CANR
WORK TITLE: Too Small Tola Gets Tough
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://atinuke-author.weebly.com/
CITY: Wales
STATE:
COUNTRY: United Kingdom
NATIONALITY: Nigerian
LAST VOLUME: SATA 396
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born in Ibadan, Nigeria; daughter of a professor and an editor/writer; married; children: two sons.
EDUCATION:Attended University of York and Oxford University.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Oral storyteller and author.
AWARDS:Gryphon Awards Honour Book; Notable Books for a Global Society Book Award; Cybils Award; Children’s Titles for Ages Up to 8 Prize, Audie Awards, 2014, for Hooray for Anna Hibiscus, read by Mutiyat Ade-Salu; non-fiction book of the year prize, British Book Awards, 2024, for Brilliant Black British History.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Atinuke is a Nigerian storyteller and author. She was born in Ibadan, Nigeria, to a Nigerian professor and an English editor and writer. When she was five years old, her family moved to Lagos, Nigeria, after her father got a new job there. Without the company of her extended family, Atinuke immersed herself in books. “This is where my love affair with books and stories began, locked behind the lonely house. Our house was full of books, reading and writing and political discussion,” Atinuke was quoted as saying in an article written by Evelyn Osagie for the Nation online. At the age of ten Atinuke was sent to a boarding school in England, and eventually she went on to study Commonwealth Literature in English and French at the University of York.
In the article by Osagie, Atinuke also discussed how she got into storytelling: “One day, pregnant with my first son, I told a story to some bored children at a festival and that’s when my proper job found me! I haven’t stopped telling stories since. The first moment I walked onto a stage to tell a story (as a favour to a friend who had been let down by the performer she had booked) I was hooked—and so was the audience! By word of mouth, my reputation grew, and soon I was telling tales all over the UK in schools and libraries, festivals and theatres—including the Barbican Theatre in London.”
For her stories, Atinuke draws inspiration from both contemporary life and folktales from all over the globe. In addition to telling stories, she also writes books for children. In 2005, Atinuke started writing the “Anna Hibiscus” series, which is targeted at children aged six and older, as a response to children’s questions about growing up in Africa. The series follows Anna, who lives with her extended family in a beautiful house in a big city in Africa, as she navigates through a series of adventures and lessons. These books “provide young readers with a unique view of the wonders of life in a large extended family in an urban African context,” commented a reviewer on the Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences website. “Readers ready for chapter books will love Anna and her sprawling family,” noted Robin L. Smith of the books in a review for Horn Book Magazine. She also has written books for the same age group as part of her “No. 1 Car Spotter” series. The hero of these books is Oluwalase Babatunde Benson, a young boy, who unlike Anna, is poor, and lives in a traditional village in the bush and is known for his ability to identify every make of car that goes by on the road by his village. Atinuke also published Anna Hibiscus’ Song, which introduces Anna to younger children. The author’s “sharply-drawn characters, her loving attention to detail and sense of place, and her buoyant sense of humour shine on every page of these chapter books,” noted a reviewer on the Brown Bookshelf Web site of all of her books.
The “Anna Hibiscus” series includes Anna Hibiscus, Hooray for Anna Hibiscus!, Good Luck, Anna Hibiscus!, and Have Fun, Anna Hibiscus! Good Luck, Anna Hibiscus! finds Anna devising a plan to help her neighbors after a drought. “The third-person narration moves briskly, with plenty of dialogue,” noted a Kirkus Reviews contributor of the book. In the next installment, Have Fun, Anna Hibiscus!, Anna embarks on her long-awaited month-long voyage to Canada to visit her grandmother. A Kirkus Reviews contributor praised the book, calling it “a welcome addition to the sparse collection of stories for young readers about modern African life.”
(open new)In Double Trouble for Anna Hibiscus!, Anna’s two twin sisters are born. In an interview with Deborah Kalb, writer on the Book Q&As with Deborah Kalb website, Atinuke discussed the inspiration for the book, stating: “My sisters and I were called Double Trouble, when there was two of us, and then Triple Trouble, when there was three. I wanted to write about the birth of Double Trouble and the trouble it would cause for Anna, the trouble and upheaval all babies—being babies—cause their older siblings! I love writing about Double Trouble, the mischief they get into, and it was fun to think about the trouble that babies—so unwittingly—could cause.” Reviewing the book in School Library Journal, Anna Haase Krueger noted that it “believably [portrays] the emotional highs and lows of childhood.” A Kirkus Reviews critic called it “a double pleasure for old friends and new readers alike.” “While there’s no shortage of new-baby books, it’s refreshing to see one about the arrival of twins,” asserted Megan Dowd Lambert in Horn Book.(close new—more below)
The No. 1 Car Spotter introduces readers to Oluwalase who figures out how to use an abandoned Toyota Corolla to get the villagers’ goods to market after the only wagon they have breaks. “One of Atinuke’s gifts is her ability to tell her stories with humor while introducing serious topics to younger readers,” remarked Smith in a review of the book for Horn Book Magazine. “With a wry blend of realism, farce, and heartbreak” … [ The No. 1 Car Spotter ] tells a contemporary story of a kid who saves the day,” stated Booklist reviewer Hazel Rochman. The next book in the series is The No. 1 Car Spotter and the Firebird. “Atinuke’s story collection is entertaining, enjoyable and easy to read, managing to import significant messages in a subtle way,” observed Frances Breslin of the series in a review for the School Librarian.
(open new)Too Small Tola is the first volume in Atinuke’s chapter book series of the same name. Released in 2021, it introduces the titular character, who lives with her Grandmommy and older siblings, Moji and Dapo. In one chapter, Tola helps Grandmommy carry items home from the market, despite her small stature. Next, she overcomes a bully while carrying water from the well. Finally, Tola helps her neighbor who is hurt. A contributor to Kirkus Reviews described the book as “an enjoyable, endearing collection.” “The creators celebrate the beauty of daily life through Tola’s joy, wonder, and perseverance,” commented a Publishers Weekly reviewer.
Too Small Tola and the Three Fine Girls finds Tola helping her siblings find Grandmommy’s missing earrings, making money to support her family when Grandmommy is sick, and learning that it is not her socioeconomic status that makes her worthy. Elena Schuck, reviewer in School Library Journal, described the book as “an entertaining tale.” “It’s impossible not to love Adnuke’s little protagonist,” suggested Julia Smith in Booklist. A Kirkus Reviews critic asserted: “This poignant book conveys great warmth and familial love despite the characters’ tenuous circumstances.” In Too Small Tola Gets Tough, Tola and her family experience a COVID-19-like pandemic. A contributor to Kirkus Reviews called the volume “remarkable and timely.”
Baby Goes to Market and B Is for Baby are companion books for young children. In the former, Baby is wrapped in a cloth and rides on Mama’s back as she navigates an African market. While Mama is distracted, Baby charms vendors, and the vendors give Baby produce and baked goods. Mama is surprised when she sees Baby’s bounty. In an interview with a contributor to the Book Q&As with Deborah Kalb website, Atinuke stated: “I’d like the book to give children both a little glimpse of market life in West Africa, and a lovely giggle at Baby and Mama’s misunderstanding at the end.” A writer in Kirkus Reviews asserted: “No one will be able to resist this baby.” In B Is for Baby, Baby is not observed falling into in Brother’s bike basket and ends up on a trip to Baba’s bungalow. “Atinuke has bottled the delightful energy of the Anna Hibiscus books and poured it into this treat for younger readers,” remarked a Kirkus Reviews critic. Susan Dove Lempke, reviewer in Horn Book, described the volume as a “tenderly funny slice-of-life story.”
Standalone volumes by Atinuke include the picture books, Catch That Chicken! and Hugo, and the nonfiction volume, Africa, Amazing Africa: Country by Country. In the first, she tells the story of Lami, a girl trying to differentiate herself from her other family members and find her unique talent. She discovers that it is catching chickens. In an interview on the Book Q&As with Deborah Kalb website, Atinuke discussed her intentions for the book, stating: “I hope that kids will see that if we can no longer do something we love to do then we can still find other ways to do that same thing, or maybe we can find other things that we love to do.” A critic in Kirkus Reviews called Catch That Chicken! “a fun-filled, culturally rich tale that will delight readers young and older.” “The text is lively and snappy, full of well-chosen verbs and adverbs,” asserted Lucinda Whitehurst in Booklist. In Hugo, the titular pigeon considers the guardian of the park. He makes a new friend, a Black child, whom he visits at the child’s window. The child, whom he calls Somebody, helps him when he is hurt. A writer in Kirkus Reviews called the volume “a layered, affecting story of friendship and community.” Africa, Amazing Africa finds Atinuke providing information on 55 of the countries on the continent. “This loving tribute is absolutely dazzling,” remarked a Kirkus Reviews critic. School Library Journal contributor, Elizabeth Giles, suggested: “Atinuke’s first foray into nonfiction admirably presents an accessible and engaging narrative.”
Atinuke discussed the pleasures of her profession in an interview with a contributor to the Settle Stories website. She stated: “The most rewarding aspect of being a children’s storyteller is when I meet someone who has read my books—or heard my stories—and felt their life or mood changed for the better when they have been comforted or cheered up or laughed or felt prouder. It helps me feel that I am doing something to make the world a better place.”(close new)
In an interview on the Playing by the Book website, Atinuke talked about the differences for her between oral and written storytelling: “Written storytelling is the play of one person’s mind and heart and imagination. I love making up stories, playing and playing with them, and then sharing them in my books. Oral storytelling is sharing a story that has been ‘worked’ on by centuries of storytellers. I love the fact that when I get up on stage to tell stories I am telling a story that humans have been telling to each other for centuries, that has been proved to be important.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, Hazel Rochman, review of The No. 1 Car Spotter, p. 92; June 1, 2020, Lucinda Whitehurst, review of Catch That Chicken!, p. 90; November 1, 2021, Henrietta Verma, review of Africa, Amazing Africa: Country by Country, p. 51; August 1, 2022, Julia Smith, review of Too Small Tola and the Three Fine Girls, p. 54.
Horn Book, May-June, 2011, Robin L. Smith, review of Good Luck, Anna Hibiscus! and Have Fun, Anna Hibiscus!; November-December, 2011, Robin L. Smith, review of The No. 1 Car Spotter and Anna Hibiscus’ Song; January-February, 2012, review of Good Luck, Anna Hibiscus! and Anna Hibiscus; September-October, 2015, Megan Dowd Lambert, review of Double Trouble for Anna Hibiscus!, p. 73; May-June, 2019, Susan Dove Lempke, review of B Is for Baby, p. 120.
