by Debbi Michiko Florence, illustrated by Elizabet Vuković; Farrar Straus Giroux, 2018.

Spunky, warm-hearted, and determined, Jasmine Toguchi returns in the third of four installments currently available in the eponymous early chapter book series written by Debbi Michiko Florence. Third grader Jasmine, who admits that “sometimes trouble finds me” despite her best efforts,  is sure to delight young readers again as she works to solve a problem with the help of classmates, supportive family members, and her mom’s college friend. In this book, Jasmine sets out to learn to play taiko—a special Japanese drum—in anticipation of the school-wide talent show. Along the way she comes to appreciate the value of thinking through ideas when making a decision, the joy of acquiring a new skill, respect for traditions and the rules that sometimes accompany them, and the satisfaction of finding the positive in sticky situations—and people.     

 

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“Do unto those downstream as you would have those upstream do unto you.“—Wendell Berry

 

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Why this Book? Why will it matter to kids?

There are numerous nuggets to be pulled from this simple story of a girl casting about for a talent to showcase at a school-wide event. Jasmine is not without ideas—or skills— but when she thinks about them more closely, she realizes their drawbacks for performance in a talent show (How would she demonstrate her collage skills? Or show how to pound mochi in a mere two minutes? Would there be interest in how to read a book or watching her perform a silly dance she made up?). Before long, Jasmine’s enthusiasm evaporates. It doesn’t help that the new girl in school is supremely confident in her talent, and more than willing to share her certainty with her classmates. The more Maggie Milsap brags, the more Jasmine’s self-assurance slips.  

And it is exactly this aspect of the story, and the way in which Jasmine handles her feelings and the prickly behavior of a classmate that makes this book stand out.

Healthy relationships with peers and classmates are integral to the steady development of not only social and emotional skills our students need to forge, but cognitive competencies necessary to be successful contributing citizens both inside and outside the classroom. When children witness solid examples of positive responses to difficult situations in the books they read for pleasure—and the books we choose to read aloud to them—they are provided with valuable road maps. Such books offer vicarious experiences that demonstrate positive options and choices when faced with challenging experiences. We show instead of tell how one can choose to act and react constructively and affirmatively, and that’s a powerful teaching tool.

 

 

 

 

© Elizabet Vuković

Grade level: 2-3

Social-Emotional Learning Themes

Friendship, interpersonal relationships, kindness, compassion, tenacity, perseverance, responsibility, helpfulness, perspective, fortitude, self-reliance, respect, gentleness, gratitude, effort, creativity, understanding, connection, diversity, self-assurance

Content Area Connections

Music, community

 

Using This Book in the Classroom

Hit the Ground Running

Ready Resources for Educators, Homeschoolers, and Parents

Jasmine Toguchi series information

Reviews and interviews can be accessed here.

 

 

 

© Elizabet Vuković

Write Away!

Ideas to prompt writing

As the story begins, Jasmine casts about to identify a talent she possesses that would be a good choice to demonstrate at the school-wide talent show. If you had to participate in a talent show, what would you do? Give details. Why would you choose that talent to perform?  

Jasmine learns there are rules associated with taiko. There are also certain ways of going about playing these special Japanese drums. Sophie helps Jasmine realize that practice is an important part of becoming better at a skill. Tell about a skill you have learned. What are the rules? What are some of the things you must remember when performing that skill? How does practice help?

Kat gives Jasmine a hachimaki before her performance in the talent show. She tells Jasmine the hachimaki symbolizes courage. “It’s like a badge to show strength.” Tell about something that helps you when you are uncertain, gives you courage, or calms you.

Throughout the story, Jasmine is troubled by Maggie’s words and actions. How does she respond to Maggie? At the end of the story, Maggie needs a friend. What does Jasmine choose to do? What does she say she has figured out? Is there someone you know who needs a friend—maybe even someone who hasn’t always been kind or helpful? How can you reach out to that person?    

