B is for Baby by Atinuke illustrated by Angela Brooksbank

A big brother is taking a basket of bananas to his Baba (grandfather), but he does not realise the baby has stowed away and is now riding on the back of his bike - no wonder the banana basket is so heavy. The baby peeks out from under the basket lid and sees a butterfly and a beautiful bird. A mischievous baboon takes her basket lid and as they ride past a heavily laden bus the baby passes a banana to one of the passengers. Meanwhile the boy, wearing headphones, has no idea that all of this is happening behind his back. 

When he arrives, Baba reaches into the basket for a banana, and he finds the happy baby with her big smile. Everyone sits down to enjoy a fresh biscuit and a cool drink. The baby has certainly had a terrific adventure. I do enjoy stories which feature tricksters like this sweet baby. Oh, and it is fun to see all the ways this simple story incorporates so many words beginning with the letter B and so much action happens in the illustrations. Your young reading companion is sure to enjoy this visual storytelling. 

This is a clever and unusual book, with beautiful illustrations and a fun story that little children will delight in following. Atinuke’s books are always a feast for senses, showcasing the beauty of the author’s home. Book Trust

Companion book:

Atinuke was born in Nigeria and spent her childhood in both Africa and the UK. As a traditional oral storyteller, drawing upon her recent Yoruba ancestry, she visits schools and theatres all over the world. Atinuke is the author of the bestselling Anna Hibiscus fiction series, as well as the No. 1 Car Spotter series, and the picture books Baby Goes to Market also illustrated by Angela Brooksbank and Hugo illustrated by Birgitta Sif.

Angela Brooksbank worked as a designer and art director in the children's book industry before undertaking an MA at the Cambridge School of Art and turning her hand to her own illustration. Angela says, "I am constantly inspired by children’s energy and unique response to life and hope that my work conveys some of their playful spirit." Baby Goes to Market, written by Atinuke, was her debut picture book.

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This week I visited a charity book sale and I found 57 fantastic books for less than AUS$110. Among them was this one - in mint condition - ready to gift to a new baby (she is coming next month). This book was published in 2019 and I found a copy on an online bookseller site for over AUS$40 for the hardcover edition. I think the paperback edition might be available [9781406390872]. 

Too Small Tola and the Three Fine Girls by Atinuke illustrated by Onyinye Iwu

Tola lives with her older sister Moji and her younger brother Dapo and their hardworking Grandmummy in Lagos, Nigeria. Daily life is a struggle for this small family but there is love and laughter in their simple home. One of the daily tasks, which the children are expected to complete while Grandmummy is away selling groundnuts by the side of the road, is sorting the rice and removing stones.  This will seem an incredible task to a young reader in affluent Australia. I had no idea cheap rice was sold with stones.

"The family can only buy cheap sacks of rice. Cheap sacks of rice have many small stones in them, stones that must be picked out."

Tola settles into this task but her brother and sister are distracted. Dapo wants to practice with his ball and Moji wants to study on her computer. Tola is unhappy but she is also determined to help her Grandmummy and she knows it is essential to sort the rice. Then there is a disaster. A pair of precious earrings are knocked on the floor.  One is found but it seems as though the other is lost. How can Tola wisely save the day?

In the second story Grandmummy becomes very seriously ill. She has put some money aside for emergencies. The money must now all be spent on medicine and it is up to the three children to work out how to earn money for food because it seems Grandmummy will be ill for some weeks. Moji cannot miss her school work so she cannot help. Dapo should help but he seems more interested in the mechanics who are working near the roadway so it is once again up to Tola to sell the groundnuts. Dapo is annoying but by the end of this chapter you will cheer that he has found a much better way to help his family.

In the third and final story, Tola would love to go to the masquerade parade but Grandmummy explains she cannot go alone. Tola also sees some girls who look very fine. They have more money than Tolo's family. She sees three girls and you can read about them here:

"A girl walking towards her. A girl wearing a pink skirt and a T-shirt embroidered with a silver heart."

"A girl, Tola's age comes out of the shop. She is wearing a pair of jeans ... (that fit) her all the way up and way down and they have no stains at all. ... Her jeans are cool. Her denim jacket is cool. Her hair that falls down her back like a black waterfall looks freshly washed and cool, cool cool!"

"She is staring at (another) girl wearing a traditional buba and blouse in matching bright-red cloth with white aeroplanes printed on it."

Tola longs for new clothes, better hair, and most of all to attend the Masquerade. Grandmummy is so wise. She knows Tola is a very special girl and so she finds a way to make this dream come true.

This is the second collection of stories built round Tola and her family in Lagos; it is a delight. Atinuke is a storyteller herself and these are stories that demand to be read aloud. They are just the right length, full of atmosphere, built round situations that arise out of Tola’s everyday. Books for Keeps

Once again, Atinuke has provided both a window and a mirror for children to immerse themselves in when adventuring with Tola in a different culture, and for children from urban Nigeria to see their homes and communities reflected in a book. Miss Clevelands Reading

As you read this is the second book in the Too Small Tola series. I highly recommended the first book and I am going to say the same thing about the second which is equally good. This is a book series which should be added to all Primary school collections. You can see the art from this book on Onyinye Iwu's web page.

Too Small Tola by Atinuke

Atinuke has crafted another gem. A small story about a small girl set in a city and country possibly very unfamiliar to most readers. A small story with a HUGE heart. 

"Tola lives in a run-down block of flats in the megacity of Lagos, in the country of Nigeria. She lives with her sister Moji, who is very clever; her brother Dapo, who is very fast and Grandmummy who is very-very bossy."

"Sometimes the electricity words. And sometimes it does not. Sometimes the water runs. And sometimes it does not. Once the lift worked. And now it definitely does not."

