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Category: Sumo Joe

Sumo Joe is the debut picture book by Mia Wenjen and illustrator Nat Iwata.

Sumo Joe turns 6 Years Old and 6 book GIVEAWAY!

Posted on June 11, 2025June 11, 2025 by Pragmatic Mom

My debut picture book, Sumo Joe, turns 6 today. I had entered the Lee and Low New Voices competition, and … I didn’t win! I did get an offer for editorial support from the Lee and Low team and seven months later, after at least four rounds of revisions that included a new backmatter section,…

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NCTE and NCSS 2024 Boston We Sing From the Heart Orbis Pictus Recommended Book

NCTE and NCSS 2024

Posted on February 21, 2025February 22, 2025 by Pragmatic Mom

I was thrilled to be able to sign books three times at NCTE and NCSS. I signed We Sing from the Heart: How the Slants®  Took Their Fight for Free Speech to the Supreme Court at both NCTE and NCSS. It was a dream come true for teachers at NCSS to tell me that they…

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Our Millis Story & Song Holiday Kids’ Book Fair was great fun!

Our Millis Story & Song Holiday Kids’ Book Fair was great fun!

Posted on February 7, 2025February 1, 2025 by Pragmatic Mom

It was such fun to hang out with authors Sandra Elaine Scott, Mia Wenjen, Kelly Carey, Nancy Tupper Ling, and musical performer Elijah T. Grasshopper. Elija T. Grasshopper performed songs with participation from Sandra Elaine Scott and Kelly Carey. Sandra Elaine Scott also read THE BLACK UNICORN, and I read about the gymnasts featured in…

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My SUMO JOE Author Visit to Hansen Elementary School

My SUMO JOE Author Visit to Hansen Elementary School

Posted on July 19, 2024July 29, 2024 by Pragmatic Mom

My author visit coincided with the total solar eclipse in the New England area. I myself had viewed the partial solar eclipse in Newton before heading out to Stoughton. Despite competing against the eclipse, the cafeteria at Hansen Elementary School was packed. Even more amazing were the banners that the kids made for me. At…

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So You Want To Publish a Children's Book at the Blue Bunny bookstore

So You Want To Publish a Children’s Book panel at the Blue Bunny bookstore

Posted on May 30, 2022January 28, 2024 by Pragmatic Mom

The Boston Authors Club hosted its first event after the Covid shut down on April 25 at the Blue Bunny bookstore. Over 35 people turned out for a stellar panel discussion on Children’s Book Writing. One woman flew in all the way from Toronto!! I was thrilled to be on the panel along with Nancy…

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Sumo Joe at Barrington Rhode Island Elementary Schools

Sumo Joe at Barrington Rhode Island Elementary Schools

Posted on May 27, 2022January 28, 2024 by Pragmatic Mom

I had such a wonderful time presenting Sumo Joe to 225 kindergarteners and first graders at Sowams and Nayatt Elementary Schools in Barrington, Rhode Island. The Barrington public school librarians created an Asian & Pacific Islander (APICBA) Community Book Award 2022 program to introduce all the students at the elementary schools to the five picture…

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Sumo Joe is in Jambo Books' January Box!

Sumo Joe is in Jambo Books’ January Box!

Posted on January 14, 2022January 31, 2024 by Pragmatic Mom

Jambo Books is an award-winning children’s books subscription box that delivers 2-3 books each month featuring a child of color as the star.   I am so thrilled that Sumo Joe is included in their January 2022 box which is geared for children ages 3-4. Yamile Saied Mendez’s picture book, Where Are You From?, is…

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I’m Mia Wenjen!

Mia Wenjen Pragmatic Mom

Hi, I’m Mia Wenjen. Nice to meet you!

I blog excessively about diverse children’s books (picture books through middle grade). I am also the co-founder of Read Your World Celebrates Multicultural Children’s Book Day on Jan 25, 2024, our 11th year!

I’d love to chat with you. Let’s connect! PragmaticMomBlog (at) gmail (dot) com or through my social media handles.

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Camp Cody: Overnight Camp in New Hampshire

Read Your World LGBTQIA+ Books Save Lives Merch!

https://www.pragmaticmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Read-Your-World-FINAL-Merchandise-Video.mp4

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Newton Children’s Book Festival 2025

Newton Children's Book Festival 2025

Get My Books Signed or Inscribed through my shop (click to purchase)

Mia Wenjen signed books

Boxer Baby Battles Bedtime! (click to purchase)

Cover Reveal: Boxer Baby Battles Bedtime!

We Sing From the Heart (click to pre-order)

We Sing From the Heart picture book cover reveal of The Slants Simon Tam

FOOD FOR THE FUTURE (click to purchase)

Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Robert Sae-Heng

CHANGING THE GAME (click to purchase)

Changing the Game: Asian Pacific American Female Athletes by Mia Wenjen

SUMO JOE (click to purchase)

Sumo Joe cover reveal

Asian Pacific American Heroes (click to purchase)

Asian Pacific American Heroes by Mia Wenjen

GNOMES & UNGNOMES: Poems of Hidden Creatures // I have 3 haiku poems (click to purchase)

GNOMES & UNGNOMES: Poems of Hidden Creatures 3 haiku by Mia Wenjen
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The Elusive Full Ride Scholarship: An Insider’s Guide

HOW TO COACH GIRLS (click to purchase)

How To Coach Girls silver award winner

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I’ll be sharing WHAT I WISH I KNEW BEFORE I STARTED MY KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN

HOW TO COACH GIRLS book trailer by Mia Wenjen & Alison Foley

https://youtu.be/j74M0bBxrGg

Recent Posts

  • Sumo Joe turns 6 Years Old and 6 book GIVEAWAY! June 11, 2025
  • 7 Interfaith Picture Books & GIVEAWAY! June 9, 2025
  • Read Your World Summer Flash Sale! June 6, 2025
  • I’m Signing Books at ALA 2025 in Philly! June 4, 2025
  • Food for the Future: Half Moon Miracle in the Sahal June 2, 2025

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