Sumo Joe

By Mia Wenjen, Nat Iwata (Illustrator)

A brother must choose between sumo wrestling and including his sister.

3.8/5 Goodreads · 248 ratings

40 pages

$20.95Save 5%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Sumo Joe loves his Saturday sumo wrestling with friends, where no girls are allowed. But when his little sister wants to join, Joe faces a tough choice. Can he balance being a dedicated sumo wrestler and a caring big brother? As fists and feet fly in their makeshift ring, Joe must decide if family or tradition wins. This playful, rhyming tale explores sibling bonds and the challenge of breaking rules for the ones we love. Will Joe find a way to include his sister without losing his sumo spirit?

From the publisher

In this sweet and funny story, Sumo Joe and his friends enjoy pretending to be sumo wrestlers. But when his little sister wants to join their boy-only game, what should Sumo Joe do? On Saturday mornings, Sumo Joe is a gentle big brother to his little sister. But on Saturday afternoons, he and his friends are sumo wrestlers! They tie on makeshift mawashi belts, practice drills like teppo, and compete in their homemade dohyo ring. They even observe sumo’s ultimate rule: no girls allowed! But when Sumo Joe’s little sister wants to join in the fun, Sumo Joe is torn between the two things he’s best at–sumo, and being a big brother. Fists, feet, and martial art forms collide in this sweet yet spirited rhyming story by author Mia Wenjen and illustrator Nat Iwata.

At a glance