Kirkus Reviews, February 15, 2011, review of Good Luck, Anna Hibiscus! and Have Fun, Anna Hibiscus!; August 1, 2011, review of The No. 1 Car Spotter and Anna Hibiscus’ Song; July 15, 2013, review of Splash, Anna Hibiscus!; June 1, 2015, review of Double Trouble of Anna Hibiscus!; July 15, 2017, review of Go Well, Anna Hibiscus; July 15, 2017, review of Welcome Home, Anna Hibiscus;July 15, 2017, review of Love from Anna Hibiscus; July 15, 2017, review of You’re Amazing, Anna Hibiscus; September 1, 2017, review of Baby Goes to Market; January 15, 2019, review of B Is for Baby; April 15, 2020, review of Catch That Chicken!; April 15, 2021, review of Hugo; February 1, 2021, review of Too Small Tola; July 15, 2021, review of Baby, Sleepy Baby; October 15, 2021, review of Africa, Amazing Africa; September 1, 2022, review of Too Small Tola and the Three Fine Girls; February 15, 2023, review of Too Small Tola Gets Tough.
Publishers Weekly, August 8, 2011, review of Anna Hibiscus’ Song; December 17, 2018, review of B Is for Baby, p. 139; May 3, 2021, review of Hugo, p. 56; November 24, 2021, review of Too Small Tola, p. 63.
School Librarian, spring, 2012, Frances Breslin, review of The No. 1 Car Spotter and the Firebird, p. 33.
School Library Journal, August, 2011, Nicole Waskie-Laura, review of Good Luck, Anna Hibiscus!, p. 67; October, 2011, Margaret R. Tassia, review of Anna Hibiscus’ Song, p. 100; July, 2015, Anna Haase Krueger, review of Double Trouble for Anna Hibiscus!, p. 58; October, 2021, Elizabeth Giles, review of Africa, Amazing Africa, p. 99; September, 2022, Elena Schuck, review of Too Small Tola and the Three Fine Girls, p. 106.
ONLINE
Atinuke website, https://atinuke.co.uk/ (July 9, 2024).
Book Q&As with Deborah Kalb, https://deborahkalbbooks.blogspot.com/ (August 28, 2016), author interview; (October 30, 2017), author interview; (February 20, 2019), author interview; (December 2, 2020), author interview.
Brittle Paper, https://brittlepaper.com/ (May 15, 2024), Kuhelika Ghosh, article about author.
Brown Bookshelf, http: //thebrownbookshelf.com/ (February 10, 2012), author profile.
Kane Miller EDC Publishing website, http://www.kanemiller.com/ (June 22, 2012), author profile.
Nation Online, http:/ / www.thenationonlineng.net/ (March 14, 2012), Evelyn Osagie, “I Am Married to Books.”
Playing by the Book, http://www.playingbythebook.net/ (December 13, 2011), author interview.
Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences website, http://econkids.rutgers.edu/ (December 13, 2011), review of Have Fun, Anna Hibiscus!
Settle Stories, https://www.settlestories.org.uk/ (October 17, 2023), author interview.
YA Books Central, https://www.yabookscentral.com/ (April 29, 2022), Connie Reid, author interview.
Atinuke
As a child
I was born in Ibadan, in south-west Nigeria. I remember it as a city of dusty red roads, of bungalows buried under flowers, of botanical gardens. When I was five my father got a "good job" in the capital city of Lagos. A city of polo clubs and swimming pools and slums. We went to live behind the high walls of a mansion in a quiet part of the city, and left our extended family behind. This is where my love affair with books and stories began, locked behind the great iron gates of the lonely house. Throughout my childhood I wanted firstly and desperately to be a Boy, then an Adventurer, and lastly, An Author. Two of these were impossible (I was told) and one was dangerous. Forget it. So I carried on reading instead. I read Enid Blyton books and it sounded fun. At 10 years old, after a campaign of cajoling and persuading, my parents agreed to send me to boarding school in England. And that was, effectively, the end of my childhood.
As an adult
As soon as I could, I gave up all subjects but storybooks and went off to study literature. I wrote 10,000 words one year to get over a lost love and got into Oxford instead. But the writing I had to do there was so dry that I left. I decided to go Adventuring instead. I lived and travelled in England and France, Morocco and Germany and Spain, sleeping like a nomad on beaches and mountainsides. I sang for my supper, painted portraits, weeded gardens, worked as an artist's model and lived in a round mud hut in the wild wet woods of Wales. One day, pregnant with my first son, I told a story to some bored children at a festival and that's when my proper job found me! I haven't stopped telling stories since.
As an artist
I got through the trials and tribulations of life by escaping into books and making up stories in my head. My journal stayed with me through all my adventures, crammed with poetry and reflections and questions. I told stories for a living (because I had been told it was impossible to be An Author – and I had believed them). Until one winter in Wales – too ill to get up and go out and tell stories; too ill to go home to my fatherland – I found myself in the circumstances in which I write best (alone and bored and empty) and I wrote about what I was missing... I wrote Anna Hibiscus.
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Atinuke
Born Ibadan, Nigeria
Occupation
AuthorOral Storyteller
Children 2
Website
atinuke.co.uk
Atinuke is a Nigerian-born author of children's books and an oral storyteller of traditional African folktales.[1]
Personal life and education
Atinuke was born in Ibadan and grew up in Lagos, Nigeria with her parents and three siblings.[2] Her father was a Nigerian university lecturer and her mother was an English editor.[2] Atinuke is of Yoruba ancestry through her father.[3][4]
Atinuke chose to attend a boarding school in England from ages ten to thirteen.[3] Her parents and three siblings then moved to England, and Atinuke began attending public school.[citation needed]
in university, Atinuke studied English and Commonwealth Literatures.[3]
She has two sons[5] and currently lives in Wales.[3][6]
Career
Atinuke's first story was told to an audience in England in 1990, when the booked performer didn't show.[citation needed] She embarked on a creative journey and professional career of collecting stories from Africa and the African diaspora and telling them to local and international audiences, at festivals and schools.[citation needed] When she took a break from travelling in 2005 due to illness,[citation needed] she began writing her first book, about fictional character Anna Hibiscus, a young girl living in "Amazing Africa". Atinuke is the author of over 20 children's books based on her life in Nigeria and the traditional stories. Most recently she published a non-fiction children's book about the 55 countries of Africa. Her book "Baby Goes To Market" is published in the US and UK as well as in French and Japanese.[7]
Awards and honours
The African American Literature Book Club named Atinuke in their list of the "Top 100 Bestselling Authors" in the 60th place.[8]
In 2011, Good Luck, Anna Hibiscus! was named one of the best children's books of the year by The Horn Book Magazine.[9]
In 2015, Double Trouble for Anna Hibiscus was named one of the best children's and young adult books of the year by Shelf Awareness.[10]
In 2017, You’re Amazing, Anna Hibiscus! was included on Kirkus Reviews' "Best Books for Middle Graders of 2017" list.[11]
In 2018, Baby Goes to Market was included on the Children's Africana Book Awards' "Best Books for Young Children" list.[12]
In 2021, Too Small Tola was named one of the best children's books of the year by The Horn Book Magazine, School Library Journal and Shelf Awareness [13][14][15]
In 2022, Too Small Tola and the Three Fine Girls was named one of the best children's books of the year by The Horn Book Magazine.[16]
Awards for Atinuke's writing
Year Title Award Result Ref.
2010 Anna Hibiscus Cybils Award for Short Chapter Books Finalists [17]
2011 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Fiction Honor [18]
Have Fun, Anna Hibiscus! Cybils Award for Short Chapter Books Winner [19]
2012 Good Luck, Anna Hibiscus! Mind the Gap Awards: Better luck next time Winner [20]
2013 The No. 1 Car Spotter and the Firebird Carnegie Medal Nominee
2014 Hooray for Anna Hibiscus! Audie Award for Children's Titles Ages Up to 8 Winner [21][22]
2018 Baby Goes to Market ALSC Notable Children's Books Selection [23]
Charlotte Zolotow Award Honor [24]
Mathical Book Prize: Pre-K Winner [25]
2020 Africa, Amazing Africa School Library Association Information Book Award for Ages 8 to 12 years Shortlist [26]
B Is for Baby ALSC Notable Children's Books Selection [27]
Carnegie Medal Longlist [28]
2021 Too Small Tola Cybils Award for Easy Chapter Books Finalist [29]
Jhalak Prize for Children YA Longlist
2022 ALSC Notable Children's Books Selection [30]
Publications
Fiction
Anna Hibiscus series
The Anna Hibiscus series is illustrated by Lauren Tobia
Anna Hibiscus (2010)
Hooray for Anna Hibiscus! (2010)
Anna Hibiscus' Song (2011)
Have Fun, Anna Hibiscus! (2011)
Welcome Home, Anna Hibiscus! (2012)
Go Well, Anna Hibiscus! (2014)
Double Trouble For Anna Hibiscus! (2015)
Love from Anna Hibiscus! (2015)
You're Amazing, Anna Hibiscus! (2016)
Merry Christmas, Anna Hibiscus! (expected 2023)
Baby series
The Baby series is illustrated by Angela Brooksbank.
Baby Goes to Market, (2017)
B Is for Baby (2019)
Baby, Sleepy Baby (2021)
The No. 1 Car Spotter series
The No. 1 Car Spotter series is illustrated by Warwick Johnson-Cadwell.
The No. 1 Car Spotter (2011)
The No. 1 Car Spotter and the Firebird (2011)
The No. 1 Car Spotter and the Car Thieves (2012)
The No. 1 Car Spotter Goes to School (2014)
The No. 1 Car Spotter and the Broken Road (2015)
The No. 1 Car Spotter Fights the Factory (2016)
Too Small Tola series
The Too Small Tola series is illustrated by Onyinye Iwu.
Too Small Tola (2020)
Too Small Tola and the Three Fine Girls (2021)
Too Small Tola Gets Tough (2023)
Standalone books
Catch That Chicken!, illustrated by Angela Brooksbank (2020)
Hugo, illustrated by Birgitta Sif (2020)
Brilliant Black British History (expected 2023)
Non-Fiction
Africa Amazing Africa: Country by Country, illustrated by Mouni Feddag (2019)
Nigerian Author Atinuke Wins the 2024 British Book Awards for Children’s Nonfiction
by KUHELIKA GHOSH
May 15, 2024
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Nigerian-born author Atinuke has won the 2024 British Book Awards in the Children’s Nonfiction Category for Brilliant Black History. Illustrated by Kingsley Nebechi, the book opens young children’s eyes to Black British history.
The British Book Awards aka ‘the Nibbies’ has been the leading awards for the book trade since 1990. The awards affirm, connect and energise all who have a hand in creating books and all who read them, by showcasing the authors and illustrators who have stirred our hearts and imaginations, and the industry behind the scenes who have brought them to readers. This year’s ceremony was held at Grosvenor House in London.
The Children’s Non-Fiction award went to Brilliant Black British History (Bloomsbury Children’s Books) by Atinuke, illustrated by Kingsley Nebechi. The book focuses on a part of British past that has mostly been left out of the history books: the brilliant Black history of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.
Covering a range of topics from science and sport to literature and law, Atinuke celebrates the brilliant Black people who have helped build Britain. Children can learn about key historical topics such as the world wars, slavery, the industrial revolution, Windrush, and the Black Lives Matter movement, among others. Read the full synopsis below:
Did you know that the first Britons were Black? Or that some of the Roman soldiers who invaded and ruled Britain were Black, too? Join this fascinating journey through the ages to meet those first Britons, as well as the Black Tudors, Georgians and Victorians who existed in every walk of life here. The incredible journey through time is brought to life through Atinuke’s fascinating storytelling and illustrated scenes, detailed maps, and timelines created by illustrator Kingsley Nebechi.
A vital exploration of Black British history, the judges praised its accessibility and appeal to children of all ages.As the second Book of the Year win for Bloomsbury Children’s Books, Atinuke’s book prevailed over Adam Kay’s hugely popular Kay’s Incredible Inventions (Puffin).
Atinuke is a Nigerian-born author of children’s books and an oral storyteller of traditional African folktales. She is an award-winning author of over 20 children’s books based on her life in Nigeria and other African stories. In 2017, You’re Amazing, Anna Hibiscus! was included on Kirkus Reviews’ “Best Books for Middle Graders of 2017” list; in 2018, Baby Goes to Market was included on the Children’s Africana Book Awards’ “Best Books for Young Children” list; and in 2021, Too Small Tola was named one of the best children’s books of the year by The Horn Book Magazine, School Library Journal, and Shelf Awareness.
Congrats to Atinuke on this well-deserved win!
QUOTED: "The most rewarding aspect of being a children’s storyteller is when I meet someone who has read my books – or heard my stories – and felt their life or mood changed for the better when they have been comforted or cheered up or laughed or felt prouder. It helps me feel that I am doing something to make the world a better place."
Interview with Children’s Story Competiton Judge Atinuke
Interview with Children’s Story Competition Judge Atinuke
Tue, October 17, 2023 by mollie
Atinuke is an award-winning children’s author and traditional oral storyteller who is this year’s Children’s Story Competition Judge. Kaden James recently caught up with Atinuke to talk about the YFOS Children’s Story Competition, the inspiration behind her own books and her experience as a storyteller.
Click here to access the Festival Living Room 2 where Atinuke will be announcing the winners and runners-up of the competition.
You can find Atinuke’s books at our online bookshop here, as well as our in-person festival bookshop.
You are going to be judging the YFOS Children’s Story Competition. What excites you most about this and what will you be looking for?
I am so looking forward to reading the children’s stories. I am looking for something unexpected and something that moves me – to laughter or to tears.
The theme of this year’s short story contest (‘a day that changed the world’) opens up conversations about the power of stories and their ability to change the world for the better. Can you explain how stories can have the power to influence change?
I remember once meeting a man who had been ashamed of his childhood because it was poor and he did not even go to school. Then his kids read my “No.1 Car Spotter” books. The No.1 Car Spotter is a boy who lives in poverty and who does not go to school, but his life is full of fun and freedom and adventure. And this man’s kids loved the books. So he decided to tell them about his own childhood – herding camels in the desert. They loved hearing about it and thought it was really cool. The man’s shame disappeared. That is an example of how the power of stories can change things.
What is the most rewarding aspect of being a children’s storyteller, and why do you think storytelling is essential for young minds?
The most rewarding aspect of being a children’s storyteller is when I meet someone who has read my books – or heard my stories – and felt their life or mood changed for the better when they have been comforted or cheered up or laughed or felt prouder. It helps me feel that I am doing something to make the world a better place.
Your Anna Hibiscus series is beloved by many children. What was the inspiration behind creating this character, and what messages do you hope young readers take away from her adventures?
In the Anna Hibiscus stories I wanted to share with children what my own childhood was like on the African continent. And I hope that children all over the world enjoy spending time in her world and come away knowing how amazing Africa is.
Can you share some of your favourite childhood stories or storytellers who influenced your own storytelling style?
I was very influenced by my father’s traditional storytelling style. And also by the English author Joyce Lankester Brisley who wrote the Milly Molly Mandy stories which I read over and over again as a little girl.
Do you have any memorable or heartwarming anecdotes of interactions with young readers who have been touched by your stories?
Once a girl at a book festival in Kenya stood up and said, “Thank you for writing your books. Thank you for showing the world that we are important too”. There were about 700 children in the audience and they all stood up and clapped. It was a very moving moment for me because I remember being that age and thinking that people like me were not important because I had no books with anyone like me in them!
You are also going to be introducing yourself and your book, Brilliant Black British History, to children in KS2 on 18th October via Stories for School. What can you tell me about this event and book? What would you like people to know?
I am so looking forward to this event! I am going to be telling a short version of the book to the children. The short version of 12,000 years of Black British history! I hope children will come away knowing that there have always been black and brown children in Britain.
What upcoming projects or books can readers and fans look forward to from you?
I have a new series that starts next year called “Beti and the Little Round House”. I am very excited about this book – Beti is a cute and feisty character, the illustrations are soooo beautiful, and it is set in wild Wales where I live. There are also new picture books called “L is for Love” and “M is for Mango” coming out soon. And one day there will be more books in the “Too Small Tola” series.
Finally, what message would you like to give to children and young people who love and are interested in storytelling?
Stories are the best thing! Join a library so you can read as much as you can for free. See you if can find any real storytellers who tell stories out of their heads. And if you want to write – just do – write and write and write again – it’s the only way of getting good!
Click here to access the Festival Living Room 2 where Atinuke will be announcing the winners and runners-up of the competition.
You can find Atinuke’s books at our online bookshop here, as well as our in-person festival bookshop.
Author Chat with Atinuke (Anna Hibiscus), Plus Giveaway! ~US Only
April 29, 20222 Comments
Written by Connie Reid, Site Manager
Posted in Giveaways, Interviews, News & Updates
Today we are chatting with Atinuke, author of Anna Hibiscus
Read on for more about her, her book, and a giveaway!
Meet Atinuke:
Atinuke was born in Nigeria and spent her childhood in both Africa and the United Kingdom. She is the author of the award-winning Anna Hibiscus series, illustrated by Lauren Tobia, as well as Hugo, illustrated by Birgitta Sif, and Too Small Tola, illustrated by Onyinye Iwu. Her other books include Baby, Sleepy Baby; Baby Goes to Market; B Is for Baby; and Catch That Chicken!, all illustrated by Angela Brooksbank. Atinuke lives in Wales.
Website * Instagram
About the Book: Anna Hibiscus
From acclaimed Nigerian storyteller Atinuke, the first in a series of chapter books set in contemporary West Africa introduces a little girl who has enchanted young readers.
Anna Hibiscus lives in Africa, amazing Africa, with her mother and father, her twin baby brothers (Double and Trouble), and lots of extended family in a big white house with a beautiful garden in a compound in a city. Anna is never lonely—there are always cousins to play and fight with, aunties and uncles laughing and shouting, and parents and grandparents close by. Readers will happily follow as she goes on a seaside vacation, helps plan a party for Auntie Comfort from Canada (will she remember her Nigerian ways?), learns firsthand what it’s really like to be a child selling oranges outside the gate, and longs to see sweet snow. Nigerian storyteller Atinuke’s debut book for children and its sequels, with their charming (and abundant) gray-scale drawings by Lauren Tobia, are newly published in the US by Candlewick Press, joining other celebrated Atinuke stories in captivating young readers.
Amazon * B&N * Indiebound
~Author Chat~
YABC: What gave you the inspiration to write Anna Hibiscus?
Children in schools in the UK and the US asking what it was like to grow up on the African continent. They assumed it was all wild animals and mud huts. Sadly many children still do.
YABC: Which came first, the title or the story?
They came together really. I started thinking of the stories I could write based on my childhood and the name came straight away. Our garden was full of hibiscus bushes where a lot of my childhood was spent hiding out.
YABC: What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?
I am most proud of the scene where Anna walks back and forth to the market – discovering how very hard it is to be a working child – and discovering that the consequences of her actions affect not only her, but people she loves too.
YABC: Aside from Anna Hibiscus, who is your favorite character?
My favourite character is grandfather – he’s just so loving and wise!
YABC: What do you like most about the cover of the book?
I really love the blue background of this new American edition now available with Candlewick.
YABC: What is the main message or lesson you would like your reader to remember from this book?
A girl at a book festival in Kenya once said to me – “Thank you for writing about Anna Hibiscus. Thank you for showing the world that we are important too.” And a Somalian father in a library in the UK once said – “Thank you for writing about the No.1 Car Spotter. Before my children read those books I was too ashamed to tell them about my childhood. But when I saw how much they loved No. 1 I was able to tell them all about it – and now they think my childhood herding camels was really cool!”
That is the main message – a childhood on the African continent can be many things – including modern, fun, interesting, joyful, and important.
YABC: What’s up next for you?
I’m working on some non-fiction books about Black British history that I’m very excited about. And some very fun picture books too!
YABC: Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?
My editors have taught me so much about the craft of writing. Hone, hone, hone. Cut, cut, cut. Craft, craft, craft.
YABC: What advice do you have for new writers?
Find a routine, and write, write write. Most of what you write will never see the light of day – but the good stuff won’t be written unless you’re at your desk.
YABC: What’s a book you’ve recently read and loved?
I’m really loving Chris Haughton’s Shh! We Have a Plan, and Brene Brown’s Atlas of the Heart.
YABC: What would you say is your superpower?
Self-discipline!
YABC: Is there an organization or cause that is close to your heart?
