Yoko (A Yoko Book, 1)

I had this book when I was little and I just had to buy it for my kids. My kids ages range from 1 to 11 and they all loved it! Such a cute, fun read! The picture are absolutely beautiful. We love all of the colors and cute animals! This story of Yoko has a great lesson about how different doesn’t mean bad, and we love that!

My daughter just started Kindergarten and was being picked on because of bringing her lunch in from home in a bento box. I searched the web for a book that addressed this and came across Yoko. It's an adorable book, easy to read and easy for my daughter to understand. She immediately identified with the main character. I liked how the story didn't force all the characters to suddenly change and like her food, but that the main character made a good friend through the experience. We don't pack sushi for her lunch, but this story is great for any child who is being singled out for bringing in a lunch that other children say is "yucky" or "weird". The book helped me have a conversation not only about being bullied at school over lunch, but also about how new foods need to be tasted before you think they don't taste good.

A funny favorite of my now grown Asian daughter, she even acted out a portion of the book in her kindergarten class, to much applause. Hits just the right notes, and the "International Food Day" premise will be familiar to many parents.

This is one of my all-time favorite read-alouds for children. I can't figure out why it's out of publication. Yoko's expressions are priceless as she endures the typical grade-school taunting from her peers, particularly about her ethnic lunch food of choice (sushi). When my own daughter suffered the same experience in kindergarten (we are Japanese and she naturally wanted to take sushi for lunch--and then no one would sit by her), I asked the teacher if I could bring this book to school and read it to the class. What a cute way to teach the kids a valuable lesson without pointing any fingers! I wanted to give this book as a gift to a friend, and my only frustration was that, not wanting to pay an exorbitant price since it's now out of publication, I chose a "gently used--like new" copy and the seller did not disclose that it had once belonged to a public library. My "gift" came with "Westboro Public Library" stamps all over the inside cover and front pages!

Let me preface this by saying we love Rosemary Wells books. The way she addresses new school fears and nerves is great. This story touches on cultural differences in food and being open to learning about other flavors. I like that not everyone in the end agrees that everything is delicious and wonderful. It’s not a neat ending which is more realistic. Yoko manages to find someone who appreciates her culture and foods and also makes a great friend in the process. Teaches about friendship and kind of hints at trying new things. Gently touches on having respect for other cultures and their flavors.

I ordered this for my daughter when she graduated from college as she asked about it a few weeks before. She smiled when she saw it.

I loved how inclusive the message of this book was! Definitely a great read for younger kids.

This was the perfect book to help explain to my daughter why it's ok and special that she sometimes gets Indian food in her lunchbox. The illustrations are amazing, and of course like every other Rosemary Wells book, the story is told in a sweet and relatable way.

Mr 2 and Miss 5 think it’s a great book with a good message. A few similar ones are equally popular.

Teaching a kind of discrimination through usual foods and cats and dogs is brilliant. And Wells’ pictures are wonderful as always.

I love this book because the overall message is not "Everyone just accepted me and the world is perfect" the overall message is that not everyone will accept differences in people, but the people that do accept you are important and worth your time. I love this book because it shows life in a realistic way and will be beneficial for children especially to those who may have different culture or upbringing compared to their host country.

Been trying to find picturebooks about cultural issues with children. Didn't realise I'd find one that's basically my life story! Wells has tackled the issue with sensitivity and humour.