Suki's Kimono

Suki's Kimono

By Chieri Uegaki

Illustrated by Stephane Jorisch

Multicultural 

This is the story about Suki who decides to wear her Kimono on the first day of school because her grandmother gave it to her during game the summer.  Even though her sisters try to persuade her not to wear it because they say it will no be cool she still does.  They walk to school and the sisters get ahead because they are embarrassed to walk with her.  When she gets to school the children give her funny looks and try to make fun of her but she decides she will not pay attention to it.  Later the teacher asks the students to introduce themselves to the class and tell them what they did over the summer. Suki tells the,

M that her grandmother visited her and gave her the kimono. She then tells them about how the people of her culture dance and she starts demonstrating.  At the end everybody likes her and when her sisters and Suki walk home they talk about how nobody noticed them but Suki just smiles.

I would use this book in many class because it is important to learn of different cultures and it would be a good opportunity.  I would read it aloud to the class and then we would do some activity to celebrate Asian culture.  This book would be good for Kindergarten through 3rd  grade.