorporated into the text, explaining different aspects of sumo. An author's note and glossary also provide extended cultural notes on both martial art forms, including sumo's origins in Shinto. Iwata provides a warm pastel palette with characters full of movement and personality. This is especially apparent when Jo returns from practice with her hair flying behind her. Jo is tenacious in challenging her brother despite the traditional sumo practice that women cannot enter the ring once it is purified. When Sumo Joe accepts, readers are treated to a lively sibling duel with a good-natured conclusion. With a saturation of ninja/ninjutsu books in the market, this is a refreshing new take on the martial arts genre.

Young readers will enjoy this spirited debut with insightful integration of cultural exploration. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews