FICTION

Kenya

by Maïmouna Jallow (text) & illus. by Lulu ­Kitololo
Barefoot. (Our World). Apr. 2024. 20p. Board. $9.99. ISBN 9798888590799.
COPY ISBN
PreS-Gr 2–Simple text, sprinkled with a dozen Swahili words and phrases, follows a young girl and her family through her day in this board book, which is part of the “Our World” series. The mother fries fluffy mandazis (soft, sweet dough) served with warm chai tea for breakfast. Then, a matatu (shared minibus) takes them to the city where they visit relatives and shop. Back home, the girl takes a bath and counts to five with her toes: moja, mbili, tatu; nne, and tano! At bedtime, Mama and Baba sing her to sleep with a lullaby. Swahili phrases are accompanied by phonetic pronunciation and further explained in a helpful afterword. Illustrations use vibrant color, add detail, and capture a child’s wonder-filled perspective.
VERDICT A simple well-crafted story, as text and illustrations depict activities familiar to children everywhere as well as showcase language and facts about life in Kenya.
Reviewed by Marilyn Taniguchi , Apr 01, 2024

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