Thank you, Omu! by Oge Mora

I tend to be a little, well, skeptical about award-winning books. They don't often, in my experience, make good read-alouds for my audience. So I had this one sitting on my shelf for a while and when I finally read it... it was awesome!

Bright collages, a mix of solid colors and patterns, introduce a cityscape and Omu, a comfortable-looking woman with a white head wrap and brown skin. She's mixing a "thick red stew" and the tasty smell drifts out the window. One by one, her neighbors knock on the door and she offers them a bowl. She feeds a hungry little boy with dark skin and hair, a white, female police officer, a big hot dog vendor with a beard, and so on. Finally, it's dinner time... but Omu's stew is gone! There's one more knock at the door and when she goes to tell them she has nothing to share, she finds the whole neighborhood who tasted her stew there to share with her!

An author's note explains that "Omu" is the Nigerian for queen, but for the author it meant her grandmother and this is the best grandmother, a wise, generous, and loving woman who spreads warmth throughout the neighborhood. But a touching story and child-friendly illustrations aren't enough to make a good read-aloud. Oge Mora's text combines with the art to make a delightful read-aloud with the perfect amount of repetition, a simple storyline, and a smooth rhythm that kids will love to listen to again and again.

Verdict: Truly an award-winning book, this is one that will be a storytime staple for years to come. Highly recommended.

ISBN: 9780316431248; Published October 2018 by Little, Brown, and Co; Purchased for the library