Congratulations to Oge Mora! Thank You, Omu! is the Rhode Island submission for the National Book Festival in Washington, DC on August 31, 2019
About Thank You, Omu!
Everyone in the neighborhood dreams of a taste of Omu’s delicious stew! One by one, they follow their noses toward the scrumptious scent. Andone 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.
Author/Illustrator: Oge Mora
Oge Mora is a painter residing in Providence, RI. Her first picture book, Thank You, Omu!, was a Caldecott Honor, Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Award winner, Ezra Jack Keats Book Award recipient, and a New York Times Notable Book and Editors’ Choice. Her work has also been applauded by The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Boston Globe.
Oge grew up in Columbus, Ohio and graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) with a degree in Illustration. She’s a fan of all things colorful, patterned, or collaged, and she enjoys creating warm stories that celebrate people coming together. Learn more at ogemora.com/
The 2019 Discover Great Places Through Reading List is now up on Read.gov
Editorial Reviews
[*] “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