It was great to celebrate Japanese holiday, Girls Day or Hinamatsuri, with Debbi Michiko Florence at Newtonville Books! Debbi and I have been doing a blog series on Japanese culture so I wanted to add in this Japanese holiday that also involves mochi!
Hinamatsuri, also called Doll’s Day or Girls’ Day, is a special day in Japan. Celebrated each year on March 3rd, special ornamental dolls representing the Emperor and his court dressed in costume from the Heian period are displayed in households. The day, 3/3, is chosen because the number significance brings good luck.
Boys have their own day on May 5th, another auspicious number combination. Boys’ Day involves flying cloth carp kites.
I really love the Jasmine Toguchi early chapter book series. This is a funny, sweet, pitch-perfect series about a spunky youngest child with glimpses of Japanese culture amidst the typical issues of growing up.
Jasmine Toguchi, Mochi Queen, Jasmine Toguchi, Super Sleuth, and Jasmine Toguchi, Drummer Girl.
Awards for Jasmine Toguchi, Mochi Queen:
“An enjoyable offering about trying new activities and finding just the right talent that makes us feel “free and strong and happy.” –Kirkus Reviews
- A Junior Library Guild Fall 2017 Selection
- An Amazon’s Best Children’s Books of 2017
- An Evanston Public Library’s 101 Great Books for Kids List 2017
- A Chicago Public Library’s Best of the Best Books 2017
- A 2017 Nerdy Book Club Award Winner
- 2018 Amelia Bloomer Booklist
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Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- Selected as one of 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023 by dPICTUS and featured at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair
- Starred review from School Library Journal
- Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
- 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
- Green Earth Book Award longlist
- Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids
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Thank you for this post. A friend introduced me to the holiday a couple years ago, these books look great.
Hi Xyra,
So happy to know that you are interested in Hinamatsuri! I’m half Japanese but didn’t grow up with this holiday but I’d love to get the dolls for my daughters for them to learn about it.
LOVE this photo of you and Debbi, Mia!! So wonderful!!
Thanks Maria! It’s been so great to see Debbi a few times this year already!!
This is a fun series! And your new theme looks great!
Thanks so much MaryAnne! I’m doing one with Andrea Wang soon too on ramen! We both have Japanese themed picture books coming out next year.
Last year I just did a holiday shout out. This year we got together as my friend has a small doll set in a case. This is the title to my post about our party: Tea Time with Melody Q Hinamatsuri 2018
[Note: My friend and I know much of the attire worn is not 100% accurate or specifically Japanese, please do not be too displeased in that aspect of the celebration.]
I love your celebration of Hinamaturi Xyra. I’m linking your post here: https://teatimewithmelodyq.blogspot.com/2018/03/hinamatsuri-2018.html
Thank you, I appreciate the link. 😀
🙂
I’ve heard such great things about this series, thanks for reminding me! #diversekidlit
Thanks so much Katie! That totally makes my day!!