Description

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Gi? Ready! Belt? Ready! Let’s go! It’s karate time. HAI-YAH!

Join Maya and all her friends as they get together at the dojo for their Saturday karate class! There are moves to remember, blocks to practice, and punches to perfect. Maya is a white belt, which means she’s still a beginner, but with focus, balance, and determination — and a little help from her friends — can she show Sensei what she’s got? Written and illustrated by Holly Sterling, a karate champion and teacher, this is a joyful and uplifting celebration of the sport and a must-have primer for any child hoping to be a karate kid one day.

About the Author

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Holly Sterling is a children’s book author and illustrator whose titles include Hiccups!; the 15 Things Not to Do with a . . . series, written by Margaret McAllister; and the Everybody Feels . . . series, written by Moira Butterfield. In addition to making books, Holly Sterling is also passionate about karate. She began competing at a young age and has won individual and team medals at both European and world levels. She is now retired from competitive karate but teaches at her own dojos in England.

Praise For…

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The pictures are soft, colorful, and appealing for young readers, and they often use panels to show the class in action. Sterling’s knowledge of teaching karate shines through as the sensei helps Maya when she struggles to master an exercise. This encouraging tale highlights good sportsmanship and the value of practicing the things we love.
—Booklist

Highly recommended for public and school libraries as an introduction to karate. This book also fosters kindness and encourages kids not to give up.
—School Library Journal

The delicate cartoons are dynamic and lively...empowering.
—Kirkus Reviews

A Saturday karate class comes to life in this picture book by Sterling, a sensei and medaled global competitor in the Japanese martial art form.
—Publishers Weekly