Yukata Always Get What You Want

Last spring my daughter's class was studying Asia. For show and tell, my daughter decided to take her yukata from Japan. However a few minutes before her presentation, she decided not to put it on. I thought that was a bit strange since she had been so excited about wearing it all week, even doing a dress rehearsal the night before.

Perhaps she was motivated by stage fright or even shyness, but I suspect she had a premonition of what occurred next. The teacher called on another volunteer to dress up in the yukata. As soon as she put it on, the class erupted in laughter. Now maybe it was a laughing-with rather than laughing-at situation, but it was not the reaction I was expecting. Looking back I wish we had known about this book beforehand. 

Suki's Kimono, by Chieri Uegaki, tells the story of Suki's first day of school. Suki wants to wear her new favorite outfit- a kimono. Her sisters try to talk her out of it: "People will think you're weird," says her sister Mari. 

Suki and her sisters walk to school. Feeling like a butterfly, Suki is oblivious to the snickering crowd walking behind her. She ignores the giggles on the playground, but when she gets to class the teasing becomes harder to ignore: "She's a bat!" one boy yells. 

When her turn comes to talk about her summer vacation, Suki stands up straight and tells about her grandmother's visit and the festival they attended. Then she begins to dance. One of my favorite illustrations (done by Stéphane Jorisch) shows the students settling down to watch with expressions that show interest rather than derision. Suki gets a standing ovation. 

On the walk home from school, Suki's sisters complain about no one noticing their new shoes or sweater. Suki just smiles. And continues to dance.