From School Library Journal
Grade 1-4-An excellent picture-book introduction to the Zulu language. Wilson-Max begins with a map of the African continent that highlights South Africa, the land of the Zulu people. Readers are then introduced to two boys who live there. Michael visits Chidi, who takes his friend through his home and identifies parts of the house, his toys, and the family garden, and animals. Each short recounting of Michael's visit is followed by a two-page uncluttered spread of bold, simple watercolor illustrations of the items Chidi mentions. Young readers will learn that the lives and interests of these children are very similar to their own. The English terms appear next to the bold print Zulu words. The book concludes with a 25-word glossary with a pronunciation key. A fine resource for a unit on South Africa.
Marie Wright, University Library, Indianapolis, IN
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Marie Wright, University Library, Indianapolis, IN
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Ages 3^-6. In a joyful bilingual picture book of postapartheid South Africa, a small boy named Chidi welcomes his light-skinned friend, Michael, and they speak Zulu as they play together in Chidi's home. In contrast to Michael Roberts' Jungle ABC , this book shows Zulu as part of the contemporary world, liberated from the primitive noble-savage stereotypes. The big, exuberant pictures in bright colors with thick black lines show the kids in jeans and T-shirts playing with cars on the desk in Chidi's room, looking at his shelf of books, enjoying the sandwiches his mother makes them in the kitchen, feeding the chickens in the garden, waving good-bye ("hamba kahle") when Michael leaves to catch the bus home. After each double-page scenario, the English and Zulu words are printed next to the objects, and there's a pronunciation guide at the back. The book begins with a big, clear map of Africa, showing South Africa at the tip, one of 52 countries on the continent. In most South African schools today, several African languages, including Zulu, are part of the curriculum. Kids in the U.S. will recognize the universal friendship story even as they have fun learning the simple vocabulary and practicing how to make the "click" sound. Hazel Rochman
