Monday, May 1, 2023

Tomatoes in My Lunchbox by Constantia Manoli and Magdalena Mora - ESSENTIAL

Tomatoes in My Lunchbox
by Constantia Manoli, illustrated by  Magdalena Mora
. PICTURE BOOK Macmillan. 2022. $19. 9781250763129 

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Kwotarrio is new to the country and school. Her name is long and difficult to pronounce. Everything about her doesn't fit in her new school and home. She left her beloved Grandmother and everything else that is familiar. She longs to belong and make friends, she would like a shorter name that is easier to say. One day, another student, Chloe, forgot her lunch and Kwotarrio shares her lunch with her and things begin to change for Kwotarrio. 

Mora's illustrations complement the dialog and text well, they are colorful, beautiful, and very realistic. Readers will be thoroughly engaged with both the text and illustrations. Tomatoes in My Lunchbox is a charming and realistic story many children can relate to if they have left loved ones, their country, and other familiar things behind for a new life. It is a great story for those who have not left a past life to empathize with and learn from. The Author's Notes at the end are very informative and interesting. A must-have book for elementary school libraries. There are multicultural characters and the main character is a Cypriot Greek child. 

Deanna M. - Elementary Media Tech

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