Back of Book:
It is Grandparents Day at Zura’s elementary school, and the students are excited to introduce their grandparents and share what makes them special. Aleja’s grandfather is a fisherman. Bisou’s grandmother is a dentist. But Zura’s Nana, who is her favorite person in the world, looks a little different from other grandmas. Nana Akua was raised in Ghana, and, following an old West African tradition, has tribal markings on her face. Worried that her classmates will be scared of Nana–or worse, make fun of her–Zura is hesitant to bring her to school. Nana Akua knows what to do, though. With a quilt of traditional African symbols and a bit of face paint, Nana Akua is able to explain what makes her special, and to make all of Zura’s classmates feel special, too
My Review:
This is an enlightening and powerful picture book that introduces Ghanaian culture and symbols to young audiences
The story follows Zura a young girl who nervous about bringing her Nana to school. Nana is from Ghana and has special tribal markings on her face. Zura takes courage, and she and Nana Akua come up with an idea to share their Ghanaian heritage and symbols with her classmates. Before reading this story I had never heard of this West African tradition and loved the way Tricia Elam Walker brought the culture to life. The illustrations by April Harrison are warm and inviting. The texture on each page draws readers into the story. The back of the book shares more information about the symbols and the meanings behind them.
This encouraging picture book shows readers the importance of being proud of their heritage and culture. It is a story that should not be missed.
Ages 5 and up
40 Pages
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