Fish for Jimmy
About the Book
Written and Illustrated by Katie Yamasaki
For two boys in a Japanese-American family, everything changed when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor and the United States went to war. With the family forced to leave their home and go to an internment camp, Jimmy loses his appetite. Older brother Taro takes matters into his own hands and, night after night, sneaks out of the camp, and catches fresh fish for Jimmy to help make him strong again.
This affecting tale of courage and love is an adaptation of the author’s true family story.
“Appreciated by young children, middle school students learning more about internment camps, and anyone interested in how art can explore emotion.”— School Library Journal
Read the full School Library Journal Review here.
“A dramatic, visual feast.” — The New York Times
Read the full New York Times article here.
Book Signings and School Visits
In 2013 Fish for Jimmy had been making the rounds! I had gotten to travel to Houston, Seattle, Iowa City, San Francisco, Arlington, Virginia, Detroit, and of course do a signing just blocks from home at Greenlight Bookstore! Here are some pictures of school visits, notes from students I’ve shared the book with, as well as friends and family who constantly reminded me how lucky I am to do this work!
First stop: Detroit!
Hometown love at The Book Beat!!
I did a signing at City Lights Bookstore - a literary and activist landmark in San Francisco. What an honor to be hosted and what an absolute joy to fill the signing with my family and friends! I think that was the only signing I did where there were no children present whatsoever. If you’re not a famous writer, it is definitely lucky to have a giant, awesome family who can come out and support your signings!
It was an absolute honor to do a signing at the literary mecca of Prarie Lights Bookstore in Iowa City. I was also lucky to work with the students at Mt. Mercy University in Cedar Rapids on the same trip. Unfortunately I don’t have any pictures from that event. Thanks to Andy Casto, friend and faculty at Mt. Mercy, for making it happen!
Signing at Greenlight Bookstore in Fort Greene, Brooklyn brought out lots of friends, current and former students (and their kids!) from Ballet Tech. What a joy!
As part of their World War II exhibit, the New York Historical Society invited me to share Fish for Jimmy in their beautiful children’s museum. If you have little ones, I highly recommend this engaging, interactive gem of a children’s museum. The pictures don’t do it justice, but they do have a wonderful library as well.
Kids from Hutsell Elementary in Katy, Texas sent me the most incredible letters after my visit with them. What an incredible school. The students had lined the hallways with origami fish and the amazing principal, Keiko Davidson, had printed my murals on large foam core with questions about mural painting and public art for the kids to consider before my arrival. I also got to enjoy a cameo on KBUZZ, Hutsell’s morning news show!