Amadi's Snowman
Author Katia Novet Saint-Lot ISBN 9780884482987 Binding Trade Cloth Publisher Tilbury House Publishers Publication Date August 05, 2008 Size 229 x 254 mmWhy does Amadi's mother insist he learn to read words when he is going to be a great businessman? Why should an Igbo man of Nigeria waste precious time on books, anyway? When Amadi disobeys his mother and runs off to the market instead of sticking around for a reading lesson, he encounters a much-admired older boy secretly reading at a book stall. Crowding himself in among the stacks of books, Amadi becomes intrigued by a storybook with pictures of a strange white creature with a carrot for a nose. Over the course of a typical mischievous day, unable to shake his questions about the snowman, Amadi discovers the vast world reading could open up-especially for an Igbo man of Nigeria.
Author Katia Novet Saint-Lot grew up in Paris but spent her summers visiting her mother's family in Spain. She also lived in the U.K and the U.S. Her husband's work for UNICEF took them to Nigeria and provided the background for Amadi's story. They now live in India with their two daughters. As a child, Katia loved reading more than anything else. She also dreamed of becoming a writer and longed for travels to faraway places-she's now busy living her dreams with her family.
Illustrator Dimitrea Tokunbo brings to life the day-to-day experiences of life in Nigeria, where her father grew up. "I want to represent the beauty of all children. I feel that growing up biracial, having a direct connection to two different cultures in the American context, gives my art a spirit and spark that speaks to the children who were overlooked when I was a child." Dimitrea illustrated two children's books for Boyds Mills Press, Sidewalk Chalk: Poems of the City by Carole Boston Weatherford, and Has Anybody Lost a Glove? by G. Francis Johnson. Dimitrea has written one children's book for Cartwheel Books (a Scholastic imprint), Together, illustrated by Jennifer Gwynne Oliver, and has a new book coming out next year with Scholastic, The Sound of Kwanzaa, illustrated by Lisa Cohen. Dimitrea enjoys visiting schools and libraries to share her stories with children. She lives in New York City with her two daughters.
Author Katia Novet Saint-Lot grew up in Paris but spent her summers visiting her mother's family in Spain. She also lived in the U.K and the U.S. Her husband's work for UNICEF took them to Nigeria and provided the background for Amadi's story. They now live in India with their two daughters. As a child, Katia loved reading more than anything else. She also dreamed of becoming a writer and longed for travels to faraway places—she's now busy living her dreams with her family. For more about Katia: katianovetsaintlot.wordpress.com, www.twitter.com/scribblykatia
Illustrator Dimitrea Tokunbo brings to life the day-to-day experiences of life in Nigeria, where her father grew up. "I want to represent the beauty of all children. I feel that growing up biracial, having a direct connection to two different cultures in the American context, gives my art a spirit and spark that speaks to the children who were overlooked when I was a child." Dimitrea illustrated two children's books for Boyds Mills Press, Sidewalk Chalk: Poems of the City by Carole Boston Weatherford, and Has Anybody Lost a Glove? by G. Francis Johnson. Dimitrea has written one children's book for Cartwheel Books (a Scholastic imprint), Together, illustrated by Jennifer Gwynne Oliver, and is the author of The Sound of Kwanzaa, illustrated by Lisa Cohen, published by Scholastic. Dimitrea enjoys visiting schools and libraries to share her stories with children. She lives in New York City with her two daughters.
"An important addition to any library, this offering fills a necessary niche for current-day stories from other cultures and focuses attention on reading as an important and satisfying accomplishment."
—School Library Journal
"Purposeful yet without the heavy didacticism of some books on the topic of literacy, this tale shines a welcome light on cultural differences."
—Kirkus Reviews
"Children will enjoy reading about Amadi's life in the village, depicted in the earth-toned, intimate scenes. It's a nice reversal that young children will be able to grasp—what looks exotic and faraway to one person is a place where someone else lives."
—Booklist
"Dimitrea Tokunbo of Nigerian heritage illustrates the story with authenticity. The browns, greens, and oranges give a warm feeling to the issue of reading...the author makes the point well of the necessity of reading for life."
—Multicultural Review
"Amadi's Snowman is a beautiful tribute to the power of reading and one boy's journey of self-discovery through books. Dimitrea Tokunbo's evocative illustrations underscore the loving interchange between a mother and son. The richly hued paintings invite us to enjoy Nigeria's many splendors and provide the perfect stage for Katia Novet Saint-Lot's imaginative story."
—Andrea Davis Pinkney, Coretta Scott King Honor Author of Let It Shine: Stories of Black Women Freedom Fighters
"Katia Novet Saint-Lot has given us an important and moving glimpse into the curiosity, wonder, and knowledge a book can bring—and into the life of children in modern African cities. As Yohannes Gebregeorgis, founder of Ethiopia Reads, says, 'Books change lives.' How terrific to have a story that shows how and why."
