Emeka, Eat Egusi!

Two starred reviews!

From award-winning author Candice Iloh and New York Times illustrator Bea Jackson comes a "jovial...heartfelt" (Publishers Weekly, starred review) picture book celebration of traditional Nigerian home cooking and the surprising joys of trying new things, from the perspective of a boy on the autism spectrum.

Emeka's favorite food is jollof rice. He eats it every day. "Emeka, come and try this egusi!" Mama and Papa urge. But orange rice is what Emeka knows. He doesn't want anything different.

Then one day, Emeka comes home from school to find Mama in the kitchen waiting for him to help her cook egusi. One by one, new things go into the pot. There are so many colors and smells and sounds! And Emeka is a great helper. Could it be that trying something new might actually be...good?

Author: Candice Iloh
Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Published: 03/17/2026
Pages: 48
Weight: 1.05lbs
Size: 11.20h x 9.30w x 0.50d
ISBN: 9781665937610