"At school, Joseph scoops up the kwon
and dek ngor that Mama has packed for
lunch. Whoosh leans over to sniff it. "I
think I might love it," she says.
After spending time in an overcrowded East African refugee camp, Joseph and his Mama have moved to a new apartment where people are few and far between when it comes to sharing food. Joseph remembers a joyful place where boys played music and 'aunties' cooked communal meals in large kettles. He misses the people and the music.
His new friend Whoosh is happy to spend time with him, but he wants more people around him. In a series of scenes that move from the camp to the present, he remembers important friends and family members who are not present when meals are being prepared. His belly sparks an idea, and Joseph begins the work needed to bring his plan to fruition.
First, he asks his teacher. She promises 'sometime'. He would like to ask the neighbors but is unsure of their taste for the family's traditional foods. Whoosh loves kwon and dek ngor. He asks Whoosh and her mother. Saturday comes and no one arrives. He continues preparations, just in case. Sunday brings a new and wonderful aroma of a cake that Whoosh is making with her mother's help. All the work and worry is worth it when Whoosh and her mother arrive to share a welcome meal. What a 'feast'!
Wonderful digital illustrations create wonder and joy, filled with all the energy of the two children. A glossary explains unfamiliar vocabulary.
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