Emeka, Eat Egusi!

From award-winning author Candice Iloh andNew York Timesillustrator Bea Jackson comes a warmhearted 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.

Emekas favorite food is jollof rice. He eats iteveryday. Emeka, come and try this egusi! Mama and Papa urge. But orange rice is what Emeka knows. He doesnt 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 begood?

Candice Ilohis a first-generation Nigerian American writer whose books center home. A National Book Award Finalist and two-time Printz Honoree, their young adult novels includeEvery Body Looking,Break This House,andSalt 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 theNew York Timesbestselling and award-winning illustrator ofParker Looks UpandParker Shines On. She attended the College for Creative Studies and was a grand prize winner of the L. Ron Hubbards Illustrator of the Future Contest. In addition to her work as a childrens book artist and a character and concept artist, Beas 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.

• Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
• Publish Date: March 17, 2026
• Pages: 48
• Language: English
• Type: Hardcover
• EAN/UPC: 9781665937610
• Dimensions: 279.4 X 228.6 X 3.2 mm | 1.05 pounds
• BISAC Categories: Kids