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Friday
March 12, 2010 Since 1922 |
‘Elizabeti’s Doll’ a rock-solid family book
By JoAn Martin
Baytown Sun Published July 4, 2004 Two books have been chosen for review that provide worthy treatment of people and their cultures outside the United States. Hopefully readers will gain some insight and interesting information specific to a country other than ours.
Kurtz, Jane. “Faraway Home.” Illustrated by E.B. Lewis. Gulliver Books Harcourt Inc. San Diego, CA 2000. $16.00. ISBN 0-15-200036-4
Desta’s father has emigrated from Ethiopia to America. Now he must make a trip back home. Desta worries that her father’s love will not be strong enough to bridge two worlds. He might never come back.
Her father tells her about his life growing up in Ethiopia with hippos, crocodiles and flamingos. She begs him not to return to such a wild place.
He talks about walking to school with mud squishing between his toes. On her way home from school, she takes her shoes off to walk barefoot. She tells her father, “Shoes aren’t so great.”
Jane Kurst reminds us of the conflict all immigrants face leaving their native land for a new country.
E.B. Lewis’ illustrations were inspired by his travels in Ethiopia.
Stuve-Bodeen, Stephanie. “Elizabeti’s Doll.” Illustrated by Christy Hale. New York. Lee & Low Books Inc. 1998. Hardback. $15.95. ISBN 1-880000-70-9
When Elizabeti’s mother has a new baby brother named Obedi, Elizabeti finds a rock and names it Eva. She bathes, burps and changes Eva’s diaper, just like her mother does Obedi. Elizabeti’s Eva is much better behaved than Obedi. Eva doesn’t splash too much in her bath, and she is too polite to burp. Elizabeti even carries Eva on her back wrapped in a kanga. It becomes obvious what a good mother Elizabeti is going to be.
When Eva disappears, the whole family tries to substitute another rock, but Elizabeti knew her baby and the real Eva must be found.
Everyone is happy when Eva is discovered as one of the fireplace rocks. Elizabeti sang her a lullaby and rocked her just as her mother did Obedi, but Elizabeti fell asleep before Eva did.
Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen has written several Elizabeti books inspired by her service in Tanzania, Africa, as a Peace Corps volunteer. “Elizabeti’s Doll” has won the Ezra Jack Keats award.
JoAn Martin reviews children’s books for The Baytown Sun. She is a retired teacher. She may be reached at josbook(at)mindspring.com.
Baytown Sun Published July 4, 2004 Two books have been chosen for review that provide worthy treatment of people and their cultures outside the United States. Hopefully readers will gain some insight and interesting information specific to a country other than ours.
Kurtz, Jane. “Faraway Home.” Illustrated by E.B. Lewis. Gulliver Books Harcourt Inc. San Diego, CA 2000. $16.00. ISBN 0-15-200036-4
Desta’s father has emigrated from Ethiopia to America. Now he must make a trip back home. Desta worries that her father’s love will not be strong enough to bridge two worlds. He might never come back.
Her father tells her about his life growing up in Ethiopia with hippos, crocodiles and flamingos. She begs him not to return to such a wild place.
He talks about walking to school with mud squishing between his toes. On her way home from school, she takes her shoes off to walk barefoot. She tells her father, “Shoes aren’t so great.”
Jane Kurst reminds us of the conflict all immigrants face leaving their native land for a new country.
E.B. Lewis’ illustrations were inspired by his travels in Ethiopia.
Stuve-Bodeen, Stephanie. “Elizabeti’s Doll.” Illustrated by Christy Hale. New York. Lee & Low Books Inc. 1998. Hardback. $15.95. ISBN 1-880000-70-9
When Elizabeti’s mother has a new baby brother named Obedi, Elizabeti finds a rock and names it Eva. She bathes, burps and changes Eva’s diaper, just like her mother does Obedi. Elizabeti’s Eva is much better behaved than Obedi. Eva doesn’t splash too much in her bath, and she is too polite to burp. Elizabeti even carries Eva on her back wrapped in a kanga. It becomes obvious what a good mother Elizabeti is going to be.
When Eva disappears, the whole family tries to substitute another rock, but Elizabeti knew her baby and the real Eva must be found.
Everyone is happy when Eva is discovered as one of the fireplace rocks. Elizabeti sang her a lullaby and rocked her just as her mother did Obedi, but Elizabeti fell asleep before Eva did.
Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen has written several Elizabeti books inspired by her service in Tanzania, Africa, as a Peace Corps volunteer. “Elizabeti’s Doll” has won the Ezra Jack Keats award.
JoAn Martin reviews children’s books for The Baytown Sun. She is a retired teacher. She may be reached at josbook(at)mindspring.com.