In a small village in Bangladesh, girls are only good for helping around the house. There is no way for them to help the family earn money. Naima's mother is always lamenting the fact that she has two girls and no sons. Her husband has to work long hours on his rickshaw just to make ends meet. Naima wishes girls were allowed to drive rickshaws so she could help her father. While practicing driving (without her parent's permission) there is an accident and her father's beautiful rickshaw is damaged. Naima is even more determined to stretch the accepted boundaries for women in her community and embarks on a new career path. Rickshaw Girl is beautifully illustrated by Jamie Hogan. Her black and white art gives an authentic cultural flair to the novel.
Umami By Jacob Grant New York: Viking, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2024. Picture Book. Umami is a little penguin who is sick of eating the same thing everyday, cold fish --ugh! She becomes determined to find new foods and flavors, so Umami begins a journey across the sea in search of something different to eat. She reaches a place with a plethora of delicious options, and tries bitter, sweet, sour, and foods with umami (just like her name!) among others. Umami decides to bring all these delicious new flavors back for the other penguins to try in a feast. But, will the other penguins enjoy this new experience? Filled with charm and humor, Umami is a diverse romp through a universal experience --am I willing to try something new? What will it be like? The idea of trying new foods and flavors make it especially relatable, and the appealing illustrations will have many readers ready to hop out on a culinary adventure. A humorous and sweet ending, caps off this delig...
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