When I submitted my picture book manuscript, Sumo Joe, to Lee and Low’s New Voices competition, I received a response that my picture book had not won, but that I had the opportunity to receive feedback from editors at Lee and Low. My editor, Kandace Costin, found only one sumo picture book at the time when she researched the market. I noticed that a few more children’s books featuring sumo have been published so I thought I would do a round-up so Sumo Joe can have some friends!
Sumo Joe by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Nat Iwata
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?
I wanted to show sumo in its true light, as a sport, deeply rooted in Japanese culture and religion (versus something comedic featuring fat men in diapers). I added martial art, aikido (which, by sheer coincidence, Nat and I both studied briefly) to showcase Japanese hand-to-hand combat, sibling style! It is my hope that our story gets kids excited to learn more about sumo and Japanese culture while being able to relate to pesky little sisters! [picture book, ages 4 and up]
I am giving away a sumo-sized picture book giveaway! To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter at the bottom.
p.s. Related posts:
Sumo Joe is in Jambo Books’ January Box!
Sumo Joe at the Japanese American National Museum
Sumo Joe on The Children’s Book Podcast with Matthew Winner
My FREE Sumo Joe Virtual Classroom Visit
Thank you everyone! SUMO JOE on 2nd printing!!!
Children’s Books Featuring Sumo
Sumo Counting by Sanae Ishida
I love how Japanese words, including sumo terms, are woven into the story of this cute counting board book. Kids can learn to count from 1 to 10 in both English and Japanese! The numbers 50 and 100 are also included. This board book even includes an illustrated glossary in the back! [board book, ages 0 and up]
Sumo Opposites by Sanae Ishida
Baby sumo wrestlers introduce the concept of opposites in this bilingual Japanese board book. I am learning Japanese through Duolingo and I found this very helpful as I don’t know all these words. The Japanese words are in Katakana which is like a Japanese alphabet. Many of these words can also be written in Kanji, which is similar to Chinese characters, but that is more advanced! [bilingual Japanese board book, ages 0 and up]
Sumo Boy by Hirotaka Nakagawa, illustrated by Yoshifumi Hasegawa
Yoshifumi Hasegawa is a Japanese author, former kindergarten teacher, and musician. His picture book depicts a new superhero, Sumo Boy! Sumo Boy uses his wrestling skills to help a girl being bullied and then completes his good deed by bringing her to a restaurant for a sumo meal of Chanko Nabe, Hot Pot. [picture book, ages 4 and up][
Sumo by Thien Pham
After his football career fails to take off, Scott gets the opportunity to train as a sumo wrestler in Japan. It’s a tough transition to leave a small town in California and move to a new country. Scott, now renamed Hakugei (his novice sumo name; he may get a new sumo name if he reaches a higher rank of sumo), meets the dojo’s owner’s daughter Asami. Will he be able to succeed at sumo or will he be forced to return home? His next five sumo matches will decide his fate.
Scott’s sumo journey is similar to American sumo champion Chad Rowan (Akebono) which I found fascinating. I personally found the storyline choppy and hard to follow. The pages had three color schemes, orange, blue, and green. Orange seems to be the story in the present time. Blue is the story when it is set in the past in California. Green is the recent past set in Japan. It would have helped if Scott/Hakegei looked a little more different from his sumo opponent. The three timelines converge at the end, but I honestly don’t know what happened. Did Scott win a match? I think so…??? It’s a little too much work to figure this out. I do like Pham’s illustrations and spare text. [graphic novel, ages 14 and up]
Sumo Mouse by David Wisniewski
This is another sumo story about a superhero, Sumo Mouse. When mice go missing, Sumo Mouse is on the scene. An evil cat is kidnapping mice to use as part of a squeaky toy. At a sumo match, champion sumo mouse Gachinko battles an evil robot. Sumo Mouse is there to save Gachinko in this match of wits and skill. Fans of comic books will enjoy this sumo adventure! [picture book, ages 5 and up]
SumoKitty by David Biedrzycki
“Fall down seven times; get up eight.”
I love this sumo story of a stray cat who wants to earn a place at the sumo heya (training house). To do this, the sumo cat needs to keep the mice away. The cat needs to train like a sumo wrestler to overcome the mice. This picture book shows sumo wrestlers’ mental attitude as well as Japanese culture. It’s a charming story of perseverance through sumo training. The illustrations are also really beautiful! [picture book, ages 4 and up]
Sumo Picture Book GIVEAWAY!
I am giving away a sumo-sized picture book giveaway! To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter below. I can only mail to U.S. and A.F.O. addresses.
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Barbed Wire Between Us by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Violeta Encarnación
- ⭐ Starred review from Kirkus
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- ⭐ Starred review from School Library Journal
- Kirkus: The Most Anticipated Children’s Books of Spring 2026
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- California Eureka Non-Fiction Gold Award
- Junior Library Guild Gold Selection
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The Traveling Taco:
- California Eureka Non-Fiction Silver Award
- Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Winner (from National Council for the Social Studies and Children’s Book Council)
- Reading Rockets’ Summer Reading Guide 2025
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Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
We Sing from the Heart: How the Slants® Took Their Fight for Free Speech to the Supreme Court
- ALSC Notable Children’s Book
- 2025 Carter G. Woodson Book Award Middle Level Honoree
- Orbis Pictus Recommended Book for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children
- 2024 Julia Ward Howe Prize for Children’s Literature Winner
- California Eureka Non-Fiction Award Honor Book
- Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Winner (from National Council for the Social Studies and Children’s Book Council)
- Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year 2025
- Recommended Reading for the Social Justice Literature Award 2025 (International Literacy Association)
- Pennsylvania Mountain Laurel Book Award Nominee 2026-27
- Junior Library Guild Gold Selection
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Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- ⭐ Starred review from School Library Journal!
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- Massachusetts Book Award Long List
- dPICTUS 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023
- Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
- 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
- Green Earth Book Award Long List
- Nautilus Silver Winner, Nonfiction Children’s Picture Book
- Sunshine State Young Readers Award Orange Blossom List for Nonfiction
- Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Bank Street College’s The Best Children’s Books of the Year
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
I enjoyed Sumo Joe and Sumokitty and am currently studying Japanese language and the culture.
Sumo Boy is my favorite!
Sumo Kitty sounds awesom! One other book about Japan (for kids) that I like is Sakura’s Cherry Blossoms.
All of these look very intriguing!
no fav
I followed sumo wrestling for a few years and thoroughly enjoyed watching my hero Konishiki. I love that these books are being offered. They offer children a chance to explore the sport, the traditions and gain a deeper appreciation of a wonderful culture.
The only Japanese book I can think of is Everyone Poops. It’s always a hit. I would like to donate these titles to my son’s title 1 diverse public montessori school.