Thank You, Omu! by Oge Mora

From the new author, Oge Mora (o-gay mor-uh), comes a beautifully illustrated picture book about the joy of sharing. Oge Mora began the book as an art school project while she attended Rhode Island School of Design. The book is an homage to her Nigerian grandmother, Omu (meaning "queen" in Igbo) and her version of red stew.

 

In Thank You, Omu! Omu makes a delicious pot of red stew. She is excited to have such a tasty dinner and enjoys the smells while she waits. The whole neighborhood enjoys the smells too and soon, Omu has visitors to her door complementing her and asking for a taste of the delicious stew. Keeping her door and heart open, the community and Omu learn that sharing leaves everyone satisfied.

Oge Mora provides insight into a cultural sense of community. This book provides a starting point in the conversation for readers that understand "community" differently. If I were to invite people over, it would be a modest production to ensure that my guests were comfortable and satisfied. This book reminds me of a conversation with a Kenyan friend of mine who said, "You want to get together? Come over. Anytime. There is always enough." While I wanted warning to prepare my home and food, his idea was of more openness and communal living. This book would nicely springboard a conversation about how people "get together" in your family (potlucks, a host, etc.). Omu shares her special dish, readers easily connect with similar special dishes in their families. This is truly a book that you will want to go back to for more.

Enjoy listening to a read-aloud of "Thank You, Omu!":