Title: Only Bread for Eze

Author: Ifeoma Okoye

Publisher: Farafina Tuuti

Number of pages: 16

Type of Book: Fiction; African

Age: 2 – 6

Available here: https://www.mobiashara.com/Farafina/only-bread-eze; http://www.amazon.com/Only-Bread-Eze-Ifeoma-Okoye/dp/9784801213

Price: N300; $3.58

MY SUMMARY

“There was once a little boy, his name was Eze. He liked to eat only bread.”

In the Eze series, Eze, the protagonist is a little boy who wants what he wants when he wants it. At first, he didn’t want to go to school, read ‘No School for Eze’ to find out the sidesplitting way his mum took care of that problem and without the normal shouting and flogging that was the norm for the mums of my mum’s generation or the ‘ignoring’ and ‘naughty corner’ that is the norm for the mums of my generation. In this book, Eze’s father is the genius. Eze decides that he doesn’t like garri or anything else for that matter, he’d rather eat bread. Angry, Eze’s dad grants Eze’s wish. Read the book to find out how Eze’s dad cures him of his love for ‘only bread’.

This book brings reminds me of the saying, ‘Be careful what you wish for ‘cos you just might get it’

THUMBS UP AND DOWN

UP: Humour! I had a good laugh. Darling Eze’s refusal to eat garri reminded me of my own childhood. I couldn’t understand the mums’ fixation with ‘daily lunchtime garri’ 🙂

The book teaches young children the importance of discipline without being didactic. It is very easy to read. Another highlight was the reference to typical Nigerian meals: rice and stew, beans and plantain, yam, gar and okro soup, etc. I recommend this book for beginning readers.

DOWN: Warning: Eze’s dad’s idea may not work at home (at least not in the same way), simply because, most kids, unlike Eze may not give up quickly. My son, for example, would have stuck it out for a full day at least. I wont explain in detail. Buy the book for your beginning reader or read it to your toddler *wink wink*

RATING

5 Stars

TRIVIA

1. Eze’s favourite food in the world. Bread!

HAVE FUN WITH THIS BOOK

• Team the reading experience with a review of your child’s food choices.
• Watch a video of the book reading here:

CHALLENGE: Only Bread for Eze

CREATE (WRITE a Story/Poem OR DRAW)

What do you like eating?

1. Draw and name three things you like eating (5-6 year olds) OR

2. Draw two things you like eating (4 year olds) OR
3. Draw or name one thing you like eating. (2-3 year olds)

Send your answers to ugochinyelu.anidi@gmail.com

Entry requirements: Entrants must be within the 2 – 6 age range. The first correct entry will be announced on this page and will win a copy of this book.

Answers must be submitted before 12:00am on Wednesday, March 2^nd 2015.

Next Book of the Week:

THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES by Hans Christian Andersen