Beth Anderson, Children's Writer

Welcome to Perfect Picture Book Friday! Here’s a gem that everyone will enjoy and is certain to touch your heart. 

Title: Thank You, Omu!

Written and illustrated by: Oge Mora

Little Brown, 2018, fiction

Suitable for ages: 4-8

Themes/topics: gratitude, generosity, community

Opening:
On the corner of First Street and Long Street, on the very top floor, Omu was cooking a thick red stew in a big fat pot for a nice evening meal. She seasoned and stirred it and took a small taste.
“What a delicious stew!” Omu said. “Tonight’s dinner will surely be the best I have ever had.”

Overview: (from barnesandnoble.com)
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.

A 2019 Caldecott Honor Book
Winner of the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Illustrator Award

Activities and Resources:
Write a thank you note to someone who did something special for you.
Discuss or write personal stories of a loved one, or a personal story of generosity and gratitude. What are you grateful for? How do you share your gratitude? How are you generous?
Generate a list of ways to show gratitude.
Make a list of “thank you” in different languages.
Art: make a cut paper collage

Why I like this book:
This is such a sweet, lovely book with a simple, pure message about generosity and gratitude. It’s a book for everyone, goes straight to the heart, and feels like a traditional tale. The paper collage illustrations add an interesting dimension. Enjoy! It will leave you feeling like you’ve had a bowl of Omu’s delicious stew.

Visit author Susanna Hill’s Perfect Picture Books for a plethora of picture books listed by title and topic/theme, each with teacher/parent activities and resources.