From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 2–This title follows the format of Joosse's
Mama, Do You Love Me? (Chronicle, 1991). In
Papa, a Maasai father reassures his young son that his love is unconditional and endless. In answer to his son's questions, he explains that he will always protect the boy from the dangers of the Serengeti Plain and teaches him how to find water in their harsh environment. A glossary elaborates on the concepts introduced, such as the importance of cattle in Maasai life, medicinal uses of the Greenheart tree, and the role of the herd boy. The bright, stylized watercolors reflect the warm hues of the Serengeti. Details are clearly rendered, allowing children to visualize life in a culture different from their own. The father's red robe sweeps across much of the book, wrapping his small son in its protective embrace. Parents will snatch up this tender, reassuring book for bedtime read-alouds. Teachers of early elementary students may wish to use it as an introduction to the life of the Maasai.
–Suzanne Myers Harold, Multnomah County Library System, Portland, OR Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
PreS-Gr. 2. The creators of the wildly popular
Mama, Do You Love Me 1991), featuring an Inuit mother and daughter, focus on another indigenous culture to tell a simple tale of parental love. This time, the characters are a Masai father and son. While herding cattle, a boy tests his father's affection with a question game that fans of
Mama will recognize: "Papa, do you love me? . . . How much? . . . How long?" Each time, Papa answers with reassuring words that reference Masai life: "I love you more than the warrior loves to leap." Lavallee's delicately shaded watercolors in brilliant reds and sunlit golds extend the story' warm sentiments, and children will enjoy spotting the many animals in the pictures. An annotated glossary offers more information about the Masai's traditional culture. Few picture books star African fathers and sons, and this one, like
Mama, will probably draw a large, devoted following for its strong message of unconditional love. For more books about fathers and sons, see the Read-alikes, "A Day with Dad," in the June 2005 issue.
Gillian EngbergCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved