Overview
This is a concept book to teach and delight. As a young African boy travels to visit his grandmother, he passes through the village market, where he sees lots of things Granny would like? four brooms, five hats, six necklaces, seven musical instruments, and so on. Stunning photographs taken in Emeka's southern Nigerian village illustrate this heartwarming story. "A wonderful multidimensional story with universal appeal."—School Library Journal
As Emeka sets off to visit his grandmother in the next village, he wonders what he could take her for a present. He passes through the market and sees lots of things Granny would like--there were four brooms, five big hats, six necklaces, and eight water pots. But with no money, Emeka couldn't buy anything. Would Granny understand? Full-color photos.
Synopsis
This is a concept book to teach and delight. As a young African boy travels to visit his grandmother, he passes through the village market, where he sees lots of things Granny would like— four brooms, five hats, six necklaces, seven musical instruments, and so on. Stunning photographs taken in Emeka's southern Nigerian village illustrate this heartwarming story. "A wonderful multidimensional story with universal appeal." — School Library Journal
Publishers Weekly
This unusual counting book cum photo-essay weaves into its narrative details of life among the Igala people of southern Nigeria. ``One boy''-Emeka-walks to the neighboring village to visit his grandmother, wondering about a suitable gift for her. He passes various possibilities along the way (``four new brooms,'' the ``big grown-up hats'' modeled by five youngsters, etc.) and imagines how Granny might react to each one. In the end he can only share a hug with Granny, who declares that she has received ``the best present of all.'' Using a simple framework, Onyefulu (A Is for Africa) sprinkles informative sidebars alongside her tale of Emeka's journey, enhancing the reader's understanding of a lesser-known culture. Lucid, attractively composed photographs of Igala people and their artifacts add to the book's multicultural import. Intelligently rendered and ultimately heartwarming. Ages 3-9. (May)