Jasmine Toguchi, Bridge Builder

In the seventh book in the Jasmine Toguchi series, Debbi Michiko Florence and illustrator Elizabet Vukovic take us on a family adventure in Kabo, Japan full of warmth, laughter, and summer fun.

Japan is awesome but Jasmine is beginning to miss home and her best friend, Linnie. She’s hoping her next adventure to a village called Kabo, where her grandmother grew up, is just what she needs to get out of this rut. Jasmine is pleased to find out there’s a beach, tangerine grove, and even a local festival to attend.

She is hoping to explore with her big sister, Sophie. But, walnuts! Sophie is no fun. All she wants to do is read her Japanese manga and stay inside. If Jasmine’s best friend Linnie was there, she’d definitely play with her, so why won’t Sophie?

Regardless, Jasmine is determined to make the most of her time in Japan, only getting into a little trouble along the way.

Debbi Michiko Florence is a third-generation Japanese American and has many fond memories of sharing in her family’s traditions while growing up in California and visiting her relatives in Japan. Debbi is also the author of novels and picture books, including Niki Nakayama: A Chef’s Tale in 13 Bites. She now lives in Connecticut with her husband and their many animals (but no flamingo).

Elizabet Vukovic received her BFA from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, California. She specializes in children’s book illustration but enjoys experimenting with character design, concept art, fashion illustration, and decorative art. She currently resides in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.