SOS Children’s Villages is a charity very close to my heart. It provides family homes for orphaned and abandoned children in purpose built villages around the world. One of the few books I had as a child was The Silver Sword by Ian Serraillier. I read it so many times – sobbing each time. It was so dear to me – and is possibly one of the reasons that children’s homes are close to my heart.
YABC: Is there anything that you would like to add?
When Anna Hibiscus was first published, it was set simply in “Africa, amazing Africa”. It was a conscious decision. There are so few children’s books set in modern Africa that I wanted any child of African heritage to be able to pick up the book and claim it as theirs – to see themselves in it. In this new edition I have made the decision to name Anna’s country – Nigeria. There are more books now set in Africa for children to see themselves in – and I do not want to play into the stereotype that Africa is one place, one country.
Book’s Title: Anna Hibiscus
Author: Atinuke
Release Date: April 12, 2022
Publisher: Candlewick Press
ISBN-10: 1536225193
ISBN-13: 978153622519
Genre: First Chapter Book
QUOTED: "I hope that kids will see that if we can no longer do something we love to do then we can still find other ways to do that same thing, or maybe we can find other things that we love to do."
Wednesday, December 2, 2020
Q&A with Atinuke
Atinuke is the author of the new children's picture book Catch That Chicken!. Her many other books include Baby Goes to Market. She grew up in Nigeria and England, and she lives in Wales.
Q: How did you come up with the idea for Catch That Chicken?
A: I have a flock of big fluffy tame chickens that my nephew and niece love to pick up. Then I met a little girl called Imani in Nairobi, Kenya, who loved my No.1 Car Spotter books and had the idea of a No.1 Chicken Chaser. The story developed from there!
Q: What do you hope kids take away from the story?
A: I hope that kids will see that if we can no longer do something we love to do then we can still find other ways to do that same thing, or maybe we can find other things that we love to do.
Developing this story was poignant for me as I was facing something similar at the time - for health reasons I can no longer do lots of things I love - but I’ve found so many other things to enjoy!
Q: How did you first get interested in creating children's picture books?
A: Children’s books are my favourite genre. I fell in love with picture books when I was at university and made some friends who had a huge collection.
I realised then that picture books can lift the heart, give courage and comfort, and do everything that any other book can - in a handful of words. It’s a real craft - and one that I love.
Q: The Publishers Weekly review of the book says, "The story stars a strong girl of color and offers a look at life in a close-knit community, a setting in which every gift contributes to the whole." What do you think of that description?
A: Well….in close-knit communities every gift does contribute to the whole… and so do lots and lots of arguments!
Q: What are you working on now?
A: Right now I am working on nonfiction - which is a real passion right now. My first nonfiction book, Africa, Amazing Africa, will be out in the US in 2021. (It’s already out here in the UK).
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: I’ve been nominated for the ALMA award. It’s one of the biggest for children’s literature and is given not just for one book but for an author’s complete works. It’s just an honour just to be on the list next to some of my heroes in children’s literature!
Wednesday, February 20, 2019
Q&A with Atinuke
Atinuke is the author of the children's picture book Baby Goes to Market. Her many other books include the Anna Hibiscus series. She grew up in Nigeria and England, and she lives in Wales.
Q: How did you come up with the idea for Baby Goes to Market?
A: I’d wanted to write a book set in a West African market for years. The colour, the noise, the heat, the chaos, the fun, the friendliness. Baby Goes to Market captures some of it! But the idea actually came in London, looking after my little nephew.
Q: What do you hope kids take away from the story?
A: I hope that kids take away a sense of the colour and fun of West African culture, and the friendliness and love that we have for babies.
Q: What do you think Angela Brooksbank's illustrations add to the book?
A: Angela’s illustrations are what brings the book to life!
Q: Who are some of your favorite authors?
A: Right now I am reading and rereading Jacqueline Woodson’s Brown Girl Dreaming and Simi Bedford’s Yoruba Girl Dancing.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: Right now I am working on a new series set in Lagos, Nigeria about a little girl growing up in the slums.
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: I’ll be in Washington, D.C., on tour in April 2019. Check out my Facebook page for details for public events!
QUOTED: "I’d like the book to give children both a little glimpse of market life in West Africa, and a lovely giggle at Baby and Mama’s misunderstanding at the end."
Monday, October 30, 2017
Q&A with Atinuke
Atinuke is the author of the new children's picture book Baby Goes to Market. Her many other books for kids include the Anna Hibiscus series. She grew up in Nigeria and England, and now lives in Wales.
Q: How did you come up with the idea for Baby Goes to Market?
A: It’s an idea which I have been working on for years - the idea of a baby, and a market - and it suddenly came together in London when I saw a cheeky little toddler tied on his African mother’s back - the story came together in that instant - and I wrote it down on the bus home.
Q: What do you hope kids take away from the story?
A: I’d like the book to give children both a little glimpse of market life in West Africa, and a lovely giggle at Baby and Mama’s misunderstanding at the end.
Q: What do you think Angela Brooksbank's illustrations add to the book?
A: Angela’s illustrations bring the story alive. She shows the cute cheekiness of baby and also gives children an experience of the colour and chaos of a West African market.
Q: Who are some of your favorite authors?
A: I love so many genres of books… Right now I’d say… Ifeoma Onyefulu for all of her work, Joyce Lancaster Brisley who wrote Milly Molly Mandy, Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani for I Do Not Come to You by Chance, Astrid Lindgren for Clarston on the Roof and The Brothers Lionheart, Nnedi Okorafor for Akata Witch, Jennifer Donnelly for A Gathering Light and Revolution, and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie for everything she’s written! Oh, and Teju Cole - I love Teju Cole for Every Day Is for the Thief!
Q: What are you working on now?
A: I’m working on so many things! Some fun new picture books, a non-fiction book about Africa, an early chapter book, and a novel for teens!
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: The chapter book that I am working on is a first for me. It’s my first book that's not set in incredible Nigeria where I spent my childhood. It’s set in wild Wales where my own children are growing up. And there is also a picture book set in Paris coming out!
QUOTED: "My sisters and I were called Double Trouble, when there was two of us, and then Triple Trouble, when there was three. I wanted to write about the birth of Double Trouble and the trouble it would cause for Anna, the trouble and upheaval all babies - being babies - cause their older siblings! I love writing about Double Trouble, the mischief they get into, and it was fun to think about the trouble that babies - so unwittingly - could cause."
Sunday, August 28, 2016
Q&A with Atinuke
Atinuke is the author of Double Trouble for Anna Hibiscus!, a winner of the 2016 Children's Africana Book Awards. Her other books include Anna Hibiscus and Love from Anna Hibiscus!. She grew up in Nigeria and England, and now lives in Wales.
Q: How did you come up with the idea for your character Anna Hibiscus, and for the latest book in the series, Double Trouble for Anna Hibiscus?
A: For ages I’d been wanting to write about a little girl growing up - as I did - in a busy African city. The name and character came finally when I was stuck in bed, ill and bored - Anna Hibiscus’s name and personality came in a flash - and I had the time while stuck in bed to write the first four stories about her.
My sisters and I were called Double Trouble, when there was two of us, and then Triple Trouble, when there was three. I wanted to write about the birth of Double Trouble and the trouble it would cause for Anna, the trouble and upheaval all babies - being babies - cause their older siblings!
I love writing about Double Trouble, the mischief they get into, and it was fun to think about the trouble that babies - so unwittingly - could cause.
Q: Did you know when you wrote the first book about her that it would be a series?
A: Most of the Anna stories are inspired by my childhood in Nigeria - things that I did, things I wanted to do (but wasn’t brave enough), things that I wished would happen - they all happen to Anna Hibiscus.
I knew when I wrote the first Anna stories that I had lots more about this that I wanted to write - but I did not know then that I’d be lucky enough to be asked to write so many of them!
There are eight Anna Hibiscus books now - the first four are available in the U.S. through bookshops or booksellers...and all eight can all be ordered through the U.K. Amazon site - amazon.co.uk.
Q: What do you see as the relationship between the oral storytelling tradition and your own storytelling and writing?
A: I have been telling traditional oral African stories for 18 years now and undoubtedly they influence my work as an author - and that’s a great thing!
Some of the stories I tell are more than 5,000 years old, created by unknown geniuses and honed and perfected by generations of excellent storytellers. They teach me a lot about life - and I like to think that they make me a better writer too!
Also, maybe because I am a storyteller, as I write I say the words aloud in my head. This also brings a storytelling style to my books especially its rhythm and repetition.
Q: As someone who grew up in Nigeria and England, what do you see as some of the most common perceptions and misperceptions that people in one country have about the other?
A: I wanted to write about a girl growing up in a busy African city because many children I met in England (and elsewhere in the West) thought that life in Nigeria was one of wild animals, mud huts and poverty. Even now children gasp when I talk about drinking Coca-Cola and playing computer games in Nigeria.
On the other hand in Nigeria many people imagine that everyone in England (and elsewhere in the West) is rich, that it’s easy over here to become a millionaire! It can be hard to get people to believe that there is poverty over here too.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: Right now I’m working on some new picture books - with new characters and a fabulous new illustrator. The first of those will be out next year in the U.K. and the U.S. - and I am so excited about it - it’s a story I’ve been mulling over for years now and it’s wonderful seeing it come to life in such gorgeous pictures.
I’m also working on my first non-fiction project - I won’t say too much about that, as it’s still a long time away from publication - but working on it is satisfying and fulfilling - I love it!
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: I don’t have a study or even a desk where I work. I write wherever I happen to be - in bed when it’s raining, in a hammock when it’s bright, in my favourite armchair, at the kitchen table, in hotel rooms and trains and airplanes. Ideas come to me in floods when I am travelling.
Then it’s a question of discipline - the discipline to spend the hours and days and weeks and months and years that it takes to turn those ideas into stories, and those stories into books. When I get stuck then it’s time to stop working and wander the woods and beaches near my home.
I can’t really separate writing and living - both of them feed and enrich the other. And I can’t imagine a more wonderful job - making up stories and telling them - it’s playing really!
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
About me
I was lucky enough to be born in the awesome, inspiring country of Nigeria.
My father is a Nigerian university professor. My mother a white English author and editor. We lived first in the city of Ibadan, surrounded by my father’s extended family. And then in the megacity of Lagos where my three siblings came along.
I have wanted to be an author from the age of 5. Right through my childhood books were my comfort and escape. When I ran out of books to read I made up stories in my head.
The books I read led to some of my biggest decisions – at 10 I chose to go to boarding school in England – led astray by “Malory Towers”! At 13 my mother and siblings joined me in the UK. We travelled home to Nigeria in the school holidays – and since then I have had one foot (sometimes more, sometimes less) in each country.
