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Explore Japanese culture with Penny, Paulie, and magical Shimesu!
Twins Penny and Paulie are thrilled to be in Tokyo—even if they're stuck in a boring hotel while their dad attends "important" meetings. But when they meet a strange, frog-like creature named Shimesu in the hotel pond, their trip turns into a wild adventure.
Shimesu is a yokai, a supernatural being, and he's in big trouble. Banished from Yokai Mountain, he needs their help to get home. Soon Penny and Paulie are diving through his magical water vortex to destinations across Japan and experiencing the country in ways no visitor ever could!
Blending an exciting adventure with fun facts about Japanese culture, this book explores:
Experienced comic book artist and children's educator Matthew Loux creates the perfect balance of humor, page-turning action and cultural detail. Kids, parents, teachers, and librarians alike will want this book on their shelves.
Twins Penny and Paulie are thrilled to be in Tokyo—even if they're stuck in a boring hotel while their dad attends "important" meetings. But when they meet a strange, frog-like creature named Shimesu in the hotel pond, their trip turns into a wild adventure.
Shimesu is a yokai, a supernatural being, and he's in big trouble. Banished from Yokai Mountain, he needs their help to get home. Soon Penny and Paulie are diving through his magical water vortex to destinations across Japan and experiencing the country in ways no visitor ever could!
Blending an exciting adventure with fun facts about Japanese culture, this book explores:
- How ancient Japanese castles kept enemies out—and what samurai wore into battle
- The etiquette of visiting a Shinto shrine and the meaning behind its objects
- The trendy pop culture of Tokyo's Harajuku and Akihabara districts
- The many kinds of noodles, street food, and seafood enjoyed in Japan
- And much more!
Experienced comic book artist and children's educator Matthew Loux creates the perfect balance of humor, page-turning action and cultural detail. Kids, parents, teachers, and librarians alike will want this book on their shelves.
Price: $14.99
Pages: 80
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
Imprint: Tuttle Publishing
Publication Date:
14 April 2026
Trim Size: 10.00 X 7.50 in
ISBN: 9784805319390
Format: Hardcover
Featured in Publishers Weekly Spring Children's Preview
"Readers will love learning with this trio. A recommended first purchase." —School Library Journal
"Loux's presentation of his story and his Japanese facts here are so accessible and fun, and his twists on some of the yokai so unexpected, that My Journey To Japan should find fans both among those who are learning about the elements covered here for the very first time and those who have been reading about yokai and Japanese food and history for years via manga." —School Library Journal, Good Comics for Kids Blog
"The entire book is fun and educational, and kids will get a kick from the shenanigans of the yokai […] perfect for the family traveling [in Japan] but also for a classroom learning about the country." —Crafty Moms Share
"This book will keep kids engaged because of all of the cool creatures they meet. The illustrations are colorful, and the dialogue is humorous…I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to learn a little bit about Japanese culture or who is planning on visiting Japan in the near future." —Manhattan Book Review
"Readers will love learning with this trio. A recommended first purchase." —School Library Journal
"Loux's presentation of his story and his Japanese facts here are so accessible and fun, and his twists on some of the yokai so unexpected, that My Journey To Japan should find fans both among those who are learning about the elements covered here for the very first time and those who have been reading about yokai and Japanese food and history for years via manga." —School Library Journal, Good Comics for Kids Blog
"The entire book is fun and educational, and kids will get a kick from the shenanigans of the yokai […] perfect for the family traveling [in Japan] but also for a classroom learning about the country." —Crafty Moms Share
"This book will keep kids engaged because of all of the cool creatures they meet. The illustrations are colorful, and the dialogue is humorous…I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to learn a little bit about Japanese culture or who is planning on visiting Japan in the near future." —Manhattan Book Review
Matthew Loux is the artist and creator of many graphic novels for kids including Prunella and the Cursed Skull Ring, The Time Museum, the Salt Water Taffy series, and the Spark Experiment. Loux has studied Japanese culture for over a decade and has visited the country many times. Matthew completes all of his work by hand, never with AI assistance.