“The Sunny Cook” Book

The Sunny Cook is a picture book about a boy Hovhannes who looks and lives differently than the other kids. Aimed specifically at preschool aged children, this lovely book teaches children that everyone deserves respect and kindness. It teaches children, in a kid-friendly language, that differences in physical appearance or abilities are never a reason to treat people any differently than the others. The boy in the book faces hard times, bullied and made fun of for being different from others. But with the help of his family he finds new friends, learns new skills, finds a job and pursues his dream to become a cook.

Hovhannes lives in Gyumri and works at Aregak Cafe Bakery.

Gayane Aghabalyan, the author of the book, works with young people with special needs. She is passionate about creating an inclusive environment for them and plans to write more books about other kids who are also different from most of us but outstanding in their own way. The book is illustrated by Lusine Sahakyan, a talented artist currently residing in Canada.