Author: Atinuke
Illustrator: Lauren Tobia
Year: 2011
Publisher: Walker Books, London
Age: 6 and above
No. of Pages: 40
ISBN: 978 1 40633 841 6
This is the first time I've read a children’s book by an author of Nigerian origin and I am enthralled by the joie de vivre that sparkles through the pages.
Anna Hibiscus is the quintessential happy child who feels happy for no particular reason. Just like any other child.
She shares her happiness with the people of her homestead (it feels like a joint-family) and they all, in turn, try to help her find ways to let out all that happiness bursting inside her.
When Grandma is happy, she squeezes Grandpa’s hand, when her cousins are happy, they cartwheel, somersault or walk on their hands.
Anna’s mother, finally, helps her find the answer.
I loved the amazing illustrations and the text, well, it just jumps out at you with happiness!
Excerpt
“Papa! Papa! What can I do?” laughs Anna Hibiscus.
“I am SO happy, soon