I studied English and Commonwealth Literatures at university, and afterwards I travelled – filling notebook after notebook with my scribbles. Then I fell in love with the art of oral storytelling – after being cajoled into telling a Nigerian folktale on a festival stage.
Since then – for the last 20 years – I’ve told stories from the African continent & diaspora to adults and children in schools, festivals & theatres all over the world. Children in the West constantly asked me what it was like growing up on the African continent – they imagined it was full of safari animals and poverty. My first book – Anna Hibiscus – was my reply.
The best-selling “Anna Hibiscus” series is about a girl from a rich (in-many-ways) family growing up in an African megacity –a city inspired by the city I grew up in, Lagos.
“The No.1 Car Spotter” series, which followed Anna, is about a boy from a poor (in-money-only) family living in a village – inspired by my childhood visits to my father’s home village.
My third series “Too Small Tola” is set back in the megacity of Lagos, Nigeria – but this time the heroine is from a poor (in-money-only) family.
I write picture books too. It is perhaps my favourite genre –action, humour, suspense & surprise – all in 500 words!
My first information book – “Africa, Amazing Africa” – is a love letter to my fatherland. My second non-fiction book – “Brilliant Black British History” (due to be published in 2023) – is a celebration of the history of my motherland.
I’ve now written over 20 children’s books – almost all set in Nigeria. You can peep into all my books on the Books page…
Now I live in Wales where I swim in cold seas & stomp along wild footpaths … loving where I am, and also longing and plotting for the day when I can return to the continent of my birth.
Atinuke SPLASH, ANNA HIBISCUS! Kane/Miller (Children's Picture Books) $14.99 9, 1 ISBN: 978-1-61067-173-6
On a family trip to the beach, Anna Hibiscus convinces her extended family to join her, splashing and laughing in the waves. Like Anna Hibiscus' Song (2011) and chapter books starring this irrepressible child, this celebrates Anna's family and her home in "amazing Africa." This beach trip starts on the front endpapers, where careful readers can pick out the boat that will carry her whole family through the title page and to a beach offshore. There, everyone happily finds things to do--read, braid each other's hair, bury a cousin in the sand, play soccer, chat with the fishermen, compare smartphones. They're all too busy to play in the waves with Anna. After being turned down by each group of family members (except for her napping grandparents), Anna goes to play with the waves on her own. Worried child readers (and adults) will quickly be relieved; Anna's enjoyment of the gentle surf is infectious, and she's soon surrounded by cousins, parents, aunts and uncles, and even the now wide-awake grandparents. Tobia's joyous illustrations portray this extended family realistically in digitally colored drawings. Only Anna and her Canadian mother have actual bathing suits; the others happily plunge in in their street clothes. Everyone smiles; Anna is irresistible. North American readers and listeners are likely to catch Anna's enthusiasm just as quickly. (Picture book. 3-7)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2013 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Atinuke: SPLASH, ANNA HIBISCUS!" Kirkus Reviews, 15 July 2013. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A336585585/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=509abcde. Accessed 26 June 2024.
QUOTED: "believably [portrays] the emotional highs and lows of childhood."
ATINUKE. Double Trouble for Anna Hibiscus! illus. by Lauren Tobia. 32p. Kane Miller. Sept. 2015. Tr $14.99. ISBN 9781610673679. LC 2014987160. Toddler-PreS-"Anna Hibiscus lives in Africa. Amazing Africa" begins this newest Anna Hibiscus story, immediately drawing focus to the lush, urban setting. Papa awakens Anna with the news that her twin brothers have arrived in the night. Excited at first, Anna becomes apprehensive when her older cousins tell her that two boys mean big trouble. Concerned, Anna runs back to Mama for comfort, but Mama is sleeping. One by one, her normal routines are dismpted because of the new arrivals, and Anna feels more and more upset. When Papa' encounters Anna in high dudgeon over her displacement, he reacts with realistic amusement, telling her, 'You will have to share us with your brothers." The page-turn reveals Anna having a total meltdown, shouting, "But it's not fair!" while Papa gently and lovingly holds her close. Anna ultimately understands that routines may change, but she is valued and loved just the same. Although a specific country isn't mentioned, there is a strong sense of place conveyed in the illustrations and text, and Anna Hibiscus's world feels real and familiar. VERDICT Believably portraying the emotional highs and lows of childhood, this gentle story about adjusting to the "new normal" of a growing family is a first purchase for libraries everywhere.--Anna Haase Krueger, Ramsey County Library, MN
KEY: * Excellent in relation to other titles on the same subject or in the same genre | e eBook original Tr Hardcover trade binding | RTE Reinforced trade binding | lib. ed. Publisher's library binding Board Board book | pap. Paperback | BL Bilingual
Krueger, Anna Haase
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2015 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
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Krueger, Anna Haase. "Atinuke. Double Trouble for Anna Hibiscus!" School Library Journal, vol. 61, no. 7, July 2015, p. 58. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A420435458/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=3f887794. Accessed 26 June 2024.
QUOTED: "a double pleasure for old friends and new readers alike."
Atinuke DOUBLE TROUBLE FOR ANNA HIBISCUS! Kane/Miller (Children's Picture Books) $14.99 9, 1 ISBN: 978-1-61067-367-9
When twins arrive, Anna Hibiscus finds it hard to share her extended family. Atinuke's latest picture book is not so much about "Amazing Africa" as it is about adjusting to a new sibling--worse, two of them. This gentle, appealing story begins on the title page with Anna Hibiscus resting against her mother's obviously pregnant tummy. Soon, she's introduced to the new babies: "That big bump was brothers," she tells her cousins. Not surprisingly, all the adults in her extended family are either suddenly busy or still sleeping. Angry and jealous, Anna hides and cries, but soon it is her turn for some attention and affection. Anna's strong emotions will be familiar to any older sibling. Her body language is remarkably expressive in Tobia's colorful illustrations, spots and full-page scenes that often spill across the gutter. There are fascinating details, especially in the endpaper scenes showing Anna's family's modern African home in its urban context. There's lots going on inside their cluster of homes, too. Readers and listeners who meet this lively child for the first time in this universal story will likely be intrigued enough by her mixed-race family and her culturally different but oh-so-similar life to go on to other Anna Hibiscus episodes, in both picture and chapter books. A double pleasure for old friends and new readers alike. (Picture book. 3-7)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2015 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Atinuke: DOUBLE TROUBLE FOR ANNA HIBISCUS!" Kirkus Reviews, 1 June 2015. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A415493899/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=43321a31. Accessed 26 June 2024.
QUOTED: "While there's no shortage of new-baby books, it's refreshing to see one about the arrival of twins."
Double Trouble for Anna Hibiscus!
by Atinuke; illus. by Lauren Tobia
Preschool, Primary Kane Miller 40 pp. 9/15 978-1-61067-367-9 $14.99
The latest Anna Hibiscus picture book (Splash, Anna Hibiscus!, rev. 11/13) set "in Africa. Amazing Africa" relates Anna's adjustment to the arrival of twin baby brothers, referred to as "Double Trouble." Title-page art shows Anna wearing an ambivalent look on her face as she snuggles with her pregnant mother. The story then follows her struggles with the family's necessarily diverted attentions immediately after the births. Mama is sleeping. Uncle Bizi Sunday is making food for Mama. Grandmother is resting after "helping [the] brothers to be born." The aunties are rocking the babies. The other uncles are busy making things for the babies. No one can attend to Anna Hibiscus in the ways they usually do--at least not right away. "You will have to share us with your brothers, Anna," Papa tells her; and as he lovingly carries her back into the heart of the family compound, everyone calls out offers of food and companionship, requests for her help, and words of affection. Anna's sense of security now bolstered, she approaches the crying babies to comfort them. A cuddle with Mama, and then with Papa and the twins, too, closes the story with a scene of familial bliss, which has pictorially abounded right from the beginning in Tobias's sunny-side-up illustrations. While there's no shortage of new-baby books, it's refreshing to see one about the arrival of twins, not to mention one featuring an interracial, extended family in a non-Western (albeit nonspecific African) setting.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2015 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Sources, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.hbook.com/magazine/default.asp
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Lambert, Megan Dowd. "Double Trouble for Anna Hibiscus!" The Horn Book Magazine, vol. 91, no. 5, Sept.-Oct. 2015, pp. 73+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A427758427/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=cdc68f5b. Accessed 26 June 2024.
Atinuke GO WELL, ANNA HIBISCUS Kane/Miller (Children's Fiction) $5.99 9, 1 ISBN: 978-1-61067-679-3
This sixth installment of the Anna Hibiscus series finds Anna leaving the big white house in the city where she lives with her extended family to experience life in Grandfather's rural village. As with the other stories, the country is not identified. Possibly it is Nigeria, where Atinuke grew up. This vagueness is somewhat problematic. Africa is a huge continent; implying that all African village life is like Grandfather's village is something of an oversimplification. On the other hand, not identifying the country avoids geopolitical issues that are well beyond the scope of an early chapter book. In the city Anna lives a protected and somewhat privileged life. In the village she learns the practical reasons for doing things the "bush" way--despite her aunties' implication that "bush" is bad. The mixed-race girl also experiences prejudice because she is an "oyinbo," a "light-skinned foreigner," and realizes that she can both teach the children in the village and also learn from them. Filtered through Anna's open-hearted innocence these lessons do not feel preachy. It seems perfectly natural that Anna's spelling words are "equality," "opportunity," "cooperation," and "friendship." Tobia's grayscale illustrations parallel the story, with Anna and her winsome smile always at center stage. Readers will be thrilled to discover the next book in the series is already available. (Fiction. 5-9)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2017 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Atinuke: GO WELL, ANNA HIBISCUS." Kirkus Reviews, 15 July 2017. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A498345246/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=e1632fbc. Accessed 26 June 2024.
