From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 2 - An affecting story about family love and finding the courage to face new situations. Abena wakes to discover her younger brother, Kofi, in her bed. He can't sleep, afraid that a giant mampan lizard has followed him to America from Ghana. He's afraid, too, that he will forget the grandmother and cousins he left behind. Abena comforts him with two Ashanti tales. In the first, Anansi thinks he has collected all of the world's wisdom in a jar, only to learn that it can come from a young child. In the second tale, Vulture learns from slow-moving Turtle that, "When you think you are laughing at somebody else, that somebody turns out to be yourself...."Afterward, Abena confesses that she is worried about her new classmates. Kofi reminds her of Turtle's quiet perseverance, and the girl is impressed with her brother's wisdom, bringing home the stories' messages. Kofi finally falls asleep, comforted by his sister's assurance that they will always be a family, no matter where they live. The pastel illustrations are evocative and vibrant, capturing the warmth of Ghana and the cool darkness of nighttime in America. The juxtaposition of bordered and borderless art keeps the story-within-a-story format clear and easy to follow. A strong addition to any collection, this book is a must-buy for communities with African immigrant families.
- 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. Kofi, newly arrived in the U.S., can't sleep in the scary night, so his older sister, Abena, comforts him with two folktales from back home in Ghana, stories in which the small and humble defeat the powerful. In one tale the trickster Anansi, who thinks he's very wise, collects wisdom from all the animals, but his small son shows him up. In the other, a slow, quiet turtle outwits a raucous, sneering vulture. No sources are cited, but Kurtz, who has lived in East and West Africa, heard the folktales from a Ghanaian friend, and she tells them with warmth and immediacy. Isadora's pleasing pastel illustrations show both the close, playful bond between the siblings and the distinctive personalities of the folktale characters. In a beautiful connection, Abena worries that the kids at her new school will jeer at her accent--and her little brother comforts her.
Hazel RochmanCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
