It’s almost time for book 6 of the Jasmine Toguchi series to launch! Jasmine Toguchi Peace-Maker will be available on March 21!
by Debbi Michiko Florence, art by Elizabet Vuković FSGBYR/Macmillan
And I have a fun pre-order campaign to launch this book! My husband recently went to Japan, and he took along Jasmine Toguchi Brave Explorer. He snapped photos of her in Asakusa at Sensoji Temple, by vending machines, and on the shinkansen with Mt. Fuji in the background. They both had a wonderful adventure. If you pre-order Jasmine Toguchi Peace-Maker, you will be entered into a drawing to win a signed copy of that very book that made a trip around Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Shodoshima and a good-luck charm (omamori) from Sensoji Temple. All you have to do is email proof of purchase/pre-order to jasminetoguchibooks@gmail.com with the subject line Peace-Maker pre-order by March 20th at 11:59 PM ET and your name will be entered into the drawing to take place the morning of launch day! US mailing addresses only. One winner!
But wait, there’s more! If you pre-order from Bank Square Books, you can get personalized signed copies. Each book will come with a bookmark and a special limited edition sticker created by Karli Hendrickson. If you missed getting the sticker for Brave Explorer, order the book at the same time as Peace-Maker and you will get both stickers while supplies last.
This is where you will find a full and updated list of reviews and news about This Is How I Roll!
“A delightful middle grade rom-com that will leave readers hungry.” – Kirkus Reviews Read the full Kirkus review here.
“Written in a clear, straightforward style, the story includes mouth-watering descriptions of Japanese food, with some Japanese words and phrases woven into the text. Young foodies will enjoy meeting a 12-year-old chef determined to master the art of Japanese cooking in this light tween romance.” – School Library Journal
“Florence knowledgeably renders tween obsession with Japanese kawaii culture via this sweet, low-conflict story line with a genial, appealing cast.” – Publisher’s Weekly
This is where you’ll find links to articles, interviews, and reviews for the new quartet of the Jasmine Toguchi chapter book series!
Jasmine Toguchi Brave Explorer
Little Tokyo Talks Podcast interview: Episode 9 – In episode 9, Sansei author Debbi Michiko Florence tells us about the inspiration behind the Jasmine Toguchi chapter book series as Walter learns more about the importance of diversity and Japanese American representation in children’s literature.
Toothbrush? Check. Her special journal? Check! Eight-year-old Jasmine Toguchi—flamingo fan, tree climber, and top-notch messmaker—can hardly wait for her family vacation to Japan, and by the time their plane finally touches down, she’s ready to dive into their new adventure. There are so many things to see in Tokyo: Ramen Street, which she learns is not a whole street made of ramen; old temples with fancy gates; and Tokyo Tower, where you can even spot Mount Fuji on a good day.
But when they arrive, Jasmine finds herself unable to get away from her older sister Sophie’s crabby attitude. Plus there’s so much about Japan she didn’t know, and she seems to be getting in trouble right and left. Will Jasmine be able to cheer up her sister AND find her footing in a new country?
You can pre-order now from anywhere books are sold. If you pre-order from Bank Square Books, I will personalize and sign your copy. Please be sure to write to whom you’d like the book signed in the comment section when you check out. I will not otherwise see who is purchasing the book. For every pre-order from Bank Square Books, you will also get a Jasmine Toguchi bookmark and a limited edition stickers.
Thank you, as always, for all your support! Happy reading!
I’m so excited for the upcoming launch party for Sweet and Sour at Bank Square Books in Mystic CT on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 3 PM! It is particularly special to be celebrating at this bookstore because the book is set in Mystic, and that’s Bank Square Books on the cover of the book.
There will be a fun scavenger hunt (see below for details), a raffle for prizes, and delicious treats created by Nana’s Bakery and Pizza pastry chef Maddy Redden. I will be in conversation with dear friend and talented author, Jo Knowles where we will discuss friendships, both in our books and our own, and the writing process, plus Q&A with the audience. And of course there will be a book signing after.
But wait, there’s more! If you show my book to the Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream in downtown Mystic (just down the street from the bookstore), you will get 50% off any size cone on the day of my party. Why? Because while Bank Square Books is on the cover of the book, the Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream shop is on the back cover. Thank you Drawbridge Ice Cream! Thanks to fabulous illustrator Jacqueline Li and awesome cover designer Stephanie Yang!
SWEET AND SOUR SCAVENGER HUNT
Come a little early to the event so you can participate in a fun scavenger hunt! Take selfies (or photo of your friend/family member) at the following locations in downtown Mystic:
Mystic Drawbridge
Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream
Sift Bakery
Bank Square Books whale statue
Then, show the photos to me or a bookstore employee to receive all three character cards (while supplies last) and a raffle ticket. A raffle for fun prizes will take place after the Q&A – winners must be present.
See you there!
A super BIG thank you to Bank Square Books!
