{"id":1564556460111,"title":"SumoKitty","handle":"sumokitty","description":"\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/david-biedrzycki\"\u003eDavid Biedrzycki\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFall down seven times, stand up eight.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne hungry stray kitty. One \u003cem\u003eheya \u003c\/em\u003ewith a mouse problem. No problem. Now the hungry kitty has a job clearing out the mice from where the wrestlers practice, sleep, and eat. Kitty eats like a sumo wrestler, too. Soon he's too fat to eat mice, and oh, how they laugh. Useless, he's thrown out of the house. But one kind wrestler teaches him that \"After the rain, the earth hardens,\" and \"The cat that does not cry catches the mouse.\" Kitty works hard, trains with the wrestlers, strikes fear into the hearts of mice, and becomes . . . \u003cstrong\u003eSumoKitty.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.publishersweekly.com\/pw\/podcasts\/index.html?channel=5\u0026amp;podcast=1015\"\u003eListen\u003c\/a\u003e to David Biedrzycki on \u003ci\u003ePublisher Weekly's\u003c\/i\u003e KidsCast.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/charlesbridge.com\/products\/the-perfect-sword\"\u003eThe Perfect Sword\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/charlesbridge.com\/products\/me-and-my-dragon\"\u003eMe and My Dragon\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - DOWNLOAD BOOK COVER BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/sumokitty-hires.zip?v=1679586530\"\u003e\u003cimg width=\"40\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/charlesbridge-book-cover-icon.png?v=1712070748\" alt=\"book cover icon\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e [TABS]\n\u003ch5\u003eWatch the Trailer\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ySfDAcTR6pI\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER SPREAD BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/sumokitty-spread.jpg?14913368853414430242\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" class=\"cvr-border-gray\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e\u003cscript src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-shape=\"round\" defer async=\"\" type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDavid Biedrzycki, author-illustrator\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDavid Biedrzycki isn't big enough to do sumo, but he did join the US Sumo Federation while working on this book. David is the author and illustrator of \u003cem\u003eGroundhog's Runaway Shadow,\u003c\/em\u003e as well as the Breaking News series, the Me and My Dragon series, and the Ace Lacewing: Bug Detective series. He has also illustrated many picture books, including \u003cem\u003eThe Beetle Alphabet Book\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eDory Story.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eComing soon!\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA furry feline has sumo-sized aspirations in this Japan-set tale. A stray black-and-white kitty with round emerald eyes watches a sumo match from afar and then follows a group of rikishi back to the heya, where the pickings are good. Caught by the manager of the training center, the feline narrator is offered a place to stay: \"Kuma is afraid of mice. Can you get rid of them?\" The arrangement hits a snag when the Kitty's weight gain affects its efficiency as a mouser and it is turned out of the heya. Dejected, Kitty gives up until Kuma quietly offers encouragement: \"The cat that does not cry catches the mouse.\" Kuma and Kitty are shown in action side by side, showcasing their parallel use of sumo moves. Japanese terms are defined, with pronunciation guides, next to the text: \"shiko (shee-koh): leg stomp.\" While Kitty finds the strength to reclaim its place and is deemed SumoKitty, Kuma now must face his own fear of mice in order to overcome his biggest sumo opponent. Kitty's straightforward narration is set against comically charming illustrations that evoke scenes from classic Japanese woodblock art. Extensive research is expressed in both the inclusion of Japanese terms and the detailed illustrations. However, the inclusion of the Indian spiritual practice of yoga as part of the rikishi's training regimen seems unlikely given sumo's own deeply traditional and spiritual nature. SumoKitty's antics delight despite a muffed cultural detail.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\". . .deceptively simple. . .\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/sumokitty-cvr.jpg?405\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/sumokitty-hires.zip?v=1679586530\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" width=\"40\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/charlesbridge-book-cover-icon.png?v=1712070748\" alt=\"book cover icon\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e Download the Cover\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\" class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca class=\"product-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/sumokitty-activity-kit.pdf?117\"\u003eDownload the Activity Guide\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-58089-682-5\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eE-book\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: \u003cspan\u003e978-1-63289-826-5\u003c\/span\u003e EPUB\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eISBN: \u003cspan\u003e978-1-63289-827-2\u003c\/span\u003e PDF\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 5-8\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 48\u003cbr\u003e9 x 11\u003c\/p\u003e\n[\/TABS]","published_at":"2018-11-07T16:19:18-05:00","created_at":"2018-11-07T16:08:00-05:00","vendor":"Charlesbridge","type":"Children's Book","tags":["Browse by Age_Ages 3-6","Browse by Age_Ages 6-10","Browse by Fiction\/Nonfiction_Fiction","Browse by Format_Picture Book","Browse by Language_English","Browse by Subject_Animals \u0026 Dinosaurs","Browse by Subject_Humor","Browse by Subject_Life Lessons \u0026 Skills","Browse by Subject_Sports","Browse by Subject_Story Time \u0026 Play"],"price":1899,"price_min":1899,"price_max":1899,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":15386298122319,"title":"Hardcover","option1":"Hardcover","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"96825","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"SumoKitty - Hardcover","public_title":"Hardcover","options":["Hardcover"],"price":1899,"weight":595,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_quantity":97,"inventory_management":"shopify","inventory_policy":"deny","barcode":"978-1-58089-682-5","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/charlesbridgemoves.