Tomatoes in My Lunchbox, written by Costantia Manoli and illustrated by Magdalena Mora. Roaring Brook Press, Macmillan. Raincoast. 2022. $24.99 ages 4 and up

"I want to be Olivia, Sophie, or Chloe. 
Or Emma, with yellow hair like the 
sun and the blue sky in her eyes - 
any other name that is an answer. 
They can laugh and dance, and 
everyone understands their names."

Unless a child has been there themselves, one cannot possibly imagine what attending a new school where no one knows you must be like. When we share books as poignant as this one, the children in our homes and classrooms develop empathy for young children and their families. 

In first person voice, the narration has real impact. This young girl doesn't even recognize her name when it is first spoken aloud at school. Both teacher and students have a difficult time with pronunciation; it feels entirely different than when her mama says it. She longs for a name that everyone will recognize, and even to look like the others in her classroom. Being different is just too hard. It's hard to fit her name on the short lines in her school books, and she never hears stories about a girl named Costantia. 

Having ripe whole tomatoes in her lunchbox tastes like home, and results in stains to be worn all day. It's hard to fit in, no matter how hard she tries. Finally, she gains enough courage to smile at Chloe. Chloe smiles back. They find that they are alike in all the ways that matter. Together they find joy in getting to know one anothe betterr; they even widen their circle of friends. 

"My friends say it again in turns, and my name is not a question anymore. It is familiar and gentle and beautiful. It is all one piece and ... 

sounds like home."  

Costantia Manoli has written a story inspired by her own life. In an author's note, she helps readers to understand what life was like for her growing up, and how coming to connect her name to her ancestors made it easier to accept and explain to others. Magdalena Mora used inks, pastels, and crayons to give young readers an authentic feel for the emotions experienced and the book's characters.

After sharing this book, there is an opportunity for further discussion about food, lunches, colors, friends, and even those things that make a person feel different from others.