Jasmine Toguchi, Mochi Queen

Summary of Book

Eight-year-old Jasmine Toguchi is a flamingo fan, tree climber, and top-notch mess-maker! She's also tired of her big sister, Sophie, always getting to do things first. For once, Jasmine wishes SHE could do something before Sophie―something special, something different. The New Year approaches, and as the Toguchi family gathers in Los Angeles to celebrate, Jasmine is jealous that her sister gets to help roll mochi balls by hand with the women. Her mom says that Jasmine is still too young to join in, so she hatches a plan to help the men pound the mochi rice instead. Surely her sister has never done THAT before. But pounding mochi is traditionally reserved for boys. And the mochi hammer is heavier than it looks. Can Jasmine build her case and her mochi-making muscles in time for New Year's Day?

Author Biography

My debut middle grade novel is Keep It Together, Keiko Carter (May 2020/Scholastic), a story about friendships and first crushes (and chocolate). I am also the author of the Jasmine Toguchi and the My Furry Foster Family chapter book series. The Jasmine Toguchi chapter book series includes: Mochi Queen, Super Sleuth, Drummer Girl, and Flamingo Keeper. Mochi Queen is a Junior Library Guild selection, an Amazon's Best Children's Books of 2017, a Bank Street 2018 Best Children's Books of the Year, a Beverly Cleary Children's Choice award nominee, & on the 2018 CBCC Choices List.

Illustrator Biography

My name is Elizabet Vukovic, an Illustrator from Rotterdam, the Netherlands, graduated from the Academy of Art University, San Francisco. I’m passionate about children's book illustration. I love drawing imaginary kiddos, kiddos with a big imagination, and LOVE for animals. Working with all kinds of media and mixing them up, inventing new ways of using them, is my favorite.