Melissa Iwai
Author
Language
English
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1st Grade Recommended Reads
2023 ALA Children's Award Winners and Nominees
AANHPI Authors: Early Readers (SCPL-YS)
More Lists...
2023 ALA Children's Award Winners and Nominees
AANHPI Authors: Early Readers (SCPL-YS)
More Lists...
Description
"Gigi can't wait for her Ojiji--Japanese grandpa--to move in. Gigi plans lots of things to do with him, like playing tag, reading books, and teaching Roscoe, the family dog, new tricks. But her plans don't work out quite the way she'd hoped. And her grandpa doesn't seem to like Roscoe. Will Gigi find a way to connect with her Ojiji?"-- Provided by publisher.
Author
Series
Language
English
Appears on these lists
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (WPLD)
GPLD 2025 Spring Favorites: Beginning Readers
GPLD 2025 Spring Favorites: Beginning Readers
Description
"Gigi wants to go by something besides her baby name-but her full name, Geraldine, is too long to write and Hanako, her middle name, doesn't feel quite right. Will Gigi find the perfect name? Gigi and Ojiji: What's Iin a Name? is a Level Three I Can Read book. Level 3 includes many fun subjects kids love to read about on their own. Themes include friendship, adventure, historical fiction, and science. Level 3 books are written for early independent...
Author
Language
English
Description
Gigi wants to go by something besides her baby name—but her full name, Geraldine, is too long to write and Hanako, her middle name, doesn't feel quite right. Will Gigi find the perfect name?
This exciting new I Can Read series is brought to you by author-illustrator Melissa Iwai, whose popular books include Soup Day and Dumplings for Lili.
Gigi and Ojiji: What's in a Name? is a Level Three I Can Read book. Level
...Author
Series
Language
English
Description
Gigi loves the Japan Day Festival! When Ojiji volunteers at the origami booth, Gigi can't wait to make a paper crane like Ojiji's. But folding paper is harder than it looks, and Gigi is disheartened when she sees her paper crane next to Ojiji's. Will Gigi give up or will she try her best?
6) Pizza day
Author
Language
English
Appears on these lists
OBD Feast on Books - YOUTH
OBD Summer Picture Books - YOUTH
OBD Vegetables - YOUTH
Summer Reads for Little Kids
OBD Summer Picture Books - YOUTH
OBD Vegetables - YOUTH
Summer Reads for Little Kids
Description
A father and son spend a hot summer day together gathering vegetables and herbs, making pizza dough and sauce, and playing while their pizza bakes in the oven. Includes a recipe for Garden Pizza.
Author
Language
English
Description
Join Gigi as she tries natto, a traditional Japanese food, in this exciting and engaging Level Three I Can Read book by acclaimed author and illustrator Melissa Iwai. Intergenerational relationships, Japanese culture, and social and emotional learning are highlighted in this sweet biracial story, perfect for sharing with children 3 to 6.
Ohayo! It's breakfast time and Gigi can't wait to make her favorite meal, Peanut Butter Toast. Yummy! But Ojiji...
Author
Language
English
Description
"A one-of-a-kind birthday party DIY-planning guide and cookbook for parents and kids, complete with 10 unique ways to thematically tie together party themes, activities, and creative cakes - fully illustrated with 4 color art as well as photographs"-- Provided by publisher.
Author
Language
English
Appears on these lists
AANHPI Authors: Board & Picture Books (SCPL-YS)
OBD Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (May) - Youth
OBD Mother's Day (May) - YOUTH
OBD Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (May) - Youth
OBD Mother's Day (May) - YOUTH
Description
Lili loves to cook little dumplings called baos with her grandmother, but when cabbage is needed, Lili races up and down the stairs of her grandmother's apartment building to find the ingredient and help the other grandmothers borrow ingredients for different dumplings, from Jamaican meat patties and Italian ravioli to Lebanese fatayer and more.
10) Soup day
Author
Language
English
Description
A mother and daughter spend a snowy day together buying and preparing vegetables, assembling ingredients, and playing while their big pot of soup bubbles on the stove. Includes a recipe for "Snowy Day Vegetable Soup."
13) Hope is a hop
Author
Language
English
Description
"When Eva's hopes for a cheerful flower garden are dashed by a rascally-and hungry! -rabbit, she sinks into despair. But it's from this new vantage point that she discovers something surprising and wonderful about her four-legged-nemesis that reminds Eva of her own growing family and inspires her to try again."-- Provided by publisher.
Ages 3-7.
Author
Language
English
Appears on list
Description
"In this important and moving true story of reconciliation after war, beautifully illustrated in watercolor, a Japanese pilot bombs the continental U.S. during WWII--the only enemy ever to do so--and comes back 20 years later to apologize."--Provided by publisher.
17) Wake up engines
Author
Series
Language
English
Description
Rhyming verses describe the sights and sounds of morning traffic as cars, trucks, and airplanes rev up their engines and go!
Author
Language
English
Appears on these lists
Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage Month 2025
OBD Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (May) - Youth
OBD Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (May) - Youth
Description
"A picture book biography of pioneering Chinese American chef and restaurateur Cecilia Chiang"-- Provided by publisher.
Author
Language
English
Description
"Young children need support and encouragement as they learn to value themselves and recognize their own worth--"not because of the things I do, not because of what I look like, not because of what I have. just because I am." This book of sweet, simple affirmations for children helps them respect their bodies, acknowledge their own needs, and name their feelings. Just Because I Am invites little ones to love, accept, and feel good about themselves...
Author
Language
English
Description
"At times, all children need a little help getting along with others and respecting differences--at school, in the neighborhood, at home, and on the playground. Teaching tolerance and encouraging acts of kindness through clear words and charming illustrations, We Can Get Along supports children's development with simple yet essential skills for conflict resolution and peacemaking. The book includes activities and discussion questions that teachers,...