Atinuke WELCOME HOME, ANNA HIBISCUS Kane/Miller (Children's Fiction) $5.99 9, 1 ISBN: 978-1-61067-678-6
As the title indicates, Anna Hibiscus returns home to Africa from her visit with her Canadian family. All eight volumes of the Anna Hibiscus chapter-book series are now available. Although each story stands alone, readers who approach them in order will have a rich experience indeed, and in fact for this volume it may be preferable. The first chapter of this fifth volume recaps her trip to Canada (Have Fun, Anna Hibiscus!, 2011). It is only from context clues that readers learn that Anna has a Canadian grandmother as well as her African family. Transitioning readers unfamiliar with the earlier books and not alert to reading clues may find it confusing. Tiger Lily, a friend Anna met in Canada who is biracial, just like Anna herself, appears in the third chapter with almost no introduction. Snow White, Anna's pet chicken, is hatched in the second chapter and becomes increasingly important in later volumes; here, she causes trouble by making messes while Anna is in school. Despite the African setting, these are sweet domestic stories North American readers will easily understand. Anna's adventures and worries are small, recognizable, and happily resolved. This simplicity ensures success for new readers. The repetitive vocabulary (adults are repeatedly "cross, very cross" at Snow White's antics) and simple sentence structure carry readers through the relatively lengthy chapters. Tobia's expressive pencil drawings provide additional context and break up the text. More Anna Hibiscus stories are certainly most welcome! (Fiction. 5-9)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2017 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"Atinuke: WELCOME HOME, ANNA HIBISCUS." Kirkus Reviews, 15 July 2017. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A498345245/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=05fbff87. Accessed 26 June 2024.
Atinuke LOVE FROM ANNA HIBISCUS Kane/Miller (Children's Fiction) $5.99 9, 1 ISBN: 978-1-61067-680-9
In typical gentle style, the seventh book in the Anna Hibiscus series provides a glimpse into the problems of an inequitable system. Picking up where Go Well, Anna Hibiscus (2017) left off, the book finds Anna increasingly aware of the poverty and lack of opportunity experienced by her friends in her grandfather's village in rural Africa: "if Tosin and Tolu and Beni are my own age, why are they all so much smaller than me?" When she realizes that it is because they eat only once a day, she is sad and determines to do more than be a friend. Anna is just a little girl, but the third part of her name, "Iyanu," means "miracle." In the most miraculous way, Anna, with the help of her cousins, tackles all these big problems. Her loving family also rescues her orphaned friend, Sunny Belafonte, from an impossible choice: stealing or starvation. All this is accomplished in four brief chapters using simple, direct language aligned to the abilities of newly independent chapter-book readers. Anna's good deeds feel completely believable. After all, as Grandmother had told her, "Anything was possible. Schools. Medicine. Food. Families. Anything at all. It took money and time and knowledge. But mostly it took love." Maybe it is that easy, if everyone shares Anna's compassion and optimistic view. An empathetic look at hard problems, beautifully modulated for chapter-book readers. (Fiction. 5-9)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2017 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"Atinuke: LOVE FROM ANNA HIBISCUS." Kirkus Reviews, 15 July 2017. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A498345244/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=4aeebf24. Accessed 26 June 2024.
Atinuke YOU'RE AMAZING, ANNA HIBISCUS Kane/Miller (Children's Fiction) $5.99 9, 1 ISBN: 978-1-61067-681-6
The importance of family during difficult times permeates the final book in the Anna Hibiscus series. In the gentle, frank tone readers have come to expect, gifted storyteller Atinuke balances compassion and humor while tackling a sensitive subject, the death of Anna's beloved grandfather. The first chapter sets the scene. Anna is back at home in the mixed-race family's city compound with Anna's twin little brothers, Double and Trouble, getting in all sorts of mischief--deleting pictures on Uncle Tunde's cellphone but saving the day by climbing in a window when the doors are accidentally locked. Meanwhile, Grandfather is growing more and more tired. Family members take turns sitting with him, but Anna refuses, hoping that if she doesn't think about "the really bad thing" it will not happen. "Then one day Grandfather did not wake up anymore." Anna is grief-stricken. In the final two chapters Anna, tenderly supported by her loving extended family, all also grieving, each in their own way, learns to listen for Grandfather's voice in her heart. The book ends with near-perfect modeling of shared grief and healing, as everyone tells their favorite grandfather story. Readers' understanding of Anna's genuine grief is amplified by Tobia's grayscale sketches. Be prepared. Readers say farewell to Anna Hibiscus as tears "drop off the corners of her smile." (Fiction. 5-9)
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"Atinuke: YOU'RE AMAZING, ANNA HIBISCUS." Kirkus Reviews, 15 July 2017. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A498345243/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=89601b37. Accessed 26 June 2024.
QUOTED: "No one will be able to resist this baby."
Atinuke BABY GOES TO MARKET Candlewick (Children's Fiction) $16.99 9, 5 ISBN: 978-0-7636-9570-5
Baby is so charming that various vendors in this West African market gift him all sorts of yummies. Baby rides on Mama's back, held snug by a bright cloth wrap. Mama navigates the busy, colorful outdoor market, her woven basket balanced on her head. The text unrolls rhythmically in Atinuke's storyteller's voice: "Market is very crowded. Baby is very curious. Baby is so curious that Mrs. Ade, the banana seller, gives Baby six bananas." Baby eats one and puts the remaining bananas in Mama's basket. All the while Mama shops, unbeknownst to her, vendors continue to respond to Baby's transparent delight with five oranges, four "sugary chin-chin biscuits," three "roasted sweet corn," and two pieces of coconut. With each delicacy given, Baby eats one and puts the rest in the basket. When Mama sees all the extra foodstuffs she didn't buy, she's concerned, until the vendors reassure her: "We gave those things to Baby!" In her debut picture book, Brooksbank offers bright, bustling tableaux of shoppers, vendors, and goods. The smiling, all-black cast sort through myriad wares, while the text keeps up its rhythm, introducing both typical items bought in a West African market and a gentle lesson in arithmetic as Baby alternately snacks on and stashes his gifts. Indeed, no one will be able to resist this baby. (Picture book. 3-6)
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"Atinuke: BABY GOES TO MARKET." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Sept. 2017. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A502192423/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=7978d3b1. Accessed 26 June 2024.
B Is for Baby
Atinuke, ill us. by Angela Brooksbank. Candlewick, $16.99 (40p) ISBN 978-1-5362-0166-6
As they did in Baby Goes to Market, Atinuke and Brooksbank include readers in the book's antics while leaving out the characters who surround Baby. Pictures tell the story alongside minimal text that introduces B words (baby, beads, basket). After Baby tumbles into a basket of bananas bound for Baba's bungalow, Brother, plugged into his headphones, replaces the basket's cover and loads it onto his bicycle, oblivious to its additional cargo. Subtle visual foreshadowing gives kids a peek at upcoming words as the boy pedals along: one of the birds seen perched in a baobab tree appears at close range on the following spread ("B is for Beautiful"), which also displays a baboon-filled tree in the background ("B is for Baboon"). A page later, one of the monkeys snags the top off the basket, exposing its stowaway passenger and paving the way for the big reveal to a shocked Brother and thrilled Baba. Featuring loose lines and an earth-toned backdrop, Brooksbank's energetic mixed-media art showcases the brilliant colors of African vegetation and clothing, and infuses Atinuke's sweet phrases with warmth and humor. Ages 3-7. (Mar.)
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"B Is for Baby." Publishers Weekly, vol. 265, no. 52, 17 Dec. 2018, p. 139. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A567327455/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=c64c3dfd. Accessed 26 June 2024.
QUOTED: "Atinuke has bottled the delightful energy of the Anna Hibiscus books and poured it into this treat for younger readers."
Atinuke B IS FOR BABY Candlewick (Children's Fiction) $16.99 3, 12 ISBN: 978-1-5362-0166-6
A circular tale of family love with visual rewards for sharp-eyed listeners.
In this story that looks like an alphabet book but focuses exclusively on the letter B, a smiling woman, probably mama, stands in a yard, holding Baby cheek-to-cheek, as another woman chats with four children under the awning of a small tin-roofed house in the background. Many visual details hint at this book's African (probably Nigerian) setting. After Mama Beads Baby's hair, Brother loads a Basket of Bananas onto his Bicycle while bopping to the beat of what's playing through his headphones, oblivious to everything else--especially the fact that Baby climbed into the Basket to have a Banana for Breakfast. On the road, he passes a Baobab tree, Birds, a Butterfly, Baboons, a Bus brimming over with brown-skinned riders crossing a Bridge, and more sights--few of which Brother notices. Nothing, however, escapes the keen eyes of Baby. Only when Brother lifts the Bananas from the Bicycle rack does anyone discover the stowaway. A surprised Baba happily welcomes both grandchildren, who join him for Biscuits and bottles of something bubbly. Brooksbank effectively avoids stereotypes while adding humor and cultural specificity to the story with her detailed and lively, colorful, mixed-media images. Safety-conscious caregivers may suck their teeth, but there's no denying the joy in this book.
Atinuke has bottled the delightful energy of the Anna Hibiscus books and poured it into this treat for younger readers. (Picture book. 3-6)
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"Atinuke: B IS FOR BABY." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Jan. 2019. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A569224524/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=de28b454. Accessed 26 June 2024.
QUOTED: "tenderly funny slice-of-life story."
B Is for Baby
by Atinuke; illus. by Angela Brooksbank
Preschool Candlewick 40 pp. 3/19 978-1-5362-0166-6 $16.99
Atinuke and Brooksbank (Baby Goes to Market) reunite for another tenderly funny slice-of-life story set in an unspecified African village and starring a winsome baby girl, who is dearly loved. This alphabet book sticks with the letter B, with B being for baby, beads (cradled by her mother, the girl gets beads put in her hair), and then an intriguing woven basket with a lid. When the little girl peeks inside, B is for banana and breakfast, as a sequence of pictures shows her overbalancing into the basket and then settling in happily. B is also for Brother, a supremely oblivious and carefree older sibling wearing headphones and grooving to his music as he loads up the basket onto his bicycle, never noticing his baby sister inside. Spacious off-white pages set off the people in the mixed-media illustrations, with shadows to add depth and an almost tactile feel; the style changes to full-bleed pictures as Brother rides along past abundant bougainvillea, birds, and a bus full of interested people. Brooksbank uses warm colors, from the bright beads in Baby's hair to the green-striped shirt that their Baba (grandfather) is wearing when Brother finally delivers his basket--with a surprise inside. Brava for Baby!
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Lempke, Susan Dove. "B Is for Baby." The Horn Book Magazine, vol. 95, no. 3, May-June 2019, p. 120. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A585800659/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=ecb650eb. Accessed 26 June 2024.
QUOTED: "a fun-filled, culturally rich tale that will delight readers young and older."
Atinuke CATCH THAT CHICKEN! Candlewick (Children's None) $16.99 7, 7 ISBN: 978-1-5362-1268-6
Nobody catches chickens better than Lami, and everyone in the village knows it.
