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Category: Sumo Joe

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

Meeting My Editor for SUMO JOE

Meeting My Editor for SUMO JOE

Posted on October 24, 2018April 18, 2024 by Pragmatic Mom

Attending Kweli’s The Color of Children’s Literature Conference brought me to New York City, with just enough time to squeeze in a visit to meet Kandace Coston, my editor at Lee and Low Books for SUMO JOE, illustrated by Nat Iwata. The office building is secured, so I had to have the security guard call me…

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Connections Between a Picture Book Writing Class and Illustrator Exhibit

Connections Between a Picture Book Writing Class and Illustrator Exhibit

Posted on July 16, 2018April 20, 2024 by Pragmatic Mom

When I took a picture book writing class two years ago through my local community education program, I had no idea that I would be in the company of talented illustrators. Flash forward two years later, and three of us now have debut picture book out (or coming out). Jannie Ho has over illustrated over…

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Miss Panda Chinese and I Talk Multicultural Children's Book Day and More!

Miss Panda Chinese and I Talk Multicultural Children’s Book Day and More!

Posted on January 26, 2018April 22, 2024 by Pragmatic Mom

A huge thank you to Amanda of Miss Panda Chinese for interviewing me on her channel. We talk about Multicultural Children’s Book Day, Chinese versus Japanese New Year Books for Kids, and more! Her post is here. Her interview is here: Miss Panda Chinese and I Talk Multicultural Children’s Book Day and More! And here…

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#AmWriting Sumo Joe revisions with editor

New Voices Competition #AmWriting

Posted on July 28, 2017April 23, 2024 by Pragmatic Mom

If you haven’t been following my progress with my first picture book submission, I entered a New Voices children’s book publishing contest. I didn’t win, but I received an offer for editorial assistance on my book manuscript, Sumo Joe. I jumped on that offer. I’d been trying to get into a critique group where I…

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My First Picture Book Submission: Sumo Joe! #AmWriting

My First Picture Book Submission: Sumo Joe! #AmWriting

Posted on March 27, 2017April 29, 2024 by Pragmatic Mom

I was standing in the line at a dive Brazilian buffet restaurant with my husband for lunch. The food is inexpensive and delicious and we joke that this would be like visiting our grandmothers if they lived nearby and were Brazilian. There was a line at the meat counter where it’s sliced off the skewers…

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Taking a Children's Book Writing Class

Taking a Children’s Book Writing Class

Posted on April 25, 2016May 11, 2024 by Pragmatic Mom

One of my New Year’s resolutions was to take a children’s book writing class so I signed up for one through my local community education program: Children’s Book Writing with Margo Lemieux. She teaches art at Lasell College but has also written children’s books. Interestingly, she has not yet illustrated her picture books. I found…

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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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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

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

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Recent Posts

  • My Daughter’s Start Up SWARM wins $100k from VentureCat! June 20, 2025
  • The Traveling Taco on Reading Rockets’ Summer Reading Guide 2025! June 18, 2025
  • Cover Reveal for Fight for the Right to Read June 16, 2025
  • We Sing From the Heart makes Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year 2025! June 13, 2025
  • Sumo Joe turns 6 Years Old and 6 book GIVEAWAY! June 11, 2025

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