Not-So-Fast Songololo

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

The setting is South Africa and the names of the people are like poetry: Uzuti, Mongi, Mr. Motiki. Malusi is now old enough to accompany his grandmother, Gogo, into the city to shop. She is an old womanample, proud, not quite in step with modern technology, and she is no longer moves quickly. Malusi (Songololo to his grandmother) helps her with her shopping. It's a universally appealing shared experience. The love and respect that flows between the two is warm and beautiful, and Daly's watercolor and marker art is very expressive. When Daly writes, ``Gogo was old, but her face shone like new school shoes. Her hands were large and used to hard work, but they were gentle,'' her painting says all this and much more. (58)

School Library Journal

K-Gr 3 Daly's picture book is of high quality both visually and textually. While the setting is Daly's native South Africa, the simple story line of the mutual love between a child and his grandmother is universal in appeal. Malusi (Songololo to his grandmother), the young boy, is enlisted by his elderly grandmother Gogo to assist her on a shopping trip to the city. His hand-me-down sneakers are old and full of holes, and Malusi's desire for a new pair is evident by his dreamy-eyed window-shopping. Malusi doesn't ask for a pair, but Gogo, after observing his behavior and the condition of his sneakers, makes this day very special by steering him into a shop and buying him a bright red pair. A simple gift but something quite special for a little boy who doesn't have much. Daly's watercolor and marker illustrations are vibrant, bright and sure to delight young children. The contrast between the elderly weather-worn face of Gogo and Malusi's youthful, eager, expressiveness is something that will jump out at readers. Equally suitable for storytelling or independent reading, Not So Fast Songololo will be a welcome addition to any collection.Tom S. Hurlburt, Anoka County Library, Blaine, Minn.