I can’t believe that Sumo Joe is releasing today! It feels like I have been talking about Sumo Joe for years and now it’s finally real!
Thank you to everyone who has supported me along this journey including authors who have kindly covered Sumo Joe on their blogs:
Caroline Starr Rose: Classroom Connections: Sumo Joe by Mia Wenjen
What topics does your book touch upon that would make it a perfect fit for the classroom?
With the Tokyo Olympics coming up in 2020, Sumo Joe would be a tie in. Sumo was one of the sports that the Olympic committee had considered for 2020, but it wasn’t chosen. Karate was one of the sports added for 2020 instead.
Sumo Joe also works for any unit on Asia or Japan. There is also a broader message about sibling rivalry and sibling kindness. Nat Iwata’s illustrations are wonderful and also convey a message of body positivity. Sumo Joe and his friends have a range of body types, but sumo is also a sport where the biggest athlete is not necessarily always the winner.
Vivian Kirkfield: Perfect Picture Book Friday: SUMO JOE Plus Giveaway
Why I like this book:
- Text that keeps us moving with great rhythm and rhyme
- Fabulous illustrations
- Timely topic of inclusivity and girl power
And please don’t forget that the best gift to an author is for you to: buy the book, review the book, tell your friends about the book, and ask your library to add the book to their collection.
Debbi Michiko Florence on DEBtastic Reads: AAPI Heritage Month Book a Day 2019 – 15
Sumo Joe by Mia Wenjen with captivating illustrations by Nat Iwata releases on June 11 and is available for preorder. As a Japanese American, I am always on the look-out for #ownvoices books about Japanese Americans and this one looks like it’s going to be great!
A few reviews have also come in:
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)
Publishers Weekly Reviews 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.
Lee & Low also has an awesome Teacher’s Guide for Sumo Joe that is FREE and downloadable.
Sumo Joe Squish Ball GIVEAWAY!
I spotted this squish ball at my work which inspired me to write the picture book snippets of rhyme that were floating around in my head, so naturally, I had to get some made for Sumo Joe. I’m giving away 5 squish balls to 5 winners! Please enter using the Rafflecopter below.
p.s. Meet my illustrator, Nat Iwata, here and here.
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My books:
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
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
Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Scholastic / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Congrats on Sumo Joe-what a wonderful accomplishment! Bravo!
I think my kids would like this book.
Woohoo! Congrats and happy book birthday! Looks fantastic! 🙂
My favorite #ownvoices books are:
1. Children – Toni the Superhero by R.D. Base
2. Middle Grade – The Track series by Jason Reynolds and the Crossover series by Kwame Alexander
3. YA – The Hate U Give and On the Come Up by Angie Thomas
🙂
I LOVE the idea of this book! My 93-year old mother watches Sumo wrestling–for REAL–and the last time I visited, I became intrigued as well. Looking forward to seeing this book. <3
Happy Book Birthday, Mia!! Hearty congrats to you on your debut!!
Congratulations, Mia! It’s a great – and fitting – accomplishment!
Hooray for you and Sumo Joe! I can’t wait to get my hands on this book – I have lots of young friends that I want to share it with!
We don’t own any own voices books, but I would love to add some to our home library! My son is Korean, African American & German so it would be so cool to have more diverse books! How awesome! I’m going to look some up now to buy including Sumo Joe!
Hooray! I lost track of time, and also took a Twitter break for a few days, so I am just arriving to find this great news. Am I too late to the party? Hope not. Congratulations to all involved. HappyBook Birthday you guys! It’s finally here!✌🏼💁🏼🎶🎨📚😊
“The First Rule of Punk” is one of my favorite “OwnVoices” books. I gave it to my niece for Christmas last year, and plan to keep it on my list of “go to” books. (To which I am adding “Sumo Joe” 🙂 )
Congratulations Mia!! So excited for you and looking forward to reading this soon! This may be hard to believe but we haven’t made it to the library or a book store in the last 2 weeks (totally out of character for us!) due to traveling so I can’t wait to see this on the shelves. Looking for a fit with one of our future book lists too!
Looks like a unique & cute book.
I think this is very cute. I love the title and the squishy balls are adorable.
I think Love, Hate & Other Filters Is a good #Ownvoices book
Looks like a great book.