Yoko | written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells (1998)
Summary
Mmm, Yoko's mom has packed her favorite for lunch today--sushi! But her classmates don't think it looks quite so yummy. "Ick!" says one of the Franks. "It's seaweed!" They're not even impressed by her red bean ice cream dessert. Of course, Mrs. Jenkins has a plan that might solve Yoko's problem. But will it work with the other children in class?
Format
Picture Book
Age Range
3-7
Why I Love It
Yoko addresses an unfortunately too-common childhood experience: exclusion from the group for being different. Yoko’s sushi lunch is unfamiliar to her classmates and therefore weird and gross. Her teacher notices and frets all night about what to do. Although Mrs. Jenkins’s plan to host an international food festival doesn’t completely address her classmates’ behavior towards her, it does help her find a friend in Timothy. I love the realistic conclusion (her classmates don’t immediately change their attitude) and Wells’ warm watercolor illustrations.