Thank You Omu!
by Oge Mora
Everyone in the neighborhood dreams of a taste of Omu's delicious stew! One by one they follow their noses toward the delicious scent. 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?
Reading Tips for Story Explorers
Find a comfortable space to read together
Slow down and enjoy the illustrations
Ask and answer questions together
Make reading part of your routine - bedtime is a great time for reading
Use these prompts to encourage deeper thinking with your children:
"Tell me more, why do you think that?"
"How do you know that?"
"Interesting, did you notice anything else?"
Phonemic Awareness
When introducing the book, share the title and notice these phonemic elements:
The first word in the title (Thank) ends with the letter Kk. This letter says /k/, like kite and koala. Point to the letters and say the sound together: /k/, /k/, /k/. Brainstorm other words that end with the sound /k/ with your child (bank, back, dark).
Ask the children to say the word after you. Show them the cover of the book and have them read the word out loud with you as you point under each word.
Vocabulary
Stew: A mixture of meat and vegetables cooked slowly
Scrumptious: Delicious or tasty
Wafted: To move lightly through the air
Simmered: To cook in a liquid near boiling point
Vendor: A person who sells things, especially on the street
Blue: Sad or down
Wondered: To be curious about something
Questions to Discuss
Why is sharing important? Talk about a time you have had to share something you didn’t want to share.
When Omu discovered that all the stew was gone and there was nothing for her supper, how do you think she felt?
What kind of person do you think that Omu is? Why do you think that Omu gave away all her stew?
In the story, the neighbors come back to Omu’s apartment to show their gratitude. Who are you thankful for? How can you show them your gratitude?
The author, Oge Mora, tells the reader that Omu in the Igbo language means queen. Why do you think the author chose that name for the main character?
What kind of meal would you like to share with your neighbor?
Let's Play
This activity will help your child make connections to the text, which helps children improve comprehension.
Sing the following song (To tune of “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”) with your family:
Stir, Stir, Stir the Stew
Stir, stir, stir the stew
Stir it all day long.
Add some (insert food name here), Take a taste (slurrrp!)
Stew will make us strong. (flex arm)
