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Kudo Kids: The Mystery of the Masked Medalist
Last updated Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Author: Maia and Alex Shibutani and Michelle Schusterman
Illustrator: Yaoyao Ma Van As
Date of Publication: 2020
ISBN: 059311373X
Grade Level: 4th (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: Feb. 2026
Synopsis:
Andy and Mika are going to Tokyo!
The Kudo Kids have never been to Japan before, so they can't believe they get to attend the Summer Olympics there. The siblings plan to eat tons of delicious Japanese food, watch every event they can, and win a super-popular new game called OlympiFan.
Developed by a mysterious former medalist, OlympiFan brings players together from all over the world to search Tokyo for virtual medals and clues to the creator's identity. Andy loves puzzles, and he's determined to crack this one, especially since the winning team will get to be beta testers for the Masked Medalist's future games!
| Note to readers: |
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Since this is a long book, pages 25, 76, or 179 are good alternate starting points.
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Some parentification of the younger sibling is present in the beginning of the novel.
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When discussing diversity in food culture, help maintain respectful discourse.
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| Discussion topics for before reading: |
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What sporting events do you watch during the Olympic Games?
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Have you tried a new sport because of a specific athlete? What's their name/sport?
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Has anyone been to Japan or eaten Japanese cuisine? Describe your experience.
Vocabulary:
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coursing (pg. 32) - move quickly as through a path
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cower (pg. 59) - to make oneself small in the presence of something dominating
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stifled (pg.70) - dampened, suppressed, or withheld
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plummeted (p. 86) - dropped at a very fast rate of speed
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gestured (p. 230) - non-verbal communication using hands/limbs to be expressive
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| Discussion topics for during/after reading: |
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Do you ever lose track of time when using electronic devices?
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How have others helped you balance online/offline time?
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Can you guess Mika's secret that she's hiding from her family?
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| Special activities: |
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Pin the city on the country! Using the Japanese districts/wards on page 24 (Shibuya, Shinjuku, Harajuku, Jingume, Aoyama), ask students to help indicate where they think these famous locations are situated on a map. Hint: Find Tokyo first!
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Go around the room and ask students to name previous Olympic Games host cities. (Check on your cell phone first!)
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*Note: These craft ideas are just suggestions.
You can use them, but you don't have to use them.
You can expand upon them, or add your own twist.
Remember, though, that the focus of your time should
not be on the development and execution of a craft;
the focus should be on the read-aloud and the
enjoyment of the book!
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