Yoko Learns to Read

Yoko

by Rosemary Wells

Yoko is eager to learn how to read, and Mama wants to help her. But they only have three picture books at home, all in Japanese. Yoko is worried that she'll be left behind when she sees the other kids in school earning leaf after leaf on the classroom book tree. Yoko and her Mama begin taking books out of the library. Mama can't read the English words, but by looking at the pictures, sounding out letters, and recognizing words from the wall at school, Yoko gradually teaches herself. In a poignant ending, Mama asks Yoko to show her how to read.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, School, Animals, Fiction, Japan, Cats

32 pages, Hardcover

First published February 21, 2012

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Rosemary Wells is an American writer and illustrator of children's books. She often uses animal characters to address real human issues. Some of her most well-known characters are Max & Ruby and Timothy from Timothy Goes To School (both were later adapted into Canadian-animated preschool television series, the former’s airing on Nickelodeon (part of the Nick Jr. block) and the latter’s as part of PBS Kids on PBS).

Reviews

[J. Boo · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yoko learns to read by looking at pictures, making assumptions from context, figuring out the first sound and guessing the rest, and learning sight words as if they were Chinese characters. All the current ineffective fads in one convenient place.

I might be overharsh in my rating, but I spent the evening mutually bemoaning our local public school's awful reading instruction with the mom of a severely dyslexic first grader, and when I got home, DD#2 (age 2) picked this out of the bedtime library stack. (She declared she was bored mid-way and switched me to a different book, but I was probably letting some of my irateness seep through. )

[Dimity Monroe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I shouldn't be surprised by how much I liked this Rosemary Wells title but I was!
Yoko Learns to Read is so tender. LOL! I can see this lap-sit book inspiring a good talk between parent and child - Why can't Loko's mom read?

[Theresa Worona · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book was nice because it shows young students that learning to read takes practice and time but if they work hard enough they can achieve it. I also liked how it involved another culture so that way the students can learn something new (how the Japanese read back to front) about a culture they may have not been exposed to before. I think the story should have shown the struggles of learning how to read because some students may not grasp reading as quickly as it is depicted in the story and some readers may be let down when they experience their first struggle reading. I did however like the graphics, they were very colorful and eye catching.

[Sandra Sy]

"Yoko Learns to Read" by Rosemary Wells has a copyright date of 2012. This book is a great read-aloud option for 1st and 2nd graders. This book is about Yoko and her determined spirit which eventually gets her to learn how to read. Her mom does not know how to read but encourages her daughter every step of the way. This story tells the triumph of Yoko in her journey of transitioning into America and eventually teaching her mom how to read.

[Donna Mork · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yoko is learning to read in English. She goes to the library to get new books because she only has 3 of her own. She starts recognizing words. Her friends don't believe her but she proves she can really read. Then her mom asks if she could learn English too, so Yoko starts teaching her the alphabet.

[Litwithlove · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars because my daughter was adamant "mama, dont give it 4 stars, its a 5 star book!" And I personally really enjoyed the messaging and empathy & understanding shown for people where English is their second language.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story, cute pictures but somehow this one didn't grab me.

[Liz P · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son and I love anything by Rosemary Wells. He's in kindergarten and he's learning to read. This book was fantastic and very relevant. We found it very inspiring and heartwarming!

[Charlotte Akiha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good but not as good as the OG Yoko

[Miss Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great elementary and up book about a Japanese girl and her mother learning to read in English together. Love the resources they use to get it done.

[PAR · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars. Pretty good.
Read: 9/28/23

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yoko’s class is keeping track of the books they read by adding leaves to a special tree. Yoko and her mother read three books in Japanese, for which Yoko happily receives three leaves. But Yoko’s mother doesn’t read English, so it becomes tricky for Yoko to catch up when her classmates start reaching their fifth and sixth leaves. Yoko perseveres, however, borrowing books from the local library and learning to sound out the words from her friends, and from the list of sight words in her classroom. Once she begins to master reading herself, she begins helping her mother to learn the English alphabet, too.

I have become sort of disenchanted with Rosemary Wells of late, but I do love Yoko, so when this sequel arrived at my library, I gave it a chance. And I am so glad I did. This heartwarming story addresses an issue of great importance in schools, but does so in a way that is still child-friendly. Sometimes Wells’s more recent books seem like they’re intended for adults, but this one really empowers the child to take charge of her own reading, and to enjoy the learning process even if it’s difficult at times.

