If you’ve read Jasmine Toguchi Flamingo Keeper, you know that Jasmine and her sister Sophie receive daruma as gifts from Obaachan, their grandma in Japan. Daruma are wishing dolls. You make a wish and color in one eye of the doll, and when the wish comes true, you color in the other eye!

My husband was recently in Japan for a business trip, and he brought back daruma! Just in time for the holidays, I will be giving away five daruma to five lucky winners.

[Edited to add] DRAWING IS NOW CLOSED

Congratulations to the winners! Marion, Nora, Kristin, Josephine, and Cindy!

Here’s how to enter:

1. Proof of purchase of ANY of the four Jasmine Toguchi books. Either email me a receipt or a photo OR post a photo of you/your child/your pet with any of the Jasmine Toguchi books on social media and tag me or DM me on Twitter (@DebbiMichiko) or Instagram (@jasminetoguchi). One entry PER book per person. (So, you can enter up to 4 times.)

2. On Friday, December 14, I will draw five names. One winner per daruma. Winners will be announced here and on social media and I will reach out to get your mailing address. Daruma will be mailed out the following week!

3. Enter by midnight EST Thursday, December 13. U.S. mailing addresses only

WINNERS HAVE BEEN CHOSEN! Thank you for your participation!

I had a wonderful time at the Morristown Festival Books as a presenting author of KidFest! Big thanks for the invitation and to the staff and volunteers who made it possible for book-lovers and readers to gather with authors and illustrators. Here are some of my highlights:

John Kerry and me!

William Kent Krueger, Carol Fitzgerald, and me

The evening before the book festival, I was invited to the Keynote event featuring John Kerry and Ann Curry. Big thanks to Carol Fitzgerald and her husband for the ride, and it was great to also meet mystery author Kent Krueger.

The next morning, I was escorted around the morning’s events by fabulous volunteer, Tricia. After a meet and greet with a handful of sweet young readers and their parents, I gave a 25-minute presentation to a group of enthusiastic readers. They had some great questions! After I signed books, I enjoyed walking around the festival, meeting up with friends old and new. What a great day!

Audrey Vernick, Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich, and me

Gigi Collins and me

Eliot Schrefer and me after our author lunch hosted by  Jockey Hollow

Looking for fun, kid-friendly, readerly treats to share for Halloween? Check out Trick or Treaters for a bagful of spooky and not-so-spooky fun!

(art by Kevin Atteberry)

Look for Jasmine Toguchi and a story to snatch, along with a daruma fun craft to download and share! Click on illustration below. Art by the fabulous Elizabeth Vukovic!

Happy Halloween!

Oh what a fabulous event at the Los Angeles Zoo! Many thanks to Robin Savoian, Associate Director Development, Safari Society for coordinating a truly spectacular morning. Thanks also to the staff, keepers (particularly senior keeper, Rose Legato), volunteers, and all the people who came out for the event!

The morning started off with a delicious breakfast as those who RSVP’d for this special donor and business partner event started trickling in. Docents arrived with education animals. Robin greeted and thanked everyone for being there, and then I read from Jasmine Toguchi Flamingo Keeper, and answered questions. Guests had the opportunity to do a craft, adopt animals at the zoo, and feed the flamingos, while I signed copies of Jasmine Toguchi Flamingo Keeper. I loved meeting readers, fans, new friends, and appreciated all my friends and family who showed up! The highlight was getting to feed the flamingos (all named after Harry Potter characters) IN the exhibit and I was able to bring my mom and daughter in with me! I think my face says it all

I recently had the pleasure of being a part of two fabulous book festivals! A true joy to be around swarms of people who love books and reading!

DECATUR BOOK FESTIVAL

Recently, I was at the Decatur Book Festival in Georgia. The “largest independent book festival in the country,” there were booths, food, displays, and the surrounding stores were open and “book decorated.” I loved visiting The Little Shop of Stories with their friendly, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic staff.

They threw a kidlit author party the Friday before the festival that was fabulously decorated in a Harry Potter theme (celebrating 20 years).

On Friday, August 31, I visited two amazing schools and chatted with the 2nd and 3rd graders of Westchester Elementary and Clairemont Elementary in Decatur.

On Saturday, September 1st, I enjoyed strolling around the festival and was on a panel about chapter books with Laurel Snyder (Charlie & Mouse) and Annie Barrows (Ivy & Bean), moderated by Elizabeth Lenhard. After our panel, we signed our books and I enjoyed meeting young readers!

BROOKLYN BOOK FESTIVAL

On September 15, I had the pleasure of participating in the Brooklyn Book Festival on a fun panel about middle grade and chapter books with Mac Barnett (Mac B. series) and Shelley Johannes (Beatrice Zinker series), moderated by Laurel Snyder. I always love opportunities to meet other authors, and chat with fans and readers!

And yes, we had as much fun as it looked like we were having!

My next event is Nerd Camp NNE in Freeport, Maine, on September 28 – 29th. I hope to see you there!

