A Good Trade
Alma Fullerton, Author
Karen Patkau, Illustrator
Pajama Press, Fiction, 2013
Suitable for Ages: 5-8
Themes: Ugandan children, Poverty, Traveling for water, War
Opening: “In a small Ugandan garden, a single poppy blooms white in a sea of green. On a mat inside his hut, Kato wakes at the break of dawn.”
Book Jacket Synopsis: Kato wakes early to begin his morning routine, a long barefoot trek beyond village gates through grasses, down a steep hill, and along fields dotted with cattle and guarded by soldiers. His destination is the village well, where he will pump a day’s supply of water into two jerry cans. Like very day, Kato lets the water splash over his hot tired feet before carrying his heavy load back home, where the day’s chores await him. But this is no ordinary day. The aid-worker’s truck has come, and in the back is something so special the little boy rushes home to look for something to repay the aid-worker for this unexpected gift for his village.
Why I like this book:
Alma Fullerton’s text is rich, spare and beautifully crafted. Her narrative is strong and lyrical as she shares Kato’s daily trip to get drinking water for his family. He is barefoot like the other children in his village. The water he collects is essential for cooking, drinking and bathing.
When Kato spies the aid worker’s truck that brings shoes to the village children, he hurries home with his water cans. He finds a white poppy and returns to give it to the aid worker as his expression of gratitude for her generous gift.
This important book shows children how difficult life can be for kids living in war-torn areas and in drought. For many children school isn’t an option because their days are filled with chores. Fullerton’s story raises cultural awareness for the global plight of children like Kato. Young readers will appreciate the things they take for granted, like running tap water, shoes and transportation. It addresses tough issues in a hopeful and age-appropriate manner and is an excellent read-aloud for the classroom.
Karen Patkau’s digitally rendered illustrations are colorful and lush. They work beautifully with the text and illuminate the message in the story.
Resources: This is an important story that will generate lively classroom discussions about how difficult life can be for children around the world. Ask children about how they would feel if they didn’t have a pair of shoes? Would they be able to walk barefoot every day to collect water from a well? How would they bath or wash clothing? What will they eat? This is a great exercise in empathy.
Alma Fullerton is the award-winning author of the picture books A Good Trade, Community Soup and In a Cloud of Dust, When the Rain Comes. Check out my review of her most recent picture book, Hand Over Hand. Visit Fullerton at her website.
Every Friday authors and KidLit bloggers post a favorite picture book. To see a complete listing of all the Perfect Picture Books (PPB) with resources, please visit author Susanna Leonard Hill’s website.
I haven’t seen this one yet & definitely want to read it! Pajama Press publishes some wonderful books – thanks for showcasing this one. With so much news about people doing without water in our own country due to the recent hurricanes, it’s a perfect opportunity to discuss the need for clean drinking water in so many parts of the world.
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Yes, I agree with you. It is a good time to have a discussion with kids about the need for clean drinking water.
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It sounds lovely! A few years ago, I learned that a Starbucks barista from Uganda was returning to visit his village to distribute gently worn shoes and clothing. My neighborhood collected, sorted, and washed dozens of pairs of children’s shoes and clothes for John Pierre to take with him. The photos he later shared made me cry.
We Americans are so blessed.
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That is so sweet. A simple act of kindness means so much to others. Love your story.
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A wonderful book to help young children understand that not all children in the world have the things we take for granted. The cover looks perfect.
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Yes, our kids take so much for granted. That’s why we share books like this. I love the cover too!
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Another great addition to a classroom library that will open up kids to the world. Thanks for sharing!
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It is perfect and timely classroom book.
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I love Pajama Press books, and this selection seems especially timely and touching. Thank you for featuring it on PPBF so more of us can share and enjoy it!
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I like Pajama Press too. But, I really love the multicultural books Alma Fullerton writes for children. Simple and beautiful with a strong message.
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I love the art on the cover here. I am with Cathy, Pajama Press publications I always follow. We need more of these types of stories.
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Yes, the artwork grabbed my attention to. I review a more recent Fullerton PB and loved it so much I checked her others.
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It’s so important for kids to realize that all children don’t have shoes or fresh running water in their homes. Look forward to sharing this book with my son.
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The story is tackles tough issues, with such empathy. The artwork is so lovely.
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People walk such huge distances without shoes to fetch water in East Africa. Such an everyday thing to expect, a human right, but denied to the poorest of the poor. x
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So much is denied to the poorest of the poor. And I’ve heard that bare feet can be so harmful for kids.
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This is definitely a story that all kids (and many adults!) should read! Many of us in our comfy North American lives don’t think enough about people who live impoverished lives. Beautiful choice for PPBF, Pat!
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Thanks, Teresa. It is such an important story for children. We need to empower ourselves and our children to be involved.
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Thanks, Patricia, for featuring this book. Empathy is important for us all, and figuring this out at a young age is crucial.
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Fullerton writes the story with a lot of empathy as she tackles touch subjects.
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This sounds like an important book to share with children, Patricia. It seems to tell the story with sensitivity and compassion, great things for children to learn. The titles of Alma’s other books appear to have similar themes. Thank you for letting me know about them.
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I fell in love with her storytelling in HAND OVER HAND. Looked up her other books and loved them too. Especially A GOOD TRADE.
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I’ll check them out. 🙂
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This is a beautiful story and one I would love to read. I need to check this one out in my local library. Thanks Pat.
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Thought of you and Rain School when I reviewed this book. I really like this author.
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Excellent choice Patricia. I agree that this should be read by everyone, especially those not affected by war, famine, drought, and hurricanes. The world needs a lot more empathy. Thanks for featuring this book.
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Yes, it is a very timely book that can be used in many different ways in the classroom and at home. Love this author.
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I have not read this yet – but I love the cover art and now need to find a copy of the book so I can indulge in the illustrations.
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I think you’ll like Alma Fullerton’s storytelling. The illustrations are beautiful!
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I really enjoyed this book. It’s an important one to share with students.
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I’m glad to know you loved this book. It is a great classroom book. So much for kids to talk about.
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Yeah, children are suffering so much deep in the villages, most of them don’t even go to school, because they have to stay and help around the house hold, or their parents cant afford to take them to school. So they grow up with no education, not because they chose it. I don’t know what the government is going to do to ensure every child gets an education. Because this UPE USE is definitely not working.
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Thank you for visiting! It is a sad problem for so many children. Our niece started a school for 1,500 girls in Kitenga, Tanzania. She worked with the government, Catholic sisters and the community. If you’re interested click on http://www.girlsedcollaborative.org
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Thanks for this. It is so good to hear of books that encourage empathy in children.
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My favorite books to share. I love Alma Fullerton’s books.
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