Narrator LaQuita James brings fresh joy to this engaging story of friendship, sharing, and community. Omu’s name means “queen” in the Igbo language of Nigeria. When she makes a stew for dinner, the wafting smell entices neighbors all over the community to knock on her door. Omu shares her stew with every visitor until there is none left for herself. James creates different voices for each visitor, who include a little boy, a police officer, and hot dog vendor. Listeners hear the sadness in Omu’s voice when she realizes the stew is gone and the laugh in her voice when all the visitors unexpectedly return to show their gratitude. S.C. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

Mora's illustrations use collage to give the book's world a sense of depth and vibrancy…Mora is especially deft at using pastels and china markers to give the faces of her cutout figures roundness and expression; similarly, the street scenes are filled with cutouts (a lurching taxi, a flying bus, an energetic-looking soccer player) that will have toddlers reaching out to grab them.

★ 08/27/2018
Omu (pronounced AH-moo, it’s Igbo for queen), the matriarch of her city neighborhood, is making “thick red stew in a big fat pot.” As the delicious scent—rendered as an undulating strip of paper—wafts through the neighborhood, a little boy drops by, then “Ms. Police Officer,” and then a deluge of hungry humans that eventually includes the mayor. Mora, a major new talent making her debut as an author-illustrator, gives her book a rhythmic, refrainlike structure: There’s a “KNOCK!” at the door, a moment of thought on Omu’s part, the presentation of a bowl, and a hearty “Thank you, Omu!” in brightly colored capital letters. Dinnertime arrives, and a chagrined Omu discovers that she’s given all her stew away (“There goes the best dinner I ever had!”). But she isn’t sad for long. The stew eaters arrive en masse at her door with a bountiful potluck (the boy proffers a handmade thank-you note), and “together they ate, danced, and celebrated.” This sweet story of inclusivity, gratitude, and delicious fellowship is also a feast for the eyes, with its warm colors and inventive mélange of cut paper and other materials. Ages 4–8. Agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (Oct.)

A 2019 Caldecott Honor Book
Winner of the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Illustrator Award
An ALA Children's Notables List Selection 2019
CCBC Choices 2019
A New York Times Notable Children's Book of 2018
A Bank Street College Best Children's Book of 2018
A Publishers' Weekly Best Book of 2018
A Boston Globe Best Children's Book of 2018
A School Library Journal Best Book of 2018
A New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice Staff Pick
A Chicago Public Library Best Book of 2018
2019 E.B. White Read-Aloud Award Finalist
Jumpstart Read for the Record Selection 2019


[*] "A memorable tale of community and the unexpected rewards of sharing."—School Library Journal, starred review

[*] "A lovely story of giving and community founded in Nigerian culture. Delectable."
—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

[*] "Mora [is] a major new talent.... Rhythmic, refrainlike...this sweet story of inclusivity, gratitude, and delicious fellowship is also a feast for the eyes."
—Publishers Weekly, starred review

"A great choice...for introducing the concept of sharing."—Booklist

"A joyous homage... Mora's art casually yet vividly reminds readers of the diversity we encounter all around us, presenting her characters in all hues while acknowledging multiple languages in various cut-outs throughout."—Shelf Awareness

"[The illustrations] will have toddlers reaching out to grab them."—The New York Times Book Review

"Ideal...to use any time sharing is the theme."
—The Horn Book

"All at once fresh and like a classic folktale."—The Washington Post

★ 07/01/2018
PreS-Gr 2—In her apartment on the top floor, Omu (Igbo for queen) makes a tasty, thick red stew for her dinner. The smell wafts through her community, enticing neighbors to knock at her door to inquire about the delicious smell. A little boy is first, followed by a police officer, the hot dog vendor, and many other neighbors. Omu shares a bit of her stew with each person until she has none left for her dinner. When she hears the next knock, it is the visitors again, but this time with a feast to share with Omu. Even the little boy makes a contribution: a red envelope that conveys everyone's sincere gratitude. The richly textured and expressive collage illustrations were created with patterned paper and old-book clippings using acrylic paint, pastels, and markers. Mora has crafted a memorable tale of community and the unexpected rewards of sharing. VERDICT Children will enjoy this fresh, engaging story of friendship and community building, perfect for any group gathering. —Maria B. Salvadore, formerly at District of Columbia Public Library

Narrator LaQuita James brings fresh joy to this engaging story of friendship, sharing, and community. Omu’s name means “queen” in the Igbo language of Nigeria. When she makes a stew for dinner, the wafting smell entices neighbors all over the community to knock on her door. Omu shares her stew with every visitor until there is none left for herself. James creates different voices for each visitor, who include a little boy, a police officer, and hot dog vendor. Listeners hear the sadness in Omu’s voice when she realizes the stew is gone and the laugh in her voice when all the visitors unexpectedly return to show their gratitude. S.C. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

★ 2018-07-30

Omu makes a stew so delicious everyone in the neighborhood follows their noses to her door.

Omu (which means "queen" in Igbo—Omu is black) is making a "thick red stew in a big fat pot" for her dinner. She tastes it, saying it'll be the most delicious supper she's ever had, while out the window drifts the scent of the "scrumptious" stew until it reaches a little boy. The story is peppered with synonyms for "scrumptious" (itself repeated throughout), allowing readers the chance to discuss and expand vocabulary. When the little boy follows the smell to Omu's door, she kindly offers to share her stew with him. So begins a veritable parade of neighborhood residents who, led by the smell, end up at Omu's door. The collage art adds texture, depth, and distinctiveness to each character. Omu shares her thick red stew with all and receives grateful thanks in reply. Alas, when Omu looks for her own supper, she finds her pot empty. The expressive illustrations convey her despondency as she answers yet another knock at her door to find…that the multiracial neighbors she shared with are back! This time, they have gifts in hand and are ready to make her a wonderful supper, which turns into another shared meal and a dance party.

A lovely story of giving and community founded in Nigerian culture. Delectable. (author's note) (Picture book. 4-8)