• Age: 6 to 8
• Grade: 1 to 3
• Reading age: 6 to 8

Emi gets a new pet, Mini, a fat hamster. Unfortunately, Emi doesn't like hamsters. She wanted a dog. But after Mini escapes from her cage and hides somewhere in their house, Emi realizes she loves her little pet.

Hanako Masutani writes fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and literature for children. She lives in Vancouver with her three children. She wrote a story in the collection Henry Chow and Other Stories, published by Tradewind Books.

Hanako Masutani's profile page

Stéphane Jorisch is one of Canada's most celebrated illustrators. He is a two-time winner of the Governor General's Award for Children’s Illustration for Jabberwocky and The Owl and The Pussycat. He grew up in Montréal, Quebec, where he now lives with his family.

Stéphane Jorisch's profile page

“Emi and Mini is a gentle read for older children adjusting to new situations or responsibilities. Stéphane Jorisch’s illustrations complement Hanako Masutani’s storytelling (and) throughout the book, colour is effectively used to echo emotions.”

CM Reviews, recommended

“Absolutely beautiful illustrations by Jorish make Masutani’s charming tale come to life. Many readers will be interested in the glimpses into Emi’s Japanese Canadian culture as they follow her sweet journey … A familiar tale of big changes and animal love that many readers will relate to; some challenging vocabulary makes this a good independent reading choice for intermediate readers or a read-aloud for younger readers.”

Midwest Book Review

“Absolutely beautiful illustrations by Jorish make Masutani’s charming tale come to life. Many readers will be interested in the glimpses into Emi’s Japanese Canadian culture as they follow her sweet journey … A familiar tale of big changes and animal love that many readers will relate to; some challenging vocabulary makes this a good independent reading choice for intermediate readers or a read-aloud for younger readers.”

SLJ