Poetry Break 

Related poetry to recite before or following the reading of this book

Poetry breaks fit perfectly into brief moments in the day—from opening or closing the daily morning meeting to lining up for lunch; from zipping up backpacks and jackets to transitioning from one subject to the next. Reading a poem typically takes less than a minute, yet it can introduce or reinforce a concept, celebrate language, exemplify rhythm, enhance vocabulary, expand understanding, increase attention span, initiate reflection, or summon a giggle. And poetry soothes the spirit.

Poetry collections suggested for use with about school and friendship suggested for use with Drummer Girl:

• If I Were in Charge of the World and other worries by Judith Viorst, illustrated by Lynne Cherry
• Laugh-eteria by Douglas Florian
• Lunch Money and Other Poems About School by Carol Diggory Shields, illustrated by Paul Meisel
• Messing Around on the Monkey Bars and other School Poems for Two Voices by Betsy Franco, illustrated by Jessie Hartland
• The New Kid on the Block by Jack Prelutsky, illustrated by James Stevenson
• Pencil Talk and Other School Poems by Anastasia Suen, illustrated by Susie Lee Jin
• School Days by Iza Trapani
• Super Silly School Poems by David Greenberg, illustrated by Liza Woodruff

And Then There’s This…

Enrichment activities, related books, online resources, craft projects, and ideas for further study

Free activity downloads for use in conjunction with the books in the Jasmine Toguchi series include:

• hachimaki activity for Drummer Girl
• kimono paper doll activity and an origami activity for Super Sleuth
• mochi recipe and coloring page for Mochi Queen
• daruma wishing doll craft for Flamingo Keeper
• series activities can be accessed here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

About the Author

  

Debbi Michiko Florence’s (middle name pronounced MEE chee koh) four-book debut chapter book series Jasmine Toguchi includes Jasmine Toguchi Mochi Queen (a Junior Library Guild selection, a Bank Street 2018 Best Children’s Books of the Year, and inclusion on the CCBC 2018 Choices List), Jasmine Toguchi Drummer Girl (a 2019 Cybils Award winner, a JLG selection, inclusion on the CCBC 2019 Choices List and the Chicago Public Library’s Best Of list). Debbi is also the author of two chapter book series: Dorothy and Toto and My Furry Foster Family (Picture Window Books). Her middle grade debut Keep It Together, Keiko Carter will be published by Scholastic in May 2020. A native Californian, Debbi is a third generation Japanese American and writes in her studio in Connecticut.

 

Q&A with Debbi Michiko Florence

Debbi graciously responded to a few questions about the Jasmine Toguchi series and her creative process.

Judy Bradbury: How did you come to write the Jasmine Toguchi series and Drummer Girl in particular? What seeded its creation?

Debbi Michiko Florence: I read a newspaper article   about a multi-generational Japanese American family that got together in Photo: Roy Thomas California every New Year’s to make mochi in the traditional way. This fascinated me. I knew that traditionally there was a man’s job (pounding the steamed sweet rice with a big hammer) and a woman’s job (hand-rolling the mochi into shapes). I wondered, what would happen if a little girl in a family like this wanted to do the man’s job? From that seed, an idea bloomed, and I wrote the first book, Mochi Queen. After selling the book my editor asked for three more books to create a series, Drummer Girl (book 3) came about because I always wanted to learn how to play taiko (Japanese drums). So I took a lesson as research. The routine Jasmine learns in the book is the one I learned from my taiko teacher.

JB: Tell about one hurdle you experienced in the creation of Jasmine Toguchi Drummer Girl or provide a memorable (or humorous!) anecdote related to the making of this book.

DMF: Because I wanted to make sure to get everything right about taiko and all the traditions, I was very vigilant when it came to the text and the illustrations. How taiko drums should never touch the floor and are always on platforms or stands is one example. I wanted to be sure the illustrations reflected those things accurately. I emailed my teacher with so many questions that she took the time to soothe me and said she was sure I got the details correct.  I think perhaps I emailed her too much?

 

JB: In Drummer Girl the reader witnesses several instances where characters reach out to help others, from Jasmine’s mother and older sister Sophie, to Jasmine’s mother’s college friend Kat, to Jasmine herself who befriends the new girl in school despite a few initial rocky encounters. How did you conceive of the character of Jasmine? What qualities have you given her and how has she grown with each book in the series?