I’m so thrilled to announce the pre-order campaign for my newest middle grade book, Sweet and Sour(September 6, 2022)! This is a book of my heart about childhood friendships set in Mystic, CT. I love love love the cover – big thanks to artist Jacqueline Li and cover designer Stephanie Yang. That’s my local indie bookstore Bank Square Books on the cover, so it should come to no surprise that I’m holding my book launch party there on Saturday, September 10 at 3 PM. Save the date!
As you may know by now, pre-orders help authors by sending a message to the publishers that there is strong interest/demand for the authors’ books. This is why you see so many authors offering pre-order campaigns. I also like to do pre-orders to support my local independent bookstore and for this book it’s particularly special. Here’s what you get if you pre-order Sweet and Sour from Bank Square Books:
– a signed copy that is personalized to whomever you want (specify in the comments section of your order)
– a Sweet and Sour bookmark
-one of three character cards created by Jacqueline Li (selected at random)
Sweet, right? In addition to that, for every book pre-ordered, you will get an entry into the grand prize drawing (US mailing addresses only). What is the grand prize, you ask?
-all three character cards and a bookmark
-a totebag like Mai has in the book
-BT21 Cooky keychain like Mai has in the book
– Bank Square Books adult t-shirt (winner will be contacted for size)
-Mystic drawbridge sticker
-pencil case
Grand prize winner will be drawn at random the morning of publication on Tuesday, September 6. Be sure to include your email address in your order so we can contact you!
Pre-order here and make sure to specify to whom you’d like the book personalized (if any) in the comments section. If you plan to be at the book launch party, you can choose “pick up at store.”
Podcast review by an amazing 13-year-old reader: Hook of a Book
Podcast interview – The Book Cougars episode #158: Author Spotlight with Andrea Wang and Debbi Michiko Florence on friendship and books.
A lovely review from Booklist of the audiobook: “Emily Ota delivers a heartfelt, emotionally resonant performance in a story of friendship, anger, mistakes, and the question of forgiveness. Ota’s narration is perfectly in tune with Mai’s feelings throughout her tumultuous summer. With a fairly large cast of characters, Ota provides each one with a unique voice. Especially impressive are the distinctive voices full of personality for Mai and the other girls her age. A wonderful performance of a moving story about the challenges of friendship and change.”
I’m thrilled to share the cover of Jasmine Toguchi Brave Explorer, book 5 in the Jasmine Toguchi chapter book series. Many thanks to Team Toguchi at Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers, editor Grace Kendall, illustrator Elizabet Vukovic, designer Angela Jun, and always to my agent Tricia Lawrence! Look for this book on September 27, 2022. Pre-order personalized signed copies at Bank Square Books.
With more than 130,000 copies sold, this award-winning chapter-book series starring a spunky Japanese American heroine returns with four new standalone books set on a family vacation in Japan!
Toothbrush? Check. Her special journal? Check! Eight-year-old Jasmine Toguchi—flamingo fan, tree climber, and top-notch messmaker—can hardly wait for her family vacation to Japan, and by the time their plane finally touches down, she’s ready to dive into their new adventure. There are so many things to see in Tokyo: Ramen Street, which she learns is not a whole street made of ramen; old temples with fancy gates; and Tokyo Tower, where you can even spot Mount Fuji on a good day.
But when they arrive, Jasmine finds herself unable to get away from her older sister Sophie’s crabby attitude. Plus there’s so much about Japan she didn’t know, and she seems to be getting in trouble right and left. Will Jasmine be able to cheer up her sister AND find her footing in a new country?
With her trademark humor and warmth, Debbi Michiko Florence weaves family drama and a fun introduction of Japanese culture into this delightful next chapter in Jasmine’s world.
I’m thrilled to share the cover of my next middle grade novel: Sweet and Sour!
Sweet and Sour, Scholastic/September 6, 2022
I love everything about this cover – how Mai and Zach are looking at each other, Bank Square Books in the background, the BT21 Cooky plush keychain on Mai’s tote bag, the clothes Mai and Zach are wearing. I love the manga vibe, the font and the bright colors. Huge thanks to talented illustrator Jacqueline Li and awesome cover designer Stephanie Yang (who has done ALL my fabulous Scholastic covers to date). I’m so lucky! A big shout-out to the entire Team Sweet and Sour at Scholastic!
REVENGE IS SWEET!
For as long as she can remember, Mai Hirano has spent every summer in Mystic, Connecticut visiting family friends. And hanging out with her best-friend-since-birth, Zach Koyama, was always the best part.
Then two summers ago everything changed. Zach humiliated Mai, proving he wasn’t a friend at all. So when Zach’s family moved to Japan, Mai felt relieved. No more summers together. No more heartache.
But this year, the Koyamas have returned and the family vacation is back on. And if Mai has to spend the summer around Zach, the least she can do is wipe away the memory of his betrayal…by coming up with the perfect plan for revenge!
Only Zach isn’t the boy he used to be, and Mai’s memories of their last fateful summer aren’t the whole truth of what happened between them. But how can she forgive Zach for a betrayal she’ll never forget?
“Determined heroine, delightful story, delectable illustrations: Both young readers and their adults will be inspired and charmed by every spread of this book.” –Linda Sue Park, Newbery Medalist and New York Times-bestselling author
