
Too Small Tola
Atinuke, Author, Onyinye Iwu, Illustrator
Candlewick Press, Fiction, Mar. 2, 2021
Suitable for ages: 7-9
Themes: Nigeria, Poverty, Family relationships, Community
Tola lives in “a run-down block of apartments in the megacity of Lagos, in the country of Nigeria,” with her older sister, Moji, who is very smart; her brother, Dapo, who is very athletic; and Grandmommy, who is very bossy. Tola may be small, but she finds that she has other abilities.
In the first story, Tola accompanies Grandmommy to the market and balances a basket full of yams, vegetables, chili peppers, fish, football glue and diapers — on her head. It’s a long tiring walk, but she also manages to climb steep stairs to their apartment without dropping anything. She discovers that she is strong. She is also very clever with counting their money and makes sure Grandmommy isn’t being cheated by vendors.
In the next story, Tola wakes up very early and discovers that the electricity is off again and the faucets in the apartment aren’t working. There is no water for bathing or cooking. She wakes her sister, Moji, and they grab empty jerry cans and head to the outside water pumps before a long line forms. They return and wake Dapo to grab more cans to gather water, although this time she runs into trouble.
In the final story Tola helps their tailor neighbor, Mr. Abdul, who breaks his leg in accident. Easter and the end of Ramdan feast of Eid is approaching, and Mr. Abdul isn’t able to ride his bike to measure his customers for new holiday garments. Tola is clever with numbers and measurements, so she offers to help. Dapo uses the bike to pedal Tola around the city.
Award-winning children’s writer, Atinuke, is a master storyteller. She started her career as an oral storyteller of tales from the African continent. Today her stories are contemporary stories about life in Nigeria. Her stories are perfect chapter books for children 7-9. Each chapter lends itself to a short story, which will appeal to this age group. In Too Small Tola, she shows the poverty of Nigeria, but also the strength and love of family and community.
Readers will enjoy Onyinye Iwu pen and ink drawings that appear on every page and they show both the love and humor of the community. They will help readers visualize the story and help break up the text. A delightful read for kids preparing to move into middle grade books.
Greg Pattridge hosts Marvelous Middle Grade Monday posts on his wonderful Always in the Middle website. Check out the link to see all of the wonderful reviews by KidLit bloggers and authors.
*Review copy provided by Candlewick Press in exchange for a review.
Greg Pattridge hosts Marvelous Middle Grade Monday posts on his wonderful Always in the Middle website. Check out the link to see all of the wonderful reviews by KidLit bloggers and authors.
*Review copy provided by Candlewick Press in exchange for a review.
These stories sound fun and offer a great window onto lives in another part of the world.
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I especially love that they are chapter books for young readers who are learning about the lives and routines of other children in the world.
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Yes! It gives children great insights.
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These stories sound fun for younger middle graders. And like Norah says, they show us another part of the world.
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Yes, they are fun, quick reads that kids can read by themselves.
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These stories sound fun and entertaining.
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They are fun reads. I love Atinuke’s books.
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My family had an exchange student from Nigeria when I was in high school so this one is a must read. I like that there are several stories to enjoy and learn from. Thanks for featuring on MMGM.
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Short stories for readers mastering chapter books. I love that this is set in Nigeria because it introduces kids to a different way of life.
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This sounds like a beautiful book! I like that it shows the strength and dignity of these families. I’m very intrigued that it’s episodic, since you don’t see a lot of that nowadays.
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Yes, you really don’t. I love Atinuke’s writing. She began as an oral storyteller. I can almost hear it in her stories.
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I’ve had several students from Nigeria, so I would love to see a similar series with slightly older characters. I’ll have to see if my public library has this one. I did buy Small Mercies, about a young girl in South Africa.
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I enjoyed that it was written for a younger group, but agree it would be nice for slightly older students.
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Ooh! This sounds good. Thanks for sharing. I love that she is “too small” but isn’t going to let that stop her.
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I think the title should be Mighty Tola — nothing gets in her way of proving what she can do. Since I am short, I identify with Tola.
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I love the transitional books. This one sounds like a really good one, and a very empowering one for kids. Thanks for telling me about it.
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There are some really excellent transitional books available to younger children!
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This sounds like a great read and this is my first time hearing of it- so thanks for the introduction! 🙂
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It is a fun read, especially if you have children or grandchildren who are not quite ready for a MG book. Love the artwork.
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I just took this out from the library last week to read with my 7yo. It looks so sweet and fun!
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I think your 7-year-old will find the story fun and engaging. And, I’m sure he’ll have lots of questions!
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This sounds like a great set of stories! Tola sounds like a wonderful protagonist, and it’s awesome that this story acts as a window into life on another continent. Thank you for the wonderful review!
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Yes, I love how the story in this book is a window on a country like Nigeria. Kids will learn about customs they know nothing about.
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