DMF: I give a writing workshop on character development where I cover details on how I developed Jasmine and guide writers of all ages in creating their own characters. One of the things I talk about is the importance of knowing your character well. I worked on the first book, Mochi Queen for a few years before I felt it was ready to go out on submission, and by then I knew Jasmine very well. We share some qualities, like we both love brownies but hate walnuts. Some traits we do not share, like Jasmine isn’t afraid of the dark and I was a child who was very afraid of the dark. One thing that came about after I sold the series was Jasmine’s favorite animal is the flamingo. After I figured that out, I layered it into every story until her wish for her own pet flamingo became the main plot in book 4.

 

JB: What did you learn from creating this book?

DMF: In 2001 I started writing with the hope of getting published. I wanted to write young adult and middle grade novels. It wasn’t until the idea for Jasmine Toguchi Mochi Queen came along that I considered writing a chapter book. I learned that I love writing for this age group and I hope to keep writing chapter books! I also learned that I love playing taiko. I wish I could keep taking lessons, but the closest teacher to me is two hours away.

 

JB: What would readers be surprised to learn about you or about the creation of this book?

DMF: I wrote Jasmine Toguchi Mochi Queen in 2010 and revised many times. I started submitting to editors in 2012 and accumulated many rejections. I put it away. Then, in 2014, when We Need Diverse Books formed and started to bring awareness for the need for books with diverse characters, a librarian friend suggested I try to submit Mochi Queen again. I did and it sold to Farrar Straus Giroux in 2015. It was a long journey, but worth it!

 

JB: What do you hope readers will take away from the Jasmine Toguchi series and Drummer Girl in particular?

DMF: Girls/women can do anything they put their minds to. I want to encourage girls and boys to feel comfortable pursuing their dreams and passions and to respect one another. There are no such things a girl toys or boy books, girl jobs or boy sports. I also hope readers will be interested in learning about taiko drumming and other aspects of Japanese culture, but mostly I hope readers will just enjoy reading about Jasmine’s life and adventures.

 

JB: How do you see Drummer Girl and the Jasmine Toguchi series overall connecting to curriculum?

DMF: Jasmine Toguchi introduces Japanese culture to readers. It provides what Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop calls “windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors.” I would hope stories like these can help readers be more empathetic to those who might look different or have different traditions, while allowing readers of Asian descent to feel seen and heard. And in the end, for readers to realize that everyone has the same kinds of feelings and worries and thoughts and hopes and dreams. We are more alike than different.

JB: Tell us about Jasmine’s next adventure in Book 4!

DMF: Book 4 is Jasmine Toguchi Flamingo Keeper. Jasmine and her sister, Sophie, receive Japanese wishing dolls from their grandmother in Japan. Jasmine wishes for her very own pet flamingo! Will she get one?

JB: What is one question you wish I had asked, and what is your answer?

DMF: What do you have coming next?

Answer: I have my middle grade debut, Keep It Together, Keiko Carter, coming in May 2020 with Scholastic. It’s about seventh grader Keiko who navigates hope and heartache as she struggles to save a splintering friendship while dealing with her first real crush.

 

About the Illustrator

Elizabet Vuković is the illustrator of several children’s books including Be A Maker written by Katey Howes and I Wanna Be a Cowgirl written by Angela DiTerlizzi. She lives in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

 

Opportunity Alert for Educators

If you live in the Western New York area, you will be excited to learn that Debbi will be a panel participant at the 2019 Western New York Children’s Book Expo Educator Event on November 9th! Come listen to Debbi and fourteen other critically-acclaimed children’s authors and illustrators present at this CTLE-credit event designed exclusively for educators! Details and registration information can be found here.

Book Giveaway!

Subscribers who leave a comment will be entered in a drawing to win a copy of Jasmine Toguchi Drummer Girl. A winner will be chosen randomly and announced when the next guide is posted.

And…the winner of a signed copy of I Am Love by Susan Verde, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds is Danielle Hammelef. Congratulations!