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/sumokitty-cover.jpg?v=1711992182"],"featured_image":"\/\/charlesbridgemoves.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/sumokitty-cover.jpg?v=1711992182","options":["Title"],"media":[{"alt":"SumoKitty book cover","id":2482403770447,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.819,"height":733,"width":600,"src":"\/\/charlesbridgemoves.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/sumokitty-cover.jpg?v=1711992182"},"aspect_ratio":0.819,"height":733,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/charlesbridgemoves.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/sumokitty-cover.jpg?v=1711992182","width":600}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/david-biedrzycki\"\u003eDavid Biedrzycki\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFall down seven times, stand up eight.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne hungry stray kitty. One \u003cem\u003eheya \u003c\/em\u003ewith a mouse problem. No problem. Now the hungry kitty has a job clearing out the mice from where the wrestlers practice, sleep, and eat. Kitty eats like a sumo wrestler, too. Soon he's too fat to eat mice, and oh, how they laugh. Useless, he's thrown out of the house. But one kind wrestler teaches him that \"After the rain, the earth hardens,\" and \"The cat that does not cry catches the mouse.\" Kitty works hard, trains with the wrestlers, strikes fear into the hearts of mice, and becomes . . . \u003cstrong\u003eSumoKitty.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.publishersweekly.com\/pw\/podcasts\/index.html?channel=5\u0026amp;podcast=1015\"\u003eListen\u003c\/a\u003e to David Biedrzycki on \u003ci\u003ePublisher Weekly's\u003c\/i\u003e KidsCast.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/charlesbridge.com\/products\/the-perfect-sword\"\u003eThe Perfect Sword\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/charlesbridge.com\/products\/me-and-my-dragon\"\u003eMe and My Dragon\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - DOWNLOAD BOOK COVER BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/sumokitty-hires.zip?v=1679586530\"\u003e\u003cimg width=\"40\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/charlesbridge-book-cover-icon.png?v=1712070748\" alt=\"book cover icon\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e [TABS]\n\u003ch5\u003eWatch the Trailer\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ySfDAcTR6pI\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER SPREAD BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/sumokitty-spread.jpg?14913368853414430242\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" class=\"cvr-border-gray\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e\u003cscript src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-shape=\"round\" defer async=\"\" type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDavid Biedrzycki, author-illustrator\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDavid Biedrzycki isn't big enough to do sumo, but he did join the US Sumo Federation while working on this book. David is the author and illustrator of \u003cem\u003eGroundhog's Runaway Shadow,\u003c\/em\u003e as well as the Breaking News series, the Me and My Dragon series, and the Ace Lacewing: Bug Detective series. He has also illustrated many picture books, including \u003cem\u003eThe Beetle Alphabet Book\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eDory Story.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eComing soon!\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA furry feline has sumo-sized aspirations in this Japan-set tale. A stray black-and-white kitty with round emerald eyes watches a sumo match from afar and then follows a group of rikishi back to the heya, where the pickings are good. Caught by the manager of the training center, the feline narrator is offered a place to stay: \"Kuma is afraid of mice. Can you get rid of them?\" The arrangement hits a snag when the Kitty's weight gain affects its efficiency as a mouser and it is turned out of the heya. Dejected, Kitty gives up until Kuma quietly offers encouragement: \"The cat that does not cry catches the mouse.\" Kuma and Kitty are shown in action side by side, showcasing their parallel use of sumo moves. Japanese terms are defined, with pronunciation guides, next to the text: \"shiko (shee-koh): leg stomp.\" While Kitty finds the strength to reclaim its place and is deemed SumoKitty, Kuma now must face his own fear of mice in order to overcome his biggest sumo opponent. Kitty's straightforward narration is set against comically charming illustrations that evoke scenes from classic Japanese woodblock art. Extensive research is expressed in both the inclusion of Japanese terms and the detailed illustrations. However, the inclusion of the Indian spiritual practice of yoga as part of the rikishi's training regimen seems unlikely given sumo's own deeply traditional and spiritual nature. SumoKitty's antics delight despite a muffed cultural detail.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\". . .deceptively simple. . .\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/sumokitty-cvr.jpg?405\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/sumokitty-hires.zip?v=1679586530\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" width=\"40\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/charlesbridge-book-cover-icon.png?v=1712070748\" alt=\"book cover icon\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e Download the Cover\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\" class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca class=\"product-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/sumokitty-activity-kit.pdf?117\"\u003eDownload the Activity Guide\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-58089-682-5\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eE-book\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: \u003cspan\u003e978-1-63289-826-5\u003c\/span\u003e EPUB\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eISBN: \u003cspan\u003e978-1-63289-827-2\u003c\/span\u003e PDF\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 5-8\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 48\u003cbr\u003e9 x 11\u003c\/p\u003e\n[\/TABS]"}

