Gigi and Ojiji: What’s in a Name?

Gigi and Ojiji #2

by Melissa Iwai

Gigi wants to go by something besides her baby name—but her full name, Geraldine, is too long to write and Hanako, her middle name, doesn’t feel quite right. Will Gigi find the perfect name

This exciting new I Can Read series is brought to you by author-illustrator Melissa Iwai, whose popular books include Soup Day and Dumplings for Lili.

Gigi and Ojiji: What’s Iin a Name is a Level Three I Can Read book. Level 3 includes many fun subjects kids love to read about on their own. Themes include friendship, adventure, historical fiction, and science. Level 3 books are written for early independent readers. They include some challenging words and more complex themes and stories. The story contains several Japanese words and a glossary of definitions.

Genres: Picture Books, Fiction, Childrens, Family, Realistic Fiction, Japan

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 3, 2023

About the author

Melissa Iwai is an award winning author and illustrator of children’s books. Her most recent books are: Gigi and Ojiji (Harper Collins 2022), a Geisel Honor book, Gigi and Ojiji: What's in a Name? (Harper Collins 2023), a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard book, and Dumplings for Lili (Norton Young Readers 2021), a Crystal Kite winner. All of her books may be viewed at: http://www.melissaiwai.com/


View daily work on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/melissaiwai1/

Reviews

[Earl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been charmed by this new leveled reader. In this one, Gigi tries to find which of her names fit her best.

[Mary Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 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. “It was too hard for you back then.” (p. 8) 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.” (p. 13)

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. The multi-generational exploration of names and identity is an important contribution to collections for developing readers.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm still a bit grumpy with Gigi from her earlier book, so that carried over. I found her immediate rejected of Gigi as a "baby name" a bit contemptuous towards her younger peers, and she and her family show a very non-growth mindset when she gives up on changing her name to Hanako because it takes more than four minutes to learn to respond to a new name. It seems like she's just pushing the "Gigi" is a baby name problem down the road a bit. It's not like a ten year old Gigi will be less contemptuous of infants.

Also, my son's name was Alexander and he had a good friends named Evangeline and Christopher. Geraldine isn't that long a name. She's just lazy. Although again the fact that her mom never worried about giving her daughter a name her father would have trouble pronouncing says a lot about that family.

Clearly none of these problems will occur to a child reader, who would probably enjoy the idea of taking control of a name and then the kindness of worrying about excluding a grandparent and finally having one's identity affirmed.

[R.C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really charming story about family, identity, and language! Sweet illustrations and lots of positive family support make this one shine. I did subtract a star, however, because the author wasn't on the same page as Gigi's family during the name changes. While this is a great aid in teaching children how to respect others' shifting identities, it's imperfect due to the narration consistently calling the young protagonist "Gigi" even when she goes by a different name. Because of this, I feel that the reader is encouraged to treat identity changes as "phases" rather than things to be respected and taken seriously. This critique will come off as nit-picking to some, but the reality is that there are so many folks who struggle with this on the daily. Certainly read this book to your kids--just make sure to tell them that when someone takes on a change, that change is who they are until further notice.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Iwai’s new easy reader series following Gigi and her grandfather, Ojiji. I did subtract a star, however, as the narration never follows Gigi’s wishes to change her name. Throughout the text, as Gigi figures out what name suits her best, the narration continues to refer to her as “Gigi” despite asking everyone to call her by a different name. In this way, the book treats Gigi’s requests as temporary phases, and whether intentional or not, encourages readers (young and old) to do the same. Otherwise, I loved this book and think it’s great on many levels; changing Gigi’s name as she wishes would make it even stronger!

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gigi asks her family where her name came from. It turns out that "Gigi" was what Gigi could call herself when she was a baby since she couldn't pronounce her first name, Geraldine. Not wanting to have a "baby" name anymore, Gigi decides she wants to go by her other name.

This is especially relevant to the culture our school is in where children have long first names, long last names, and also a nickname. If they are of mixed heritage, they'll have a middle name also. On top of that, we have students whose families will arbritrarily change either their first name, last name, or middle name and sometimes even all three at once!

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm confused by the publication date. I read the library's copy of the leveled reader in Feb. Maybe in May a full-size picture-book with more polished art will be released?

Anyway, this is just fine. I love the story because I know that lots of children think about their names a lot, and many do reject baby nicknames, or decide to be known by their middle name, or want to have a completely different name... and that's ok. Hai!

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Gigi learns her full name is Geraldine Hanako, but as a baby she could only say "Gigi", she decides she would like to use her more grown up name. But practical considerations abound. Geraldine is too long and too hard for her grandfather to say. Hanako doesn't quite feel like it fits her. In the end, she goes back to Gigi, but it's a nice exploration of what a name means and the importance of feeling comfy in your name.

Short, simple, but important.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beginning Reader Level 3
Gigi tries to decide if she wants to change her name from the one she has been using since she was small. She tries out Geraldine but it feels too long; she tries out her middle name Hanako but it doesn't feel right either. She decides Gigi is who she is. Readers see her interact with her family and move through a typical day.
Perfect for kids who are trying to figure out what they want to be called.

[Becky B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gigi isn't sure she wants to be called Gigi anymore. After all, they came up with it when she was a baby and couldn't say Geraldine. Maybe she should go by her real name now that she's older. Or her middle Japanese name? What's the best name for her?

I think just about every kids goes through a phase of experimenting between a nick name and given name. This will be relatable to many children. I like how Gigi's family is patient and loving with her through all her name explorations.

[Elaine Fultz, Teacher Librarian, MLS · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gigi has an American first name (Geraldine) and a Japanese middle name (Hanako), and when she decides Gigi is a baby name, she considers Hanako because Geraldine is too hard for Ojiji (Japanese grandpa) to say. But when she fails to recognize being called Hanako, she changes back to Gigi. Nice, but nothing special. Kudos to so many authors/publishers presenting multi-racial families in 2023 books!

[Lynne O'Connor McDowell · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s hard to find well written “I Can Read” books. In this book, Gigi wonders about her name and decides to use her middle name since it is shorter than her full name “Geraldine”. But she’s not used to being called “Hanako”. Eventually she finds the name that suits her best. This book introduces a few Japanese words and characters. This book would pair well with “Your Name is a Song”.

[Christie Kaaland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Iwai does a fantastic job of making the "leveled reader" constraints of this simple story invisible. Geraldine's Japanese Grandfather, Ojiji, has a difficult time pronouncing her name. At first, she decides to try using her middle name as her name. But she doesn't feel comfortable with. Hanako. In the end, she settles on the shortened Gigi, easier for her grandfather to pronounce.

[Pinky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gigi has a hard time adjusting to her Japanese name.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a new series in the genre of easy readers, about a young granddaughter and her Japanese grandfather who comes from Japan to live with her. In this particular title it is about the name the grandfather wants to call her, but Gigi just feels like being called Gigi. The author does a nice job of weaving a few Japanese works into the text in a very smooth way and they are would be easily remembered by the young reader.

[Margie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun book for emerging readers this title explores names, how we want to be titled and what works, or doesn’t. There is much to discuss here.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet story of a Japanese girl who doesn't like her name and wants to change it. But it causes problems.

[Hanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a surprise hit with my nanny kiddo. A sweet introduction to the concept that a person could have multiple names.

[Robin Leach · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is in a name