Ready to take your child on a magical adventure through Japan — one delicious bite at a time?
If your little one loves curious adventures, playful storytelling, and discovering new foods and cultures, then Olivia’s Passport Plates is the perfect journey to begin together.
Olivia notices everything.
The flowers on the walk home. The people in line at the bright yellow food truck. The strange triangle-shaped snacks wrapped in dark seaweed.
But trying something new?
That part feels a little harder.
Then one night, a glowing lantern appears at Olivia’s window… and suddenly she’s swept away to Japan, where she meets a boy named Kenji and his grandmother. Together, they cook, laugh, and create delicious onigiri while Olivia discovers that sometimes the bravest adventures begin with just one small bite.
A heartwarming picture book about:
• Trying new foods and experiences
• Exploring culture through food
• Friendship, family, and belonging
• Celebrating cultural connection in a child-friendly way
Complete with:
• An interactive onigiri recipe kids can make at home
• A helpful Japan glossary
• A gentle introduction to Japanese traditions and food culture
Open the book. Take the first bite. Discover a whole new world together.
Ready to take your child on a magical adventure through Japan — one delicious bite at a time?
If your little one loves curious adventures, playful storytelling, and discovering new foods and cultures, then Olivia’s Passport Plates is the perfect journey to begin together.
Olivia notices everything.
The flowers on the walk home. The people in line at the bright yellow food truck. The strange triangle-shaped snacks wrapped in dark seaweed.
But trying something new?
That part feels a little harder.
Then one night, a glowing lantern appears at Olivia’s window… and suddenly she’s swept away to Japan, where she meets a boy named Kenji and his grandmother. Together, they cook, laugh, and create delicious onigiri while Olivia discovers that sometimes the bravest adventures begin with just one small bite.
A heartwarming picture book about:
• Trying new foods and experiences
• Exploring culture through food
• Friendship, family, and belonging
• Celebrating cultural connection in a child-friendly way
Complete with:
• An interactive onigiri recipe kids can make at home
• A helpful Japan glossary
• A gentle introduction to Japanese traditions and food culture
Open the book. Take the first bite. Discover a whole new world together.
Olivia's favorite part of the day was walking home from school with her dad. She loved looking around because there was so much to see. One day, she noticed Giri-Giri, a food truck, serving up food that she had never seen before. Olivia was apprehensive about trying the new food. She also avoided foods due to their texture. Though she avoided foods, that didn't mean she wasn't curious about them, and thanks to an unexpected appearance of a glowing, magical lantern, she was going to experience Japan's culture firsthand.
Zapped to Kyoto, Japan, Olivia met Kenji, who welcomed her into their home and shared their food and (some) customs with her. Slip off your shoes and watch Kenji and his Baachan (Japanese for grandma) teach Olivia how to make onigiri, rice balls. If the messy meal looks fun, you are in luck; the author graciously included the recipe after the story's conclusion. Fun to make and (potentially) yummy to eat, I encourage families to try the recipe! Encouraging kids to step out of their comfort zone might prompt kids to try more new or foreign foods, as Olivia did. Will they like every food? No, but let's encourage kids to keep an open mind! Expand their palates; expand their minds!
Olivia's Passport Plates: One Brave Bite in Japan gives readers a brief look into Japanese food and traditions with simple wording and lovely illustrations. So leave your shoes at the door, step into Kenji's world, and discover what and how to make his favorite snack, and the touching reason he makes it every Sunday. Check out the recipe included in the book and be amazed at its simplicity and illustrated features. Review "Olivia's Japan Word List" and be sure to follow the QR code for more recipes, sticker sheets, and more!
Olivia's Passport Plates: One Brave Bite in Japan is a heartwarming story that will appeal to kids 8 years and younger. I do recommend a more defined outer glow around some text blocks, but other than that, the book was cute in design and story development. I loved Olivia's hair and the joy etched on her face when she learned about the new culture and shared her new knowledge with her family. Beautiful images. Beautiful story. Check it out!