Lami hears, “Catch ’am, Lami” from Aunty Aisha, Daddy Danlami, Nana Nadia, and a host of other friends and relatives who all acknowledge this brown-skinned girl’s talent. Many visual and textual details announce this book’s likely Nigerian setting: the school lessons that take place outside under a tree; the beautiful African-patterned fabrics the characters wear; the braided hairstyles of the little girls; a large gathering under a baobab tree, and the Hausa directive for Lami to “Sannu! Sannu!” (“Slow down!”). Ignoring the warnings that relatives fling at her as she runs past, Lami climbs up the baobab in hot pursuit of a black-and-white chicken and falls from a great height. The sprained ankle she gets from the fall slows her legs, but after receiving some sage advice from Nana Nadia, she starts to use her mind more than her legs and finds a new way to do what she loves. Brooksbank’s vibrant illustrations have the look of quickly stroked pastels and teem with motion and activity. Chickens in many colors populate the pages, and the interactions among both adults and children emphasize the strong sense of community in this village. Brooksbank also makes excellent use of white space to focus in on Lami’s love of chickens and her delight in pursuing them.
A fun-filled, culturally rich tale that will delight readers young and older. (Picture book. 3-8)
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"Atinuke: CATCH THAT CHICKEN!" Kirkus Reviews, 15 Apr. 2020, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A620268126/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=7802d5b4. Accessed 26 June 2024.
QUOTED: "The text is lively and snappy, full of well-chosen verbs and adverbs."
Catch That Chicken! By Atinuke. Illus. by Angela Brooksbank. July 2020. 32p. Candlewick, $16.99 (9781536212686). PreS-Gr. 2.
Sadia is good at spelling, Fatima is the best at braiding hair, and Bilal can herd a bull, but no one is better at catching chickens than Lami. Living in a small African village compound, perhaps in the author's home country of Nigeria, Lami is cheerfully energetic, always ready to take off chasing a chicken, with beaded hair bouncing happily. The text is lively and snappy, full of well-chosen verbs and adverbs punctuated with smooth alliteration. The mixed-media illustrations portray sunny scenes of family life. Scattered throughout are lots of chickens! No mention is made of why Lami might need a chicken (no killing or eating), but the pursuit is entertaining. Lami runs into trouble one day when her quest takes her high up in a baobab tree. Falling and spraining her ankle could have slowed Lami down, but her grandmother reminds her that there is more than one way to solve a problem. Always persistent, Lami comes up with a new approach: leave a trail of corn and get the chicken to come to her.--Lucinda Whitehurst
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2020 American Library Association
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Whitehurst, Lucinda. "Catch That Chicken!" Booklist, vol. 116, no. 19-20, 1 June 2020, p. 90. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A628068994/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=1ff4f953. Accessed 26 June 2024.
QUOTED: "a layered, affecting story of friendship and community."
Atinuke HUGO Candlewick (Children's None) $17.99 6, 8 ISBN: 978-1-5362-1275-4
A pigeon named Hugo enjoys the job of looking after a park in a Francophone city.
Hugo is a park warden. His job is to look after the park and the people who live around it. Through the seasons, Hugo keeps people company, encourages them to walk, cleans up after children, and entertains little ones. In the winter, Hugo visits people at their windows to remind them that spring will be back. There is one window whose curtains never open when Hugo visits. But Hugo persists, and one day Somebody appears at the window and smiles. Somebody, who is a little Black child, slowly becomes a good friend of Hugo’s, and when Hugo is injured, Somebody takes care of Hugo. But when Hugo is ready to go back to work, Somebody is sad…until the new friendship draws her outside as well. In this role reversal, human characters are seen as creatures needing care and community. Atinuke’s engaging storytelling style works well in this picture book, giving Hugo a personality, voice, and purpose that young readers will latch onto. Soft-lined illustrations with gentle pastel colors use a well-paced mix of double-page spreads, full-page scenes, and small vignettes to capture a changing environment filled with diverse personalities.
A layered, affecting story of friendship and community. (Picture book. 3-9)
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"Atinuke: HUGO." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Apr. 2021, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A658194714/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=3d418264. Accessed 26 June 2024.
Hugo
Atinuke, illus. by Birgitta Sif. Candlewick, $17.99 (40p) ISBN 978-1-5362-1275-4 Hugo, the dapper, attentive pigeon who stars in this story by Atinuke (Too Small Tola) is warden of a park in a city that feels like Paris. He's everywhere--greeting visitors, charming infants and dogs, tidying up--and he knows everyone, except for a family that lives behind "one window whete the curtains are never open." He visits the windowsill anyway, and one day, Hugo spies a Black child in a yellow dress peeking out of the panes. He offers his "spring-is-coming dance," sparking a small smile, and calls the child "Somebody." After "Somebody" saves Hugo from a marauder, they nurse him back to health and, eventually heading out of doors alongside Hugo, are swiftly embraced as a playmate: Aimee. Loosely sketched, atmospheric drawings of the park by Sif (My Big, Dumb, Invisible Dragon) are illuminated with brilliant rays of light. Why does Aimee stay inside? Atinuke doesn't say. Sif portrays Aimee's surroundings as settled and comfortable; a parent works calmly in the kitchen. In this character-driven tale, the draw is the relationship between open, personable Hugo and the way his need draws solitary Aimee out of isolation. Ages 3-7. (June)
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"Hugo." Publishers Weekly, vol. 268, no. 18, 3 May 2021, p. 56. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A661830070/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=b2a39519. Accessed 26 June 2024.
QUOTED: "an enjoyable, endearing collection."
Atinuke TOO SMALL TOLA Candlewick (Children's None) $15.99 3, 2 ISBN: 978-1-5362-1127-6
A young girl learns that she doesn’t have to be big to make a difference.
Tola lives in Lagos, Nigeria, with her siblings—sister Moji and brother Dapo, who call her “Too Small Tola” because she is the smallest—under the care of their grandmother. Each of the three short chapters tells of Tola’s adventures while immersing readers in Lagos daily life. In Tola’s first adventure, Grandmommy chooses Tola to take shopping, causing Tola to panic as she worries she won’t be able to carry their purchases. After collecting everything from Grandmommy’s seemingly never-ending list, they make their way home, taking plenty of breaks that leave Tola’s siblings jealous. For her second adventure, she must collect water from the well near their building and then make it to school on time, but she must conquer a mean, older kid first. Tola’s final adventure occurs during a time of celebrations when Eid falls at the same time as Easter. Readers follow along as Tola takes on the challenge of measuring clients for Mr. Abdul—a tailor who lives in Tola’s building—after he breaks his leg. This collection of stories is perfect for transitioning readers, with its manageable chapters, clear, plain language, simple sentence structures, wry sense of humor, and realistic illustrations of the diverse Nigerian cast. While some elements may be unfamiliar to readers outside Tola’s culture, readers will find anchors in Tola’s relationships.
An enjoyable, endearing collection. (Fiction. 7-9)
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"Atinuke: TOO SMALL TOLA." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Feb. 2021, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A650107546/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=23939f3d. Accessed 26 June 2024.
QUOTED: "The creators celebrate the beauty of daily life through Tola's joy, wonder, and perseverance."
Atinuke, illus. by Onyinye Iwu. Candlewick, $15.99 (96p) ISBN 978-1-5362-1127-6
In this winning trio of stories, Atinuke (Catch That Chicken!) introduces readers to counting whiz Tola, who lives with her family in "a run-down block of apartments in the megacity of Lagos, in the country of Nigeria." Tola shares a small apartment with her brainy older sister Moji, her soccer star older brother Dapo, and her industrious ("very-very bossy") grandmother, who is raising the children while their father works abroad.
Though "everybody calls her Too Small Tola, which makes her feel too-too small," Tola is eager to prove herself. Detailed grayscale illustrations by Iwu accompany the text, enlivening the characters alongside Atinuke's quick conversational text. Though class dynamics are prominent in Tola's life, the stories continually affirm the value of community care: when a neighbor runs out of diapers, Tola brings back more from the market, despite her already heavy basket; when an injury jeopardizes the neighborhood tailor's work during the Eid festival and Easter celebrations, Tola and Dapo travel through the city to collect measurements. Evoking all five senses to render contemporary Nigeria, the creators celebrate the beauty of daily life through Tola's joy, wonder, and perseverance. Ages 7-9.
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"Too Small Tola." Publishers Weekly, vol. 268, no. 48, 24 Nov. 2021, p. 63. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A686559657/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=52157056. Accessed 26 June 2024.
Atinuke BABY, SLEEPY BABY Candlewick (Children's None) $16.99 10, 5 ISBN: 978-1-5362-1986-9
A picture-book lullaby.
Nothing in Atinuke’s text dictates that the family depicted in this book must be interracial, but Brooksbank’s illustrations depict the mother as White, the father and a grandmother as Black, and the two children with light-brown skin and curly, black hair. The titular baby has an older sibling who interacts with the tot in a loving, gentle way throughout. All of the family members are introduced on the full title page, each person cradling the baby in a sequence of pictures. The mother and baby appear at the far right of the spread, walking toward the page turn, and successive spreads show scenes of play and nurture with dreamy, saturated backgrounds and soft visual textures. The text does not rhyme but is nevertheless poetic, each sentence leading off with the titular refrain or a variation on it: “Baby, sleepy baby, I’ll call on the winds / and you’ll sail like a ship through the sky. / Baby, funny baby, I will gather all the clouds / to cuddle you, cozy and close.” It’s not entirely clear who is speaking—possibly each family member in turn, possibly just one of them; readers can discuss and decide. Regardless, the lyrical text matches the soothing visuals as each family member interacts with the baby in turn, until the parents drift off to sleep with their little one dozing between them.
Don’t sleep on this sweet bedtime book: It’s as cozy as can be. (Picture book. 6 mos.-3)
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"Atinuke: BABY, SLEEPY BABY." Kirkus Reviews, 15 July 2021, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A668237735/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=246eaa7b. Accessed 26 June 2024.
Africa, Amazing Africa: Country by Country. By Atinuke. Illus. by Mouni Feddag. 2021.80p. Candlewick, $19.99 (9781536205374). Gr. 2-5.960.
