Tag Archives: Picture Book

Dad Goes To School

AGES 4 - 8, BOOK REVIEW, , , , , , , , ,

dadgoestoschool-Screen Shot 2016-06-06 at 8.46.38 PM

Title: Dad Goes to School

Author: Mandy Collins

Publisher: Mango Books, an imprint of Quramo Publishing

Number of pages: 32

Type of Book: Fiction; African

Age: 4 – 8

Buy it here: http://quramo.com/content/dad-goes-school-0 ; Terra Kulture, 1376 Tiamiyu Savage Street, Victoria Island Lagos.

Price: N1000; N1200

MY SUMMARY

Nandi wanted Dad to stay in school with her so she wailed and wailed and wailed until Dad promised to go to school with her for a whole day. The very next day, he did just that. But things didn’t quite turn out the way Nandi hoped…

THUMBS UP AND DOWN

UP: This book was shortlisted for the 2014 Golden Baobab Prize for Picture Books, one of the best prizes for African Kid’s Lit! Perfect for every child with a love for early morning tantrums, it reminds me of the line, ‘Be careful what you wish for because you just might get it!’

DOWN: None.

RATING

4 Stars

HAVE FUN WITH THIS BOOK

Watch the book trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MB2cV0Dkp1s 

CHALLENGE: Dad Goes to School

CREATE (WRITE a Story/Poem OR DRAW)

  1. Draw Nandi and Dad in Nandi’s class (4 – 6 year olds)
  2. List 2 characters in the book? (7 – 8 year olds)

Find them in the crossword puzzle below (7 – 8 year olds)

Z D C Y H N M K D G J B X
V N C H D O N D S A M N O
K S A R I D I E A I D A E
H J O N T D W D O M H I N
I D T H D O L A R O E I T
O D S J A I S K T N S U S
O C N K I L T E E O D N A
L X S D A N G L S A K L F

 

Send your answers to ugochinyelu.anidi@gmail.com

Entry requirements: Entrants must be within the 4 – 8 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 Friday, February 9th 2018.

Next Book of the Week:

The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt

 

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photo credit: quramo.com

 

 

 

 

Mayowa and the Masquerades

AGES 4 - 8, BOOK REVIEW, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

mayowa_small

Title: Mayowa and the Masquerades

Author: Lola Shoneyin

Publisher: Cassava Republic Press

Number of pages: 32

Type of Book: Fiction; African

Age: 4 – 8

Available here: http://www.cassavarepublic.biz/collections/childrens-books/products/mayowa-and-the-masquerades

Price: N750

MY SUMMARY

This book was a joint winner of the 2011 Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Atiku Abubakar Prize for Children’s Literature so I had great expectations when I picked it up. I really liked it. It tells the story of Mayowa, a typical city boy looking forward to a leisurely day of playing computer games. His plans are shattered when his parents announce that they will visit his grandmother in the village. This is the very last thing Mayowa wants to do but he ends up in the village all the same. However here he meets the fun-loving cheerful Denuyi and together they explore Ilisan in ways that make Mayowa appreciate the beauty of rural life. Read the book to find out the things Mayowa discovered in Ilisan besides the colourful masquerades!

THUMBS UP AND DOWN

UP: Again, this week’s selection introduces in an entertaining manner some information about an indigenous culture through the eyes of a little boy. Supported by the vibrant illustrations of Francis Blake, Lola shows her readers a slice of Ilisan and Yoruba culture using traditional forms of greeting, masquerades, the bata talking drums as well as plants/fruits and animals/insects. It’s a fun read and every bit as educative as it is entertaining.

DOWN: None

RATING

4 Stars

TRIVIA

  1. Ask your child to name one fruit mentioned in the book and two fruits that grow in your village.                      a. Yeye fruit
  1. Ask your child to list four features of any Nigerian Cultural Festival.

HAVE FUN WITH THIS BOOK

  1. Team the reading experience with a video clip of a Nigerian cultural festival or Take your child to any cultural festival near you.

READ AN EXCERPT HERE: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0103/7312/files/Excerpt_for_website_Pages_from_Mayowa.pdf?3619

CHALLENGE: Mayowa and the Masquerades

CREATE (WRITE OR DRAW)

  1. Draw (and name) 5 masquerades commonly found in Nigeria. Make a collage of pictures of these masquerades.

Send your answers to ugochinyelu.anidi@gmail.com

Entry requirements: Entrants must be within the 4 – 8 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, December 16th 2015

Next Book of the Week:

NO SCHOOL FOR EZE by Ifeoma Okoye

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photo credit: cassava republic.biz

 

 

 

 

 

Handa’s Surprise

AGES 0 - 4, AGES 4 - 8, BOOK REVIEW, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Title: Handa’s Surprise

Author: Eileen Browne

Publisher: Farafina/Walker Books

Number of pages: 32 (24 of the actual story)

Type of Book: Fiction; African

Age: 3 – 6

Available here: https://www.mobiashara.com/Farafina/handas-surprise; http://www.amazon.co.uk/Handas-Surprise-Walker-Paperbacks-Eileen/dp/0744536340

Price: N350; GBP 5.99

MY SUMMARY

‘Handa put seven delicious fruits in a basket for her friend, Akeyo. She will be surprised, thought Handa as she set off for Akeyo’s village.’

However, as Handa walked to Akeyo’s village, seven animals stole all seven fruits from Handa’s basket without her knowledge! Read the book to find out how both Handa and Akeyo were surprised when Handa arrived at Akeyo’s village with a basket full of fruits!!

THUMBS UP AND DOWN

UP: It is a fun way for children to learn a little bit about Kenya. It gives an insight into the life of people of the Luo tribe of South-West Kenya. Its vibrant illustrations show fruits and animals common to this part of Kenya. With a few exceptions, these fruits and animals also make up the flora and fauna of Nigeria.

I especially like the fact that this book can be read to toddlers (1-3), while early independent readers (4-6 year olds) can read it on their own.

DOWN: None

RATING

5 Stars

TRIVIA 

  1. Ask your child to spot 5 animals that pop up in the illustrations but aren’t mentioned in the book. 

(a.) cows (b.) lizards (c.) a snake (d.) chickens (e.) a dog

  1. Ask your child to spot 4 insects that pop up in the illustrations but aren’t mentioned in the book.

(a.) bugs. (b.) flies. (c.) butterflies. (d.) grasshoppers. NB: Spiders are not insects

HAVE FUN WITH THIS BOOK

  1. Watch a video of the Handa’s Surprise song here:
  1. Team the reading experience with a fruit-tasting fete AND/OR making animal sounds

CHALLENGE: Handa’s Surprise

CREATE (WRITE OR DRAW)

  1. List 10 animals commonly found in Nigeria 

OR

  1. Draw 10 insects 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 Thursday, November 26th 2015

Next Book of the Week:

CHICKEN IN THE KITCHEN by Nnedi Okoroafor