Gigi and Ojiji: Food for Thought

Written by Melissa Iwai

Narrated by Resa Mishina

A Geisel Honor–winning series!

A Chicago Public Library Best of the Best!

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 doesn’t like peanut butter. How can anyone NOT like peanut butter? Ojiji prefers Japanese foods—like natto, made from fermented soybeans. Will Gigi learn to love a new breakfast treat? This story highlights the close relationship of Gigi and her grandfather and the importance of trying new things!

This exciting and engaging 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 Ojij: Food for Thought 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 readers. They include some challenging words and more complex themes and stories. The story contains several Japanese words and a glossary of definitions.

Praise for Gigi and Ojiji:

""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."" —School Library Journal (starred review)

""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."" —Booklist (starred review)

""An affirming option in the quickly diversifying field of early-reader books."" —Kirkus

A 2023 Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor title

El día de los niños, el día de los libros selection 2023

ALSC Notable 2023

CBC Teacher and Librarian Favorites Award 2023

A Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year in the 5-9 beginning reader category (2023)

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Nov 14, 2023
• ISBN: 9780063342378

Melissa Iwai

Melissa Iwai is a children's book author and illustrator who incorporates both traditional and digital media into her art. Her picture books include Dumplings for Lili, Soup Day, Pizza Day, Chanukah Lights Everywhere, My Snow Globe, Let’s Go to the Hardware Store, Thirty Minutes Over Oregon, and many more! She is also the author and illustrator of the Geisel Honor I Can Read series Gigi and Ojiji. When she's not working, Melissa loves to cook and develop her own recipes. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and son.