In her first nonfiction work, Nigerian storyteller Atinuke (Too Small Tola, 2020) presents the beautiful diversity and contrasts of a continent of more than a billion people. As her introduction explains, nobody can say how many African countries there are because some are unofficial, but 55 are joyfully introduced to readers here, with the individuality of each especially emphasized. Tired images of acacia trees in the sunset are eschewed here, with the author explaining that the countries of Africa offer so much more than readers may imagine: scorching heat as well as snow, cities with skyscrapers in addition to rural places, and all sorts of other opposites--"donkeys and diamonds, camels and Coca-Cola, lions and Lamborghinis." Maps and colorful, stylized artwork--both large images and attractive page borders--accompany brief narratives about each country. Bulleted tidbits closing the entries cover such topics as dinosaur footprints in Lesotho and Liberia's finger-snap handshake. Numerous words in various African languages are introduced, too. A great companion to social studies classrooms and an attractive and informative browse.--Henrietta Verma
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Verma, Henrietta. "Africa, Amazing Africa: Country by Country." Booklist, vol. 118, no. 5-6, 1 Nov. 2021, pp. 51+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A684472028/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=28c6a2d3. Accessed 26 June 2024.
QUOTED: "This loving tribute is absolutely dazzling."
Atinuke AFRICA, AMAZING AFRICA Candlewick (Children's None) $19.99 10, 5 ISBN: 978-1-5362-0537-4
Established storyteller Atinuke, of Anna Hibiscus fame, introduces every country on the African continent.
Africa is enormous. Africa is diverse. The people, the geography, the languages, the religions, the living conditions, the animals, the political systems--discovering all the differences and interesting facts becomes an adventure in this fascinating collection. The book's introduction offers samples of the amazing historical and contemporary distinctions unique to the continent. Each region is introduced in a double-page spread with an illustrated map featuring animals and buildings, flora and minerals, text with welcome written in a plethora of regional languages, a list of the countries in the region, and a survey of some special features of the region. Within the sections, each country is represented on one page, with a paragraph of descriptive text, a colorful half-page illustration, and one to three interesting facts. The text is lively and engaging, concisely conveying the astounding richness of history and culture that make the continent of Africa so exciting to explore. Small wonder that Atinuke can make a nonfiction book every bit as fun to follow as a storybook. Readers will leave this volume full of new, amazing views and eager to discover more about the familiar and unfamiliar territories covered here. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
This loving tribute is absolutely dazzling. (index, resources) (Nonfiction. 4-10)
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"Atinuke: AFRICA, AMAZING AFRICA." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Oct. 2021, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A678748219/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=8a41175b. Accessed 26 June 2024.
QUOTED: "Atinuke's first foray into nonfiction admirably presents an accessible and engaging narrative."
ATINUKE. Africa, Amazing Africa: Country by Country. illus. by Mouni Feddag. 80p. Candlewick. Oct. 2021. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9781536205374.
Gr 2-5--A cheerful, browsable overview of Africa's 55 countries (including Western Sahara). The brief introduction highlights the continent's vast diversity of cultures, languages, climates, and geographies, as well as the major discoveries of its ancient civilizations. Divided into five sections by geographic region (north, east, west, central, and southern), each country gets an illustrated page with a paragraph-length description focused on key aspects of its history, economy, or cultural traditions. There are also two to three bite-size, bullet-point facts about topics ranging from wildlife to geography, mythology, or national pastimes. Information is too broad for research assignments but will delight curious browsers with its joyful, energetic illustrations and appealing assortment of trivia--for example, that there are more pyramids in Sudan than Egypt, the beaches of Namibia are home to more than a thousand shipwrecks, and Lake Tele in the Republic of the Congo is the rumored home of a mythical monster called the Mokele-Mbembe. Contrasts are a cross-cutting theme, from the intersection of traditional lifestyles with contemporary ones (e.g., Eritrean nomad communities using GPS and cellular apps to track rainfall patterns) to the wide class differences within many countries. The facts are complemented by vibrant, wonder-filled renderings. Back matter includes an index and recommended websites for further reading. VERDICT Atinuke's first foray into nonfiction admirably presents an accessible and engaging narrative with its nuanced treatment of a continent too often depicted in relation to its extremes. --Elizabeth Giles, Kansas City P.L., MO
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Giles, Elizabeth. "ATINUKE. Africa, Amazing Africa: Country by Country." School Library Journal, vol. 67, no. 10, Oct. 2021, p. 99. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A678583667/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=d5b4e3eb. Accessed 26 June 2024.
QUOTED: "an entertaining tale."
ATINUKE. Too Small Tola and the Three Fine Girls. illus. by Onyinye Iwu. 96p. Candlewick. Sept. 2022. Tr $15.99. ISBN 9781536225174.
Gr 2-4--It can be a challenge being the youngest of three; luckily Tola has enough spunk and ingenuity to face any problem that comes her way. Tola lives with her older sister, Moji; brother, Dapo; and grandmother in Lagos, Nigeria. This title features three chapters with Tola working through three separate problems. In the first story, Dapo decides to play soccer inside, which is against the rules. The ball gets out of control, causing Grandma's earrings--family heirlooms--to go missing; the kids are terrified that they are lost forever. When Grandma gets too sick to work in the second story, the children have to figure out a way to collaborate so they can support the family. Tola, in the final tale, becomes jealous of children in her town who are more affluent and learns an important lesson about herself and what is important in her life. Elementary readers will relate to Tola's interactions with her family as they learn about Nigerian culture. Black-and-white illustrations add to the story and will aid readers in comprehension. The impact of sibling conflicts will ring true with many. The moral of each tale is obvious, the endings can be pat, yet beginning readers will be relieved and happy for Tola's sake. Some Nigerian vocabulary is used, but not all is defined. This is an entertaining tale about detennination and family. VERDICT A good choice for fans of the author's previous "Tola" titles; readers will not be disappointed with this pleasant new installment.--Elena Schuck
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Schuck, Elena. "ATINUKE. Too Small Tola and the Three Fine Girls." School Library Journal, vol. 68, no. 9, Sept. 2022, p. 106. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A715572390/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=abeb88fc. Accessed 26 June 2024.
QUOTED: "It's impossible not to love Adnuke's little protagonist."
Too Small Tola and the Three Fine Girls. By Atinuke. Illus. by Onyinye Iwu. Sept. 2022.96p. Candlewick, $15.99 (9781536225174). Gr. 2-4.
Diminutive, spunky Tola returns for another round of adventures in Lagos, Nigeria. In the first, "Tola Saves the Day," Tola gets out of a tedious chore when her older siblings (Moji and Dupo) accidentally lose one of Grandmommy's best earrings--but Tola knows just where to look. The stakes are higher in "Tola Takes Control," as Grandmommy becomes bedridden with malaria. Needing money for food and medicine, Tola rallies Dupo and Moji to take up Grandmommy's work selling groundnuts by the roadside. In the final story, "Tola and the Three Fine Girls," Tola grapples with envy when she sees three fashionable girls with trendy new clothes and stylish hairdos. It's impossible not to love Adnuke's little protagonist, who never lets her small size get in the way of her big personal ity or dreams. The frequent grayscale chapter illustrations will help readers who may be unfamiliar with aspects of Tola's Nigerian life and culture. A great read-alike for Juana & Lucas, the Too Small Tola series is a wonderful addition to early-chapter-book collections. --Julia Smith
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2022 American Library Association
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Smith, Julia. "Too Small Tola and the Three Fine Girls." Booklist, vol. 118, no. 22, 1 Aug. 2022, pp. 54+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A714679535/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=4d367a07. Accessed 26 June 2024.
QUOTED: "This poignant book conveys great warmth and familial love despite the characters' tenuous circumstances."
Atinuke TOO SMALL TOLA AND THE THREE FINE GIRLS Candlewick (Children's None) $15.99 9, 27 ISBN: 978-1-5362-2517-4
In this follow-up to Too Small Tola (2021), a Nigerian girl perseveres--and thrives--despite setbacks.
Over three chapters, Tola, the youngest of a family consisting of sister Moji, brother Dapo, and Grandmommy, confronts various problems. "Tola Saves the Day" sees the protagonist trying to get her quarrelsome siblings to do their fair share of cleaning rice, their Saturday chore. In "Tola Takes Control," Tola assumes more responsibility in the household after Grandmommy falls ill from malaria. Tola goes to buy medicine, and the family, led by Tola, sells groundnuts, just like Grandmommy does, so they can afford food. In the final chapter, "Tola and the Three Fine Girls," Tola feels jealous when she sees rich children shopping for luxuries but learns that having money and expensive things doesn't necessarily make one happy. From the family's inability to afford clean rice to their decision to use Grandmommy's savings to buy medicine (for 5,000 naira, about US$12), this poignant book conveys great warmth and familial love despite the characters' tenuous circumstances. Tola is an endearing and utterly relatable protagonist. The tale uses colloquialisms and references that will make Nigerian readers feel at home. Cartoon images full of whimsy bring to life this close-knit family.
Mighty fine! (Fiction. 7-9)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2022 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Atinuke: TOO SMALL TOLA AND THE THREE FINE GIRLS." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Sept. 2022, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A715352713/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=1a52fd82. Accessed 26 June 2024.
QUOTED: "remarkable and timely."
Atinuke TOO SMALL TOLA GETS TOUGH Candlewick (Children's None) $15.99 3, 21 ISBN: 978-1-5362-2946-2
A young Nigerian girl grapples with the impact of a global pandemic.
While the run-down apartments Tola lives in may not look like much, they are home to her family--Grandmommy, brother Dapo, and sister Moji. Dapo, 15, has a job as a mechanic that brings in so much money that Grandmommy doesn't have to sell groundnuts anymore. Moji is focused on the assignments she has to complete for her fancy school, while Tola is excited to show off her excellent math skills now that she attends school, too. Then an unexpected sickness sweeps the globe. Initially, Tola and her community believe it won't reach them, but then things shut down. Moji's teacher invites her to stay at her home so that she may continue her education during the lockdown. Then Dapo's employer sends for him so that he can continue earning money. Finally, Tola and Grandmommy are left alone, but supplies are running low. Tola begins work as a house girl for a notable Nigerian family, whom she unexpectedly helps by using her impressive math abilities. Each new chapter begins with a brief summary of what came before, bridging the tales into a cohesive unit. The author empathetically portrays the harsh reality some populations faced during quarantine, along with the disparity between wealthy and low-income people, in a way that will be manageable for young readers. The plain language and realistic illustrations convey a whirlwind of emotions.
Remarkable and timely. (Fiction. 7-9)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2023 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Atinuke: TOO SMALL TOLA GETS TOUGH." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Feb. 2023, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A736805876/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=b3f5fe6d. Accessed 26 June 2024.