Summary
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.
Theme(s):
Friendship/Community, Sharing, Traditions
Personal Response
I believe this book to be simple, yet contain many important messages and topics that could be discussed with children. This book made me feel warm and cozy as I read it and is overall a very feel-good book. It also made me think of my own grandma and how she is similar to Omu. The characters are diverse and break a sort of a “stereotype” in society (a female police officer for example), which I think is very important to show to our youth that stereotypes can and should be broken.
Teaching Ideas
I would use this book as an interactive read-aloud in the classroom and as a way to expose my students to a more urban way of life and community. We would discuss communities and the various roles that the different characters have in a community as students may or may not be familiar with certain ones. After the read-aloud I would have students make connections to their own lives and draw pictures/write about meals their families make that may be traditional like Omu’s stew.
Recommended Reading Level
Grade 01, Grade 02
