Tomatoes in My Lunchbox
illustrations by
on Goodreads (332)
What’s inside...
A moving picture book from a debut author about the first day of school, layered with themes about the immigrant experience and the universal experience of feeling out of place. A child, newly arrived in another country, feels displaced, lonely, and a little scared on her first day of school. Her name doesn't sound the way she's used to hearing it. She knows she doesn't fit in. And when she eats her whole tomato for lunch, she can feel her classmates observing her—and not quite understanding her. But sometimes all it takes is one friend, one connection, to bring two worlds together, and gradually the girl, her tomato, and her full name, start to feel at home with her new friends and community. This emotionally sweeping debut picture book by Costantia Manoli, with vibrant art by Magdalena Mora, artfully captures feelings of displacement and the joy that comes from forging new friendships.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
4-8
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How do you think the main character felt when she moved to a new place? Can you relate to her feelings?
What does the tomato in the lunchbox represent? Why do you think it was important to her?
How did making friends change the main character’s experience at school?
What are some ways you can make someone new feel welcome?
If you were in the story, what would you do to help the main character feel better?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage empathy by asking your child to imagine themselves in the main character’s shoes.
Discuss the importance of diversity and acceptance, highlighting how differences make us unique.
Use the tomato as a symbol to talk about items or traditions in your family that hold special meaning.
Promote problem-solving by discussing different ways the main character could have been helped by her classmates.
Encourage your child to share stories of when they felt like an outsider and how they dealt with those feelings.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Embracing Cultural Diversity
Explanation: The protagonist, a young girl, navigates cultural differences at her new school by sharing her unique lunch, featuring tomatoes, from her native culture.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to appreciate and respect diverse cultures among their peers, recognizing the value in everyone's unique background.
Example Lesson: Self-acceptance and Confidence
Explanation: As the story unfolds, the young girl learns to embrace her cultural identity through her lunchbox contents, gaining confidence in who she is.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to be proud of their own heritage and to be confident in expressing their personal identity in social settings.
Example Lesson: Building Friendships
Explanation: The girl’s willingness to share her lunch acts as a bridge to making new friends, showing that kindness and sharing can lead to positive social interactions.
Real-World Application: Children are taught the importance of sharing and kindness in forming new friendships and strengthening community bonds.
Example Lesson: Coping with Change
Explanation: The book addresses the challenges of adjusting to a new environment and finding familiarity and comfort in her own unique way.
Real-World Application: The story can help children undergoing any form of change or transition understand that it’s okay to lean on familiar aspects of their lives as a source of comfort.
Example Lesson: Resilience
Explanation: Despite feeling different and facing initial isolation, the girl shows resilience by staying true to her cultural roots and ultimately finds acceptance.
Real-World Application: This teaches children resilience in the face of challenges, encouraging them to remain steadfast in their beliefs and values despite obstacles.