Old Mikamba Had a Farm

PreS-Gr 2—"Old Mikamba had a farm, E-I-E-I-O." But there are no cows or ducks here, because Old Mikamba lives in Africa on a game farm. Here, readers are introduced to a baboon, cheetah, zebra, and elephant as well as a dassie and a springbok. Meant to be shared aloud, the text provides a variety of fun sounds to re-create with a partner. The "trill-trill" of the dassie and the "bleat-bleat" of the giraffe are sure to delight. Isadora's stunning collage brings the colors and textures of the African plain to life. Newsprint and printed paper provide rich textures and vivid color for both the animals and the fabric of Mikamba's clothing. The animals are parent/child pairs and this augments the shared feel of the song. Concluding pages provide background on the featured species, including habitat, communication systems, and endangered status. Lovely to look at as well as pure joy to read aloud, this title will demand an encore again and again.—Carol Connor, Cincinnati Public Schools, OH