Thank you to Paul Swydan and family, and the wonderful staff at The Silver Unicorn Bookstore for welcoming me and Kara LaReau to their store. We had a blast chatting with the audience about our chapter book series, answering questions, and signing our books!

Me with awesome store owner, Paul Swydan

Talking about daruma (Japanese wishing dolls)

Signing Jasmine Toguchi for a reader

I love meeting fans!

Sending out love and gratitude to my indie, Bank Square Books, for hosting all three of my Jasmine Toguchi book launches! July 28 was my launch for book 4 of the chapter book series, Flamingo Keeper!

*Amazing daruma and flamingo cookies by Carried Away Cakery!

** If you’d like personalized/signed copies of any of the Jasmine Toguchi books, please call Bank Square books at (860) 536-3795 or go to their website and make your request for personalization/signing via the comment box when ordering.

Thank you everyone for all your incredible support! Next event is coming up at Silver Unicorn Books in Acton, MA and the Los Angeles Zoo in CA. See my events page for up-to-date information on my appearances!

I had a wonderful time at Eight Cousins Books in Falmouth, MA on July 17.

I loved the store and the staff, and their very cool alphabet chair.

From L to R: Jasmine Toguchi, Sara, Rosie, Tasha, Mary Fran, Lizzy, Audrie, and me!

The best part, as always, was meeting readers and their families.

BONUS: Eight Cousins Books raffled off a 4-ft plush flamingo as part of the festivities. One lucky reader was VERY happy!  Congratulations!

Now available, all four books in my chapter book series, Jasmine Toguchi, about a spunky 8-year-old Japanese American girl growing up in Los Angeles, both in paperback and in hardcover! You can buy them at your favorite indie bookstore or online.

Or if you’re lucky, there are two ways you can win a set this summer (2018)!

1. Post or send a photo of one of the Jasmine Toguchi books at a bookstore or library (and identify the bookstore/library) by August 3 and be entered in a drawing to win a paperback set of all four Jasmine Toguchi books for your home or classroom.

EDITED TO ADD: Congratulations to @Stylishmodernmotherhood on IG for winning the paperback set of the Jasmine Toguchi series with this pic from a Barnes & Noble!

There’s still time to win the hardcover set!

2. Post or share a photo of you or your child reader AND/OR any of the Jasmine Toguchi books on vacation/staycation with you by August 31 and be entered in a drawing to win a hardcover set of all four Jasmine Toguchi books for your home or classroom.

EDITED TO ADD: Congratulations @ReadingThemes on IG for winning the hardcover set of Jasmine Toguchi with this pic from the Cincinnati Zoo!

RULES:

Winners must have a U.S. or Canada mailing address. When you share on social media, be sure to tag me on Twitter @DebbiMichiko or Instagram @jasminetoguchi. Or you can email me the photo for me to share online.  Winners will be contacted by DM or email and announced here and online.

Good luck!

It’s almost time! Jasmine Toguchi Flamingo Keeper releases on July 3, 2018!

Jasmine’s best friend, Linnie, has just gotten a puppy. And now Jasmine wants a pet of her own―a flamingo! So when her grandmother sends Jasmine a daruma doll as a surprise gift, Jasmine colors in one doll eye and wishes for a flamingo to keep.

Next, Jasmine tries to convince her parents that she’s responsible enough for a pet. She cleans her room, brushes her teeth, takes out the trash, and, most importantly, researches everything she can about flamingos. But soon it becomes clear that her wish may never come true! Will Jasmine’s daruma doll ever get its second eye? Luckily her big sister, Sophie, has a surprise planned that fulfills Jasmine’s wish beyond her wildest dreams.

A sweet, special story of sisterhood and new responsibilities!

If you have already pre-ordered or pre-order before July 3, you will be eligible for goodies! [US mailing addresses only.] Just email me at jasminetoguchibooks@gmail.com a copy of your proof of purchase, and you will be entered in a weekly drawing. ALL entrants will be eligible for a grand prize. See schedule below.

FLAMINGO FRENZY!

Every Friday, starting June 8 through June 29, I will draw a name from the previous week’s entries. The winner will receive a group of 2 – 4 prizes from the above photo, plus Jasmine Toguchi bookmarks and stickers. Each week’s winner will be announced here (below) and contacted by email.

Winner of June 1 – 7 giveaway: Neha!

Winner of June 8 – 14 giveaway: Emi!

Winner of June 15 – 21 giveaway: Sarah M!

Winner of June 22 – 28 giveaway: Audrey!

On July 3, launch day, I will draw a name from ALL entrants (including previous winners), emails dated from June 1 – July 2 for the grand prize: A signed hardcover set of the Jasmine Toguchi chapter book series, Mochi Queen, Super Sleuth, Drummer Girl, and Flamingo Keeper; Jasmine Toguchi swag; a daruma doll; a 5×7 print of the illustration from the Flamingo Keeper cover by illustrator Elizabet Vukovic; and a bag personally designed and silkscreened by illustrator Elizabet Vukovic!

Grand Prize Winner (announced on July 3): Cathy!

A big thank you to all of you for supporting Jasmine Toguchi! Good luck and happy reading!