Handa’s Hen

Dear Pint-sized Bookworms (and their mummies, daddies, aunties, uncles and teachers),

It’s a new week and boy, do I have news for you!

PBW Reading Club

Our first reading club event will take place on Children’s Day, May 27th 2016 and we’re raring to go! The new Pint-sized Bookworms will be reading three books: HANDA’S HEN by Eileen Browne (read review here); AFRO: THE GIRL WITH THE MAGICAL HAIR by Okechulwu Ofili (read review here) and HOW TO BUILD YOUR OWN COUNTRY by Valerie Wyatt (read review here) and two stories with lots of activities like word games, puzzles, and an arts and craft session. We will also have one author book reading by newbie author Nnenna Ochiche. She will read her new book, ADAEZE, THE TRUE PRINCESS (read review here).

Connect Nigeria’s Writer’s Conference

The annual conference for writers, ‘The Business of Writing’ organized by ConnectNigeria held two days ago at the Sleek Center, in Victoria Island, Lagos. It featured speakers like Okechuchukwu Ofili of Afro: The Girl with the Magical Hair, Eghosa Imasuen of Fine Boys, Efe Paul Azino, poet par excellence, Adebola Rayo of Artyliving and Director and screenwriter Ike Nnaebue. Yours truly attended with the latest Pint-sized Bookworm. More information on the conference can be found here.

Movies

a. Through the Looking Glass

The movie, Through the Looking Glass, sequel to Alice in Wonderland, will premier in the US on May 27^th! Yes! Children’s Day! Produced by Walt Disney Pictures, it features actors like Anna Hathaway (Princess Diaries), Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter. The movies are based on the books of the same title by Lewis Carroll. Be sure to read the two books before going to see the movie!

b. The BFG Movie

Fans of Roald Dahl and the BFG (read review here) will be glad to know that the BFG is about to hit the big screen. Premiering this July in the US, this sure to be blockbuster was directed by Stephen Spielberg and produced by Dreamworks!!! Can you imagine?! Definitely a feast for the senses!

You can find last week’s news here

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Happy Reading !!

Title: Handa’s Hen

Author: Eileen Browne

Publisher: Farafina

Number of pages: 32

Type of Book: Fiction; African

Age: 0 – 6

Available here: https://www.mobiashara.com/Farafina/handas-hen; http://www.amazon.co.uk/Handas-Hen-Eileen-Browne/dp/074459815X/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=1ZAADF5HVHX5BXE1BNCY

Price: N350; GBP 6.99

MY SUMMARY

‘Handa’s Grandma had one black hen. Her name was Mondi. Every morning, Handa gave Mondi her breakfast. One day, Mondi didn’t come for her food’

So, Handa and her friend Akeyo set off on a hunt for Mondi. Read the book to enjoy the journey with them, learn to count from 1 to 10, say hello to the animals they met on their way (jumpy crickets, baby bullfrogs, spoonbills, etc.) and to find Mondi and the surprise that awaited them at the end of the book.

THUMBS UP AND DOWN

UP: It is beautifully illustrated. Like Handa’s Surprise, it is a fun way for children to learn a little bit about Kenya. The illustrations serve the dual purpose of showing readers some of the animals and insects commonly found in Kenya and teaching them how to count.

I remember my ‘learning how to count’ song, it was nothing like this 🙂

1,2 Buckle my shoes

3,4 Knock on the door

5,6 Pick up sticks

7,8 Lay them straight

9,10 A big fat hen

Again, like Handa’s Surprise, another highlight is that this book is a perfect read-aloud for toddlers, while early independent readers (4-6 year olds) can read it on their own.

DOWN: None

RATING

5 Stars

TRIVIA

a. Ask your child to spot 1 animal that pops up in the illustrations but isn’t mentioned in the book.

a dog

b. Ask your child to spot 1 insect that pops up in the illustrations but isn’t mentioned in the book.

a lady bug/ a beetle

HAVE FUN WITH THIS BOOK

Watch a video of the Handa’s Hen song here:

Team the reading experience with a game: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/handa-s-hen-and-surprise-dice-game-6042974

CHALLENGE: Handa’s Hen

CREATE (WRITE OR DRAW)

List 4 birds mentioned in the book and 6 birds commonly found in Nigeria

Create (Draw) a counting game using 10 animals commonly found in Nigeria.

Send your answers to ugochinyelu.anidi@gmail.com

Entry requirements: Entrants must be within the 4 – 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, January 27^th2016

Next Book of the Week:

BEEM EXPLORES AFRICA by Simidele Dosekun