Gigi and Ojiji

Starred review from April 1, 2022

Gr 1-3-Gigi is excited to meet her grandpa, Ojiisan, who is arriving from Japan to live with her family. Even with her basic Japanese vocabulary and the drawing she made to welcome him, their introduction stumbles through several cross-cultural misunderstandings, which makes Gigi cry. Her mom helps her understand the differences between American and Japanese culture and reassures Gigi that all will be well in time. Gigi's interiority is well represented in this wonderful early reader; her thoughts and worries are front and center. Her need for adult consolation and the child-friendly explanations of cultural context will resonate with young readers. The arc of the story is easy to follow. Diversity is well represented; readers will see in the bright, adorable art that Gigi's dad is white, and her mom is Japanese. Readers will also have to make a few inferences about the story, but with three to seven sentences per page, the images support the text to help children understand Gigi's feelings, her parents' reassurances, Roscoe the dog's actions, and Ojiisan's mannerisms. Although some sentences are 10 to 18 words long and some pages contain up to nine six-letter words, most of the text is short dialogue. Japanese words are explained through conversation, and there is a glossary at the end to cement understanding. VERDICT Gigi crafts her Japanese American identity in this enchanting early reader. The cuteness, inclusivity, and cross-cultural problem-solving represented will have young readers coming back again and again. A must-buy.-Jamie Winchell

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2022
Can a young American girl navigate cultural and linguistic differences with her Japanese grandfather? Gigi, a girl with pale skin and short, dark brown hair, can't wait until Ojiisan (grandfather) comes to live with her family, which includes her Japanese mother, her White father, and Roscoe, their playful dog. But when the family meets Ojiisan at the airport, Gigi's hopes for instant connection are dashed in the face of language and culture barriers. Disappointed, Gigi tearfully confides in her mother, who helps to clear up the misunderstandings. Though Gigi is upset that her grandfather tucked away the drawing she made instead of opening it, Mom explains, "Most Japanese people his age think it's rude to open a present in front of the person who gave it to them." With support from Mom, Gigi reaches out again to Ojiisan and finds that they can teach each other the words and cultural norms they don't yet know. This book combines a large font, colorful cartoon art, and an age-appropriate plot in order to introduce the topic of cross-cultural differences (and the emotions that come with bridging them). Gigi experiences a wide range of feelings, which young ones can consider as they follow her story. A glossary contains a handful of Japanese words used in the story but does not include any hints at pronunciation. (This book was reviewed digitally.) An affirming option in the quickly diversifying field of early-reader books. (Early reader. 5-8)

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Starred review from March 1, 2022
Grades K-2 *Starred Review* Gigi is so excited! Today, Ojiji (Grandpa) is coming from Japan to live with her family. She has so many ideas for them to do together--playing tag, reading books, and teaching her dog new tricks. But Gigi's plans are almost immediately scuttled when they pick Ojiji up from the airport. Not only does Ojiji need help adjusting to life in America, Gigi's afraid he doesn't like her! Gigi spills all her worries to her mother, who explains that some things are done differently in Japan. For instance, people often bow rather than hug. Feeling reassured, Gigi's excitement returns along with some new plans for her time with Ojiji. As a level 3 reader, this book for independent readers uses longer sentences and more complex vocabulary, but the text is well supported by the endearing illustrations, which capture all of Gigi's big emotions and depict her as a biracial child, with a white father and Japanese mother. A sweet rapport begins to develop between the girl and her grandfather by story's end, giving this tale of relatable worries a comforting end.

COPYRIGHT(2022) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

February 15, 2023
Grades K-2 Gigi wonders why no one calls her by her full name. When her mother explains that Gigi once struggled to pronounce Geraldine, her full name, Gigi deems her current moniker to be "a baby name" and tries on new ones. The child soon gets tired of printing out all the letters in Geraldine when she signs her artwork, and her real name is also hard for Ojiji, her Japanese grandfather, to pronounce. After Ojiji teaches her how to write her middle name in Japanese, she wants to be known as Hanako. Eventually, having a sense of agency, the child realizes, "I don't feel like it's me." With the support of her family, she finds her authentic identity: "She would be Gigi from now on!" This entry in the I Can Read series for newly independent readers is a follow-up to Gigi and Ojiji (2022) and includes a glossary of four Japanese words. Iwai's expressive cartoons complement the text and capture warm family dynamics. A relatable look at names and why they matter.

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Starred review from November 1, 2022

Gr 1-3-This follow-up to the star-spangled Gigi and Ojiji is similarly nuanced and engaging for newly independent readers. Gigi, a Japanese American girl, lives with her parents and Ojiji, her Japanese grandpa. Gigi learns that her full given name is Geraldine, and that her Japanese name is Hanako. After experimenting with writing and being called these more formal names, Gigi doesn't recognize the names when they are used to get her attention. Gigi is in a real conundrum, because Hanako is the most easily pronounceable name for Ojiji, and her relationship with her grandfather is important to her. It takes Ojiji's observation that "Gigi" fits her best for this relatable problem to be solved. Gigi's problem will resonate with young readers of different ethnicities who have multiple names and will inform readers who have not faced this to understand this cultural difference. The dialogue and inner narration mean readers need to note when conversations are being held aloud and when Gigi is thinking to herself. The adorable images will help readers understand the three to seven lines per page. The image of Ojiji teaching Gigi how to write "Hanako" in Japanese script will be captivating for young readers. A short glossary in the back provides a handy review and invites readers to enjoy the book again. The diversity of the people in public places is a small, but important, aspect of representation. VERDICT This important book will diversify collections for newly independent readers. A must buy.-Jamie Winchell

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 15, 2022
Feeling like she's grown out of her nickname, Gigi tries other names. One morning at breakfast, Gigi, a biracial child whose mother is Japanese and whose father presents White, asks why her family calls her Gigi when her name is Geraldine. When her mom explains that Geraldine was hard for her to say when she was little, Gigi decides that since she isn't a baby anymore, she'd like to go by her real name. But her real name is so long to write and hard for Ojiji, her Japanese grandfather, to say. She quickly agrees when he suggests using her much shorter middle name, Hanako. Soon, she realizes Hanako doesn't feel like her, and she doesn't know what to do. With the help of Ojiji and her mother, however, Gigi finds the perfect name. This latest in the series following Gigi and her grandfather is a probing look at how names can be a big part of identity and are often rooted in cultural meaning. The colorful cartoon art adds emotion and context that could help readers decipher words. The intergenerational relationship is lovingly portrayed as Gigi and Ojiji draw together; he even teaches her how to write Hanako in Japanese characters. A glossary contains a few Japanese words used in the story but no pronunciation guide. A quick yet meaningful exploration of the relationship between names and identity. (Early reader. 5-8)

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