There are three short stories in Too Small Tola. All of them would make a terrific class read aloud for a Grade One or Grade Two class but I especially love the final story where little Tola takes on a big responsibility.  Easter is coming and it is nearly the end of Ramadan. People are preparing for the festival of Eid which this year coincides with Easter. Tola and her neighbours do not have much money but they always have new clothes made to wear for Easter Sunday. Tola may be small but she loves maths and she loves numbers and she is skilled with measuring. Mr Abdul, the local tailor, has a bad bicycle accident. Tola, with help from her brother Dapo, take over riding around the city collecting orders and taking those all important measurements. Mr Abdul is a wonderful man. He knows just how to make every one feel terrific even Dapo who is at first very reluctant to help. 

Too Small Tola is the first book in a planned series.  

The setting for Too Small Tola is Nigeria. Kids Book A Day blogger Janet Dawson talked about this book today and she made the comment:

 I was really hoping for a bit of backmatter on Lagos and Nigeria–at least a map.

So I found some maps:

Too Small Tola is a wonderfully warm read. Warm, heartfelt and super lovely. What a brilliant start to a brand new series! My Book Corner

this is a smashing chapter book for newly confident readers. Red Reading Hub

Through the young girl’s experiences, children will learn about life in Lagos, from the bumper-to-bumper traffic on hot, dusty roads to the stark contrast between rich and poor. Readers will also identify with Tola’s universal concerns, such as sibling tensions and facing up to bullies. Book Trust

Can I suggest you visit your school library today to look for other books by Atinuke. These are books that should be part of every primary school library and they should be shared widely.

Go well Anna Hibiscus! by Atinuke illustrated by Lauren Tobia

If you would like to read a little book that will

• make you smile
• make you cheer
• make you feel like a visitor to Africa

and most importantly confirm why reading is such a special experience
go out and grab a copy of Go Well Anna Hibiscus!

I have written about other books by Atinuke and I do think she is such a talented writer.  Perhaps you have never heard of her and this might be because her books are intended for our youngest beginning readers but don't let the idea of a junior novel deter you - Atinuke is able to take her reader into Africa and into the lives of a very special family with Anna herself at the heart of the action.

Firstly let me introduce Anna Hibiscus :

"Anna Hibiscus lives with her mother and her father, her grandmother and her grandfather, her aunties and her uncles, her many-many cousins and her own two brothers, Double and Trouble. They all live together in a big white house in a big busy city on the wonderful continent of Africa."

As this story opens Anna's grandparents have decided to travel back to their remote village.  Grandfather says "he wants to be somewhere quiet enough to hear his memories think."

Anna and her three big cousins will travel with their grandparents but the car is too full so at the last minute Anna and her cousin Joy are left to follow behind on a very crowded bus.  The journey is long and filled with with interesting sights, experiences and characters.  Finally the girls arrive at their destination but there is nothing to be seen.  They must now take a long and dangerous walk to the village.  Anna is carrying her pet chicken Snow White and Joy has Anna's big pink bag. The girls must carefully place their feet in the footprints of the older women in order to avoid snakes but it is hot and Anna soon becomes quite exhausted.

"The village women were walking swiftly a long way ahead.  Their loads were balanced gracefully on their heads.  Anna Hibiscus was hot and too tired and too thirsty to even cry. ... Suddenly Anna Hibiscus knew what to do.  She shook Snow White off her head.  She balanced his heavy basket there instead. Snow White flew onto it. .. Anna Hibiscus did not stop she was not going to be left behind in a bush full of snakes!"

Joy copies this idea and everyone arrives safely. Now Anna must find a way to fit into village life.  She is too young to go swimming in the river and has no interest in sitting with the older men as they gather to gossip and reminisce.  Her solution to this problem will make you smile.

If you have not yet met Anna Hibiscus take a minute to watch this terrific video of one of her picture books. These are such wonderful books - simply perfect for young readers who are just gaining confidence.  We have nearly all the titles in our school library so why not borrow one today?

these gentle stories are illustrated on nearly every page with Tobia's gray-scale sketches. Accurate cultural details will appeal to readers curious about life in an unfamiliar world. 

The No. 1 Car Spotter and the Firebird by Atinuke illustrated by Warwick Johnson Cadwell

Here is a very different and terrific book for children who are just beginning to develop confidence with reading - especially boys.

I am always on the look out for simple chapter books that move students beyond "reader-style" books onto real books with satisfying stories and luckily I have found another one.

No. 1 (his real name is Oluwalase Babatunde Benson) is a boy who lives in poor village in Africa.

"In my village we do not have television, or even electricity. We do not have shops or even traffic lights. We have compounds, where we live. We have farms, where we work.  We have the river where we play. And best of all we have the road that runs past the village, carrying buses and lorries and cars from one city to another."

No. 1 is a car spotter - the best in his village.  All his friends and family have delightful (nick) names like Uncle Go-Easy,Coca-Cola, Nike and Emergency.

Each chapter in this short book is a self contained story but the stories are all linked so that by the final chapter it seems No. 1 might finally get to see his favourite car close up and perhaps even go for a ride.  In the meantime there are problems to overcome such as when a leopard is bothering the goats, Mama Coca Cola needs to attract new customers to her akara stall and the river is in flood and people going to a wedding are desperate to get across.  No. 1 is not just a car spotter he is a thinker and problem solver.

We have two books from this series in our library.  The No. 1 car spotter and the car thieves and The No. 1 car spotter and the Firebird.  It would be fun to read these aloud in a family.  They remind me of the writing of Alexander McCall Smith.  I can see we still need to buy the first book The No. 1 car spotter.

Here is some information about the author.  We also have the Anna Hibiscus books in our library.