—Jane Kurtz, children's book author
"Amadi's first-ever glimpse at a snowman—one depicted in the pages of a book—inspires him to transform from a resistant to an enthusiastic student of reading. Children will identify with Amadi's initial reluctance, his mixed feelings about a new challenge, and his attempts to rationalize staying the same. Yet they also will likely be inspired, as Amadi is, by the possibilities of reading, the way it can fill one's heart and shine a light on the unknown."
—Cynthia Leitich Smith, children's book author
Amadi is a reluctant reader who discovers for himself why reading can be both informative and fun. Amadi's Snowman can be used as part of a curriculum that explores the subject of books and reading in daily life. It is an excellent book to share with ANY child who may not feel motivated to read. Amadi's Snowman can also be used as part of a curriculum that seeks to introduce elementary aged children to the diverse and interesting African country of Nigeria.
Amadi's Snowman will help inspire classroom conversations about:
Why does Amadi argue with his mother?
What are the things Amadi likes to do in this story?
What does Amadi NOT like to do?
How are you similar to or different from Amadi?
Does Amadi remind you of anyone you know?
Where did you learn to read?
Who are the people who taught you how to read?
How is Amadi's home and village similar or different from your own?
Have you ever been to a farmers' market? Is it like the one Amadi visits?
Amadi isn't going to school in this story. Why do you think he isn't going to school? (Please see Heads Up! below.)
Amadi is very curious about the snowman he sees in the picture book Chima is reading. Have you ever seen anything in a picture book that made you feel very curious?
Amadi belongs to the Igbo tribe in Nigeria. Do you know anyone who belongs to a tribe here in the United States? (Teachers—you may want to identify the tribes indigenous to your geographic region.)
Heads Up! Readers might wonder why Amadi does not go to school. This is an important conversation. Here are some facts to help avoid the stereotyping of Nigeria as "just another African country that does not offer free school," or Amadi as "just another African kid who is not in school."
In the 1970s school in Nigeria was free for all children. An economic crisis in the 1990s, however, caused the Nigerian schools to decentralize, which resulted in some schools needing to charge fees. Even where schools are free, not all children who can attend do attend. The most recent statistics on attendance are: 60.1% of all children of primary school age attend primary school; 63.7% of these are boys; and 56.5% of these are girls. Demographic and Health Survey, 2003, (From huebler.blogspot.com/2005/10/primary-school-attendance-in-nigeria.html )
There are some other reasons why children might not attend school: Depending on where a family lives, school may or may not be free. The children may live too far from the school to attend on a regular basis. Parents might want their children to attend school, but they might also need their children at home to help earn money or do chores. Parents of girls from some traditional or religious families might feel school is unnecessary for their daughters.
Activities
Draw a map of Amadi's morning activities from home to the market and back home again. Add lots of details.
Find Nigeria on the map or globe. Make up a story about how you would travel there from your home. Your story can be told in writing, in words, in pictures or in movement/acting.
Research a game children play in Nigeria. Try it out.
To remind everyone of what it must be like to be unable to read: Create signs for your classroom or school written in different languages, languages your pupils are unlikely to know (maybe even in different alphabets). Ask them to follow the path to a big reward by reading the directions on those signs (you could have a few in English). (You can aid them with a translation and explanation of the languages/alphabets when they get frustrated. The big reward can be a special snack.)
Cook and eat fried plantains. Find out what other foods Amadi might eat.
Additional Books
It might be fun to completely immerse your class with Nigerian stories. Here is a long list to help:
Beat the Storm-Drum, Pum-Pum by Ashley Bryan
Bikes for Rent! by Isaac Olalaye
Bitter Bananas by Isaac Olalaye
Chinye: A West African Folk Tale by Obi Onyefulu
The Dancing Palm Tree: And Other Nigerian Folktales by Barbara K. Walker
The Day Ocean Came to Visit by Diane Wolkstein
Distant Talking Drum: Poems from Nigeria by Isaac Olaleye
The Flying Tortoise: An Igboo Tale by Tololwa M. Mollel
Grandfather's Work: A Traditional Healer in Nigeria by Ifeoma Onyefulu
In the Rainfield: Who is the Greatest? by Isaac Olaleye
Lake of the Big Snake by Isaac Olaleye
The Magic Tree: A Folktale from Nigeria by T. Obinkaram Echewa
Master Man: A Tale of Nigeria by Aaron Shepard
Why the Sky is Far Away by Mary-Jaon Gerson
Other Books Your Students Might Enjoy
Madoulina: A Girl Who Wanted to Go to School. A Story from West Africa by Joel Eboueme Bognomo. (Boyds Mills Press, 1999)
Eight-year old Madoulina, who lives in Cameroon, loves school and dreams of becoming a doctor. But her mother needs her help selling fritters in the marketplace. Until a kind teacher steps forward, offering a solution, Madoulina is afraid she will never reach her dreams.
Running the Road to ABC by Denize Lauture, illustrated by Reynold Ruffins (Aladdin Paperbacks, 1996)
In a joyous celebration of attending school, six Haitian children run at daybreak through fields, markets and town to arrive at their school house to learn.
Market! by Ted Lewin (Lothrop Lee & Shepherd, 1996)
A beautiful look at what is available for sale at marketplaces all over the world from Ugandan cows to fish in New York City.