| Title: SumoKitty | Author: David Biedrzcki |
| Publisher: Charlesbridge | Copyright: 2019 |
| Hardbound ISBN: 9781580896825 | Picture book, age 5-8 |
| Language: English | Japanese culture |
| Asian setting | Asian characters |
A stray cat joins a sumo wrestling training center as chief mouse catcher. When things take a turn for the worst, Kitty learns the important lesson of resilience from his family of wrestlers.
Ten Japanese words related to the sport of sumo wrestling are used in the text and explained on the same page with phonetic spelling and English equivalents.
Four Japanese proverbs are included in the text and illustrated by the story. This provides opportunity to discuss these wise sayings and how they apply to real life.
Reader comment: “It takes an idea from one culture and puts it into terms a child from another culture can understand and appreciate.”
International Baccalaureate Learner Profile:
| Inquirers | Open-Minded |
| Knowledgeable | Caring  |
| Thinkers | Risk-takers |
| Communicators | Balanced |
| Principled | Reflective |
International Baccalaureate Approaches to Learning:
| Critical Thinking | Communication Skills |
| Social Skills | Self-management Skills |
| Research Skills |
These book reviews are purposely brief and lacking in detailed analysis because international school librarians do not have an abundance of time to read book reviews. This format will, however, point to aspects that make this book especially attractive to international schools – culture, setting, characters, language, and relation to the IB curriculum / learner profile.
International School Librarian 