Umar's Magic Oven

Umar's Magic Oven

by Alphabet Kids

The Alphabet Kids books follow the adventures of Allegra, Elena, Isaac, Oni, Umar and Yang, a group of children having fun while learning about the diverse aspects of their cultural and ethnic backgrounds. The stories are intended to help children love who they are, and realize that people who are different can be very good friends.

Bear''s New Friend (+$5.00)

Umar is one of the Alphabet Kids, a group of kids from the Alphabet Afterschool Center who have fun learning about the languages, celebrations, food and music of one another's cultures. In this story, Umar and his friends learn all about bread: the varieties that other cultures eat, what ingredients go into it, and different ways to bake it. Has your little one ever seen or smelled bread baking? Do they know how many different types of bread there are? The illustrations are high gloss, computer-colored pictures with vibrant, fun color contrasts. The book is also a convenient small size, perfect for an outing.

Each of the Alphabet Kids brings bread representing their culture: Allegra brings Italian bread, Elena brings Spanish tortillas, Isaac brings a braided Jewish bread called challa, Oni brings an African corn bread, and Yang brings Chinese steamed buns called Mantou. Umar's father comes to school and teaches the whole class how to make a sun-baked Arabic bread, called khubez (pita) from scratch. You could bake bread (or cookies!) with child to help and make connections from the story to real life. You can introduce them to recipes and measurements, while they can help by stirring, licking the bowl clean, and helping with clean up - just like the Alphabet Kids do!

Sam, my three year-old friend, was more interested in this book that I ever would have guessed. At the end of the book, Umar tells his father that he wants to be a baker like him. Sam likes it when I ask him what he wants to be when he grows up. The answer frequently changes, but my favorite was "You." I have a feeling that may change again.

--Audra

Allegra Joyce Kassin is the creator of the Alphabet Kids concept. She is a devoted mother of five and grandmother of seven. With a strong belief in family values and deeply committed to multicultural understanding, she brings unique vision, clarity, continuity and extraordinary leadership to the Alphabet Kids team. She is involved in every aspect of development of the Alphabet Kids characters and their stories. She has brought them to life to share with the children of the world! Allegra Joyce has been engaged in wide ranging philanthropic activities from childhood well-being and health to community development and educational enrichment for over thirty years.

Patrice Samara is co-author of the Alphabet Kids books and Executive in Charge of Development. An Emmy Award-winning producer and United Nations NGO Representative, she has with over twenty years expertise in communications and entertainment. She has won over fifty awards for creativity and excellence including two Parent’s Choice Awards and the 2010 Global Citizenship Award for Helping Humanity from Orphans International. Patrice combined her dedication to educational equality, literacy, and multiculturalism utilizing her global resources to make the Alphabet Kids a virtual celebration of diversity.