Title: Thank You, Omu!
Author: Oge Mora | Illustrator: Oge Mora
Publisher: Little, Brown, and Company | Published: October 2, 2018
Theme: Sharing
Character Origin: Human
Book Type: Picture Book | Pages: 40
Ages: 4-7 | Book Level: 3.2 | Lexile Measure: AD630L
Synopsis: Everyone in the neighborhood dreams of a taste of Omu’s delicious stew! One by one, they follow their noses toward the scrumptious scent. And one by one, Omu offers a portion of her meal. Soon the pot is empty. Has she been so generous that she has nothing left for herself?
Debut author-illustrator Oge Mora brings to life a heartwarming story of sharing and community in colorful cut-paper designs as luscious as Omu’s stew, with an extra serving of love. An author’s note explains that “Omu” (pronounced AH-moo) means “queen” in the Igbo language of her parents, but growing up, she used it to mean “Grandma.” This book was inspired by the strong female role models in Oge Mora’s life.
My thoughts…
This book TOTALLY melted my heart. It reminded me of my mom and how giving she is to everyone. It’s hard to believe that the this is Mora’s debut. Her text had a familiar flow to it. Her writing style hinted of books that I read as a child that really stuck with me. The gentle repetition of certain words/phrases will drive home their importance to young ears. It is easy to read and the message is endearing
Did I also mention that she’s the illustrator as well? She uses collage to beautifully illustrate the story. This technique is unique and adds texture and character that you don’t often see in picture books. It is SOOOO visually appealing. Did I also mention that she has a BFA in illustration [wink]? There is so much heart in every work of this text. I bet you’ll feel it too! This book will be enjoyed by kids and adults for years to come.
My rating…
