LAHMAJUN MAN, THE

by Sandra Mann / Illustrated by Hilary Mann

Geragos, a kind and generous baker lived with his dear wife and children in southeastern Turkey during World War I. Life was difficult for most Armenians during this time; families were displaced, children were often separated from their parents, and of course food was scarce. In this tender story, each morning Manush asks her husband to bring lahmajuns, from the bakery for their dinner that night. In the evening Geragos starts home with a full platter of meat pies, but soon meets people along the way who are in need of his help. Even in the worst of situations, there are those who show the world that there is goodness and worth to be seen in all of us, no matter what our differences are. Through this beautifully illustrated, multicultural story, young readers develop an understanding of what empathy for others means.