Iwai, Melissa. Gigi and Ojiji: What’s in a Name? Melissa Iwai, Illus. I Can Read! Series, Level 3. HarperCollins, 01/2023. 32pp. Reader. GRADES 1 – 3. $16.99. 978-0-06-320809-4. Paper $ 4.99 978-0-06-320808-7. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
Gigi, a biracial Japanese American girl, feels like she’s grown out of her childhood nickname and tries out her other given names. This latest in the beginning reader series following Gigi and her Japanese grandfather (Ojiji) offers a relatable exploration of the connection between names, identities, and languages. Gigi’s mother explains that they called her Gigi because she couldn’t say Geraldine. She tries out using Geraldine, but finds it too long to write and difficult for Ojiji to say. Then she tries out her Japanese middle name, Hanako, and learns that “Hana means flower. Ko means child.” Engaging illustrations convey both the action and the emotional arc of the story, helping readers think about how Gigi feels as she tries to figure out what she wants to be called. With most of the plot conveyed in dialog by multiple speakers, this is best suited for independent readers, as the Level 3 indicates. This multi-generational exploration of names and identity is an important contribution to collections for developing readers.
Mary Ann Scheuer—Independent