This book will probably find its best audience in classrooms and school libraries, rather than in public library story time, but it’s a nice, solid picture book which encourages kids of all backgrounds to play to their strengths and embrace the joys of reading.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eager to earn more leaves for the school book tree by reading books, Yoko realizes that she only has three books at home. She and her mother, who doesn't read English, head to the library for books. As Yoko learns new words, she gains confidence, and inspires her mother to learn to read in English too. I liked Yoko's determination amid the naysaying of some of her bullying classmates, but I wondered about why Yoko and her mother needed to go to the public library rather than the school library and why the librarian only allowed her to check out one picture book at a time. Although the story is didactic, the illustrations, rendered in oil pastel and collage and brimming with swirling colors and vivid kimonos, are particularly eye-catching as are the endpapers filled with one-syllable word cards and images. The illustrations capture perfectly the joy with which Yoko celebrates her ability to read better with each book she tackles. It's interesting that Yoko and the other characters are depicted as cats rather than humans.

[The Reading Countess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rosemary Wells! Rosemary Wells! I was thrilled to receive this one from NCTE since she is an author we know and love at home.

It can be difficult to learn how to read, especially if you are a Japanese cat. Yoko's hunger for the written word carries her to the library, where she checks out book after book on her quest to learn how to read. Her classmates aren't so sure...and would provide a great avenue for a teacher to talk to his/her young charges about how a reader becomes a reader. I especially liked how Yoko, in the end, became the teacher. This one is a first grade teacher's best friend.

[The Book Maven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable kitten Yoko loves to read the books that she and her mama brought over from Japan. Unfortunately, in order to get more recognition at school, she needs to read other, different books--but her mother cannot read the English words to help. Nonetheless, she and Yoko put on their best kimonos and go to the Library, where Yoko gets her own library card, checks out books, and gets so good at reading that soon she is helping her mother learn to read, too.

The illustrations are vividly colored, with background patterns of origami papers placed about intermittently, the kittens are TERRIBLY cute, and it's a good solid story about literacy and family time.

[Sarah Hay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the story in this book. A little cat doesn't want to fall behind the others who are reading well, but she only can read in Japanese and has only 3 books in her home library. Her mother wants to help, however, her mother cannot read making things a little more challenging. But, through perseverance and with help from the local library the little cat figures it out and even teaches her mother.

One thing that really bothered me in this book was that the librarian stamped the book to check it out. Are there libraries still doing this?

[Cathy Blackler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fear of being left behind prompts Yoko to visit the library where she gets her own library card; the most powerful card a person can own. Yoko's determination helps her keep pace with her classmates, and gives her mother the courage to take the next step on her reading journey. End papers and kimonos are stylized like beautiful origami paper. Young readers will identify with Yoko's desire to read.

[Shallowreader VaVeros · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yoko's story about struggling to learn another language, one where your parents are unable to help you is a quite astute in its delivery. A parent feeling that to a teacher they can't admit to their own reading difficulty yet they were comfortable to discuss this with a libraian. (What does this say about librarians? That they are reliable, non-judgemental?). 1 sentence stood out: Telling is not reading (a taunt from the girls in the class).

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was ideal for reading aloud to my daughter, who is 5 years old and learning to read herself. The illustrations are very sweet, and the story is easy for children to relate to, even if they aren't Japanese cats. A good way to show children that learning to read takes a little time and courage.

[Natalie Harvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

So good for our ELL population. They can definitely relate to Yoko and her mom who doesn't read in English but Japanese. Many of our parents do learn English right alongside their children, so they'll be able to appreciate this story.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a wonderful story that would work well in any community with adult English language learners because Yoko and her mom learn to read at the same time! And I love how Rosemary Wells uses the origami paper prints in her illustrations.

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming picture book on the subject of multi-generational ELL, as immigrant kitten Yoko realizes that to keep up with her classmates, she needs to go beyond her favorite Japanese books. Along the way, they deal with her mom's inability to read in English.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars. Yoko's mother can't read English and Yoko only has three books in Japanese at home. She fears being left behind as her classmates add 'book leaves' to the reading tree. Nice illustrations and a simple story.

[Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yoko's mother does not read English and does not want to admit this to the teacher. As Yoko begins to learn to read, her mother makes the brave leap to learn as well.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet story about a first grader eager to learn how to read who then teaches her mother.

[kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable book! Love the Japanese influences.

[Bill · Rating 1 out of 5]

I like several of the Yoko books, but this one is off the mark conceptually (in terms of learning to read) and culturally.

[Wendy Kuzma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has an encouraging message for beginning readers.

[Dona Gay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the colorful illustrations with the beautiful patterned paper. I also loved sharing Yoko's thrill at learning to read. There are few things better or more important in life than reading!!

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love that she starts to teach her mom to read too!