We All Went On Safari [Paperback]

Laurie Krebs (Author), Julia Cairns (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2004 | Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Join Arusha, Mosi, Tumpe and their Maasai friends as they set out on a counting journey through the grasslands of Tanzania. Along the way, the children encounter all sorts of animals including elephants, lions and monkeys, while counting from one to ten in both English and Swahili. The lively, rhyming text is accompanied by an illustrated guide to counting in Swahili, a map, notes about each of the animals, and interesting facts about Tanzania and the Maasai people.

Editorial Reviews

Review

In this charming tale, your child follows a group of Maasai people as they travel across Tanzania, encountering big cats, ostriches, warthogs, monkeys, elephants, and other fascinating wildlife. There is also a glossary of Maasai names and a review of Swahili numbers from one to 10. --Your Big Backyard

The text's easy, natural rhythm makes reading aloud a pleasure...Each sharply detailed scene glows with jewel-like color, set off by the traditionally dressed human figures' heads and limbs. Further information about the Maasai, Tanzania, the ten children's Swahili names, and the equal number of wild creatures met along the way close this brilliant, horizon-expanding outing. --Kirkus Review (starred review)

Youngsters will learn numbers from one to ten in English and Swahili as Mosi, Tumpe, Arusha, and other friends count African wildlife. Attractive borders frame vibrant watercolor spreads of different types of animals, including giraffes, elephants, zebras, and lions. The rhyming singsong verse, beginning with the refrain 'We all went on a safari' lends itself to a fun read-aloud. --School Library Journal

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Barefoot Books (September 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 184148119X
• ISBN-13: 978-1841481197
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 10 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #17,493 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #5 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Animals > Lions, Tigers & Leopards > Fiction
  • #9 in Books > Children's Books > Travel & Cultures > Explore the World > Africa
  • #11 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Lions, Tigers & Leopards

More About the Author

Laurie Krebs combines her love of children's literature with her enthusiasm for traveling to create wonderful picture books that carry readers all around the world. Laurie has developed a series of books with Barefoot Books.

She has four children and five grandsons, and lives in Virginia with her husband, Bill.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A stunning book written by a talented FABULOUS author!, September 3, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: We All Went on Safari (Travel the World) (Hardcover)

An excellent book, which has been written by a very talented author. Krebs has a true gift writing books that are enjoyed by children all over the world. As for Kokodoko's review, I found their opinion of the artwork harsh. I think s/he needs to take another look at the book as ALL the characters wore some type of clothing and were not "running around naked in the wilderness." Perhaps this person has yet to learn that in many cultures men, women and children wear limited clothing based upon tradition, need and climate. Just because they do, should we regard all photographs or illustrations of them as depicting "negative stereotypes?" Should we expect all people to be dressed as Westerners or to follow our codes of modesty? I don't think so.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful book!, October 12, 2007

By 

Stacy "cheetaah" (Colorado, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: We All Went On Safari (Paperback)

Our whole family loves this book. My son, now 3, learned to count to ten in English by reading this at bedtime almost every night. We are just now starting to read the Swahili words too. The information, spellings of the Swahili words and their pronounciations, even the names of the children are all accurate (I speak Swahili to moderate fluency). One note... Most Maasai do not even speak Swahili, rather they speak Maa! But that doesn't really matter. We love the book anyway, and the Maasai do live with all of the wildlife depicted on this wonderful safari! I would say this book is appropriate from age 1, as it has a very nice cadence to it that is calming before bedtime and the pictures are very engaging. Don't wait until age 4!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Take me on safari... now!, March 17, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: We All Went on Safari (Travel the World) (Hardcover)

This exuberant, colorful journey through Tanzania is a treasure trove of visual and auditory pleasures. The musical, rhythmic verse perfectly captures the action of the Maasai counting trip: "We all went on safari/ past an old acacia tree/ Nearby giraffes were grazing/ So Tumpe counted three." The illustrations are awash with the lovely, subtle hues of the Serengeti, and the artist's depiction of the Maasai men, women, and children reveals personality and attitude in a single brushstroke. The effortlessly multicultural story introduces young children to the Swahili words for the numbers 1 to 10, and in an informative glossary, to the Swahili names for the different animals encountered on safari. An effervescent, irrestible read-aloud... enjoy!