Yoko

Amazon.com Price: $49.95 (as of 22/04/2019 16:47 PST- Details)

Description

Mmm, Yoko’s mom has packed her favorite for lunch nowadays-sushi! But her classmates don’t think it looks somewhat so yummy. “Ick!” says one of the vital Franks. “It is seaweed!” They are not even impressed by her red bean ice cream dessert. Of course, Mrs. Jenkins has a plan that might solve Yoko’s problem. But will it work with the other children in class?
Now in paperback for the first time, this tender story from Rosemary Wells demonstrates the creator’s uncanny understanding of the pleasures and pains of an peculiar school day.

It is Yoko’s first day at school, so of course her mother wants to send her off with healthy comfort food for lunch–a delectable package of homemade sushi. “Have a wonderful day at school, my Little Cherry Blossom,” her mother says as Yoko climbs into the bus. And it could have been, had it not been for lunchtime. Timothy brings a peanut butter and honey sandwich. Tulip has Swiss cheese on rye. The Franks brothers have beans and franks. But when Yoko opens her cooler of rice rolls with “the crispiest cucumber, the pinkest shrimp, the greenest seaweed, and the tastiest tuna,” one of the vital Franks brothers announces, “Ick. It is green. It is seaweed.” Tulip and Fritz chime in, “Yuck-o-rama.”

Rosemary Wells (Voyage to the Bunny Planet), with her expressive, bright-eyed, chubby-cheeked animal kingdom, has once again successfully tapped into the emotional world of children. The embarrassment of bringing an uncool lunch to school! What child hasn’t wanted to hide under the cafeteria table when caught with a gooey enchilada or a slice of vegetarian lentil loaf? Fortunately, Yoko’s teacher concocts a plan to stop the teasing. Parents who have more ambitious hopes for their children’s lunches than Fritos, PB&Js, and Oreos will probably be relieved to discover that the happy ending does not include Yoko’s giving up her comfort meal or, more importantly, her heritage. (Ages 4 and older) –Gail Hudson


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