Gigi wants to go by something besides her baby name--but her full name, Geraldine, is too long to write and Hanako, her middle name, doesn't feel quite right. Will Gigi find the perfect name?

This exciting new I Can Read series is brought to you by author-illustrator Melissa Iwai, whose popular books include Soup Day and Dumplings for Lili.

Gigi and Ojiji: What's in a Name? is a Level Three I Can Read book. Level 3 includes many fun subjects kids love to read about on their own. Themes include friendship, adventure, historical fiction, and science. Level 3 books are written for early independent readers. They include some challenging words and more complex themes and stories. The story contains several Japanese words and a glossary of definitions.

Praise for Gigi and Ojiji:

"Gigi crafts her Japanese American identity in this -enchanting early reader. The cuteness, inclusivity, and cross-cultural problem-solving represented will have young -readers coming back again and again. A must-buy." --School Library Journal (starred review)

"The text is well supported by the endearing illustrations, which capture all of Gigi's big emotions and depict her as a biracial child, with a white father and Japanese mother." --ALA Booklist (starred review)

"An affirming option in the quickly diversifying field of early-reader books." --Kirkus Reviews

A 2023 Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor title

El día de los niños, el día de los libros selection 2023

ALSC Notable 2023

CBC Teacher and Librarian Favorites Award 2023

A Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year in the 5-9 beginning reader category (2023)

A Chicago Public Library Best of the Best

A CCBC 2024 Choices for the Books for Beginning Readers category!

Author: Melissa Iwai
Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 01/03/2023
Series: I Can Read Level 3
Pages: 32
Weight: 0.35lbs
Size: 8.74h x 5.91w x 0.39d
ISBN: 9780063208087
Audience: Ages 4-8

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 2.1
Point Value: 0.5
Interest Level: Lower Grade
Quiz #/Name: 518222 / Gigi and Ojiji: What's in a Name?


Review Citation(s):
School Library Journal 11/01/2022 pg. 55
Booklist 02/15/2023 pg. 56