Thank you, Omu

Author & Illustrator: Oge Mora

I can smell Omu’s Red stew – Out the window, Out the door , down the hall, toward the street, around the block, through the pages and just like her many neighbors, even I feel like knocking on her door. This book is celebration of food, community and sharing. It reminded me of growing up in India and my great grandmother cooking/sharing her stuff with the rest of the community. Food is a great unifier and this book is a refreshing read at a time in the world where more and more people are feeling lonely. It is a straightforward message that needed to be said and it is depicted deliciously.

 

Thank You, Omu! (Caldecott Honor Book) - Mora, Oge

Ra Pu Zel and the Stinky Tofu

Author: Ying Chang Compestine

Illustrator: Crystal Kung

Ra Pu Zel is a clever retelling of the more famous long haired Princess story – RaPunzel. Just like Rapunzel, Ra Pu Zel has. long hair and she lives the majority of the story in a tall tower. Of course, there is a savior who is going to get her out of the tall tower. But this savior is markedly different. My daughter loved the book. I felt it broke the usual norms of Princess stories and I loved the “food” component in the story which was not about eating vegetables and eating healthy. 

 

Ra Pu Zel and the Stinky Tofu by Ying Chang Compestine