  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 06/01/2017 Gr 1–3–Jasmine Toguchi is anticipating the arrival of her family members for the New Year in sunny Los Angeles. Every year to celebrate, Jasmine's relatives spend all day making mochi, Japanese sweet rice cakes. Jasmine will have to wait two more years before she can assist with the mochi-tsuki, or mochi-making, with her grandma and aunties. Pounding the rice with the mochi hammer is a difficult feat that's reserved for the men in the family. But fearless Jasmine is determined to be the first girl and first person under 10 to help with the New Year preparations. Obaachan, Jasmine's grandmother, encourages her to be patient, while mean cousin Eddie relentlessly taunts the girl. In this new early chapter book series, Florence introduces readers to a bright character who is grappling with respecting authority while also forging her own path. Vukovic's illustrations are expressive and imbue Jasmine and the Toguchi family with sweetness. VERDICT This first entry nicely balances humor with the challenges of growing up; readers will devour it.—Claire Moore, Manhattan Beach Library, CA - Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 06/01/2017 Jasmine Toguchi is excited about making mochi for New Year’s Eve, as is tradition for her Japanese American family, but she’s bummed because this is the first year her older sister will be allowed to help make the sweet rice treats, so Jasmine’s going to be stuck babysitting her younger cousins. As her dutiful sister helps around the house, Jasmine tries to wrangle her way into helping make mochi by swinging the hammer with the men of the family! What follows is an adorable and heartwarming story about a kid who wants to feel special and do something first for once, along with a nice overview of a Japanese New Year celebration. This series opener focuses on New Year celebrations, and in subsequent series installments, the author, who is Japanese American, will focus on other traditional Japanese holidays; the next installment is centered on Girl’s Day. Detailed ink spot illustrations enliven the text, and there’s even a recipe in the back of the book for anyone who wants to try making mochi at home. - Copyright 2017 Booklist. Loading...
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