By David Biedrzycki

Fall down seven times, stand up eight.

One hungry stray kitty. One heya with a mouse problem. No problem. Now the hungry kitty has a job clearing out the mice from where the wrestlers practice, sleep, and eat. Kitty eats like a sumo wrestler, too. Soon he's too fat to eat mice, and oh, how they laugh. Useless, he's thrown out of the house. But one kind wrestler teaches him that "After the rain, the earth hardens," and "The cat that does not cry catches the mouse." Kitty works hard, trains with the wrestlers, strikes fear into the hearts of mice, and becomes . . . SumoKitty.

Listen to David Biedrzycki on Publisher Weekly's KidsCast.

book cover icon Download the Cover


Maximum quantity available reached.

David Biedrzycki, author-illustrator

David Biedrzycki isn't big enough to do sumo, but he did join the US Sumo Federation while working on this book. David is the author and illustrator of Groundhog's Runaway Shadow, as well as the Breaking News series, the Me and My Dragon series, and the Ace Lacewing: Bug Detective series. He has also illustrated many picture books, including The Beetle Alphabet Book and Dory Story.

  • Coming soon!

Kirkus Reviews

A furry feline has sumo-sized aspirations in this Japan-set tale. A stray black-and-white kitty with round emerald eyes watches a sumo match from afar and then follows a group of rikishi back to the heya, where the pickings are good. Caught by the manager of the training center, the feline narrator is offered a place to stay: "Kuma is afraid of mice. Can you get rid of them?" The arrangement hits a snag when the Kitty's weight gain affects its efficiency as a mouser and it is turned out of the heya. Dejected, Kitty gives up until Kuma quietly offers encouragement: "The cat that does not cry catches the mouse." Kuma and Kitty are shown in action side by side, showcasing their parallel use of sumo moves. Japanese terms are defined, with pronunciation guides, next to the text: "shiko (shee-koh): leg stomp." While Kitty finds the strength to reclaim its place and is deemed SumoKitty, Kuma now must face his own fear of mice in order to overcome his biggest sumo opponent. Kitty's straightforward narration is set against comically charming illustrations that evoke scenes from classic Japanese woodblock art. Extensive research is expressed in both the inclusion of Japanese terms and the detailed illustrations. However, the inclusion of the Indian spiritual practice of yoga as part of the rikishi's training regimen seems unlikely given sumo's own deeply traditional and spiritual nature. SumoKitty's antics delight despite a muffed cultural detail.

School Library Journal

". . .deceptively simple. . ."

Hardcover
ISBN: 978-1-58089-682-5

E-book
ISBN: 978-1-63289-826-5 EPUB

ISBN: 978-1-63289-827-2 PDF


Ages: 5-8
Page count: 48
9 x 11