Quickly! Quickly! by TM Clark illustrated by Helene Magisson

Crafty crows camped on the corners of the field.

Monkeys mined for mealworms and munched mangoes.

Bongani beat his drum and shouted, 'Get away from my crops.'

Bongani is not old enough to go to school, but he is old enough to help with planting the crops. He sees crafty crows ready to eat the maize and monkeys munching on his mangoes. Somewhere along the way Bongani has heard the word scarecrow. He thinks if he can catch a crow then he can make a 'scared crow'. His grandmother and mother have been out in the field with Bongani and his grandmother explains a little about scarecrows. But Bongai is sure if a crow sits on the shoulder of a scarecrow the other crows will stay away. 

His grandmother weaves a large round basket and they put some corn inside. She explains: When a crow steps under the basket you have to be fast - quickly quickly - pull the string. But the crow flies away. Then the tables are turned and it is the crow, sitting on the tiny homemade scarecrow (you can see it on the cover), who shouts - get away from my crops. Oh no and now the elephants have arrived. 

This story has a folk tale feel and the alliterative repeated refrain means this text will work really well as a read aloud to young children. Helene Magisson gives her characters warm personalities. I love the rich colours of their clothes. The setting feels like an authentic African village. The twist at the end will make readers smile.  

I love the relationship between Bongani and his grandmother and her gentle patience and encouragement. There are so many details to notice in the illustrations such as the oxen working their land, the bare feet of the grandmother and Bongani, the babies held by their mothers while they work in the fields, the grandmother weaving the basket which they use for the trap and the iconic baobab tree. This book explores themes of family, community and culture.

The author says:

Bongani has grown a little, but has accepted that he is still too small to attend school just yet. But when he has to help protect the crops from animals, he decides he needs a better plan. He needs to catch a crow! With the help of his grandma, he learns how to be quick and cunning enough to catch a crow. Working together, the pair try and catch a crow. Like before in Slowly! Slowly!, Bongani is learning new things. Having grown since the first picture book, Bongani continues to teach children different and important values as well as show them a beautiful glimpse of African culture and stories. With good teamwork and the willingness to listen and learn from those around him, Bongani pursues his goal.

This is (another) successful blend of art and story that is a pure joy to experience. Embracing the importance and power of patience, tenacity, family and working with nature rather than against, Clarke and Magisson have suffused the essence of African village life into a humorous engaging tale. And with the elephants afoot in Bongani’s village, I wonder how long it will be until he attempts his next important job. Kids' Book Review

Quickly Quickly is the sequel to Slowly Slowly:

Bongani wants to go to school but he is too young. To prove to his family that he is big and strong just like his cousins, he tries to catch a monkey. Slowly, slowly, he must go. Luckily his family is there is to school him in the lessons of patience and compassion.

Here is the web page for the illustrator Helen Magisson.