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Emeka, Eat Egusi!

By Candice Iloh
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Brief Description
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... Read More
Format: Hardback
$5500

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From award-winning author Candice Iloh and New York Times illustrator Bea Jackson comes a warm-hearted celebration of traditional Nigerian home cooking and the surprising joys of trying new things.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

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 favourite 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 colours and smells and sounds! And Emeka is a great helper. Could it be that trying something new might actually be… good?

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781665937610

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 26 March 2026

Country: United States

Imprint: Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Illustration: f-c cvr (sfx: emboss, spot gloss), matte+int. ill; digital

Contributors:

  • Illustrated by Bea Jackson

Audience: Children

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 13.0mm

Width: 229.0mm

Height: 279.0mm

Weight: 492g

Pages: 48

Collections

Candice Iloh Children's Books Children's Picture Books Children’s, Teenage and Educational

About the Author

Candice Iloh is a first-generation Nigerian American writer whose books center home. A National Book Award Finalist and two-time Printz Honoree, their young adult novels include Every Body Looking, Break This House, and Salt the Water. They are a proud alum of the Rhode Island Writers Colony and have earned fellowships from Lambda Literary, VONA, Kimbilio Fiction, and the PEW Center for Arts & Heritage. Currently a lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania and formerly a high school creative writing teacher, they have taught young people of every age. Emeka, Eat Egusi! is their debut picture book. Visit Candice online at CandiceIloh.com.

Bea (Brittany) Jackson is the New York Times bestselling and award-winning illustrator of Parker Looks Up and Parker Shines On, as well as the author-illustrator of Lily’s Dream and the Fairies Welcome series. She attended the College for Creative Studies and was a grand prize winner of the L. Ron Hubbard’s Illustrator of the Future Contest. In addition to her work as a children’s book artist and a character and concept artist, Bea’s art has been featured on books and comic covers as well as in various magazines. She lives in Detroit, Michigan. Visit Bea online at BeaGifted.com.

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