Too Small Tola

  

WHAT is this Book:

Too Small Tola by Atinuke is an easy chapter book with three small stories about the life of youngest sister Tola, who lives in Lagos with her grandmother, sister, and brother. While hearing about her small adventures we also see what it is like to live in Lagos, from the intermittent water in the apartments to the beautiful homes on Victoria island where the music stars live. Tola's grandmother carries her cell phone with her to the market (she doesn't like the mall with the creepy air conditioning) but she has Tola read her texts since she's not literate. As the cover shows, all the kids and adults carry loads on their heads (her brother takes a water can in each hand and one on his head so that Tola can head off to school one morning). I liked the mix of exotic details about Nigeria and family dynamics that felt right at home. 

WHO would read this book?

This works as an easy chapter book for newly confident readers in lower elementary school or so. It's also written in easy sentences that work well spoken aloud, so it would be a good read aloud either in a classroom or as a bedtime story. It's the sort of book I used to glide my kids from picture books into longer chapter books at bedtime; the three stories are independent but the settings is the same. It would also work as a share read, where the kid and you take turns reading.

Who would I give it to?

I'd give it to kids who have found their reading legs and are starting to read for the story rather than just for the exercise of reading. Tola is young but independent, so fun for early elementary readers to emphasize with. Her world would be different enough to be exotic but also familiar enough to understand.

 Or I'd give it to teachers looking for short read alouds, especially ones trying to read from around the world.

How did I get it?

Candlewick Press sent it to me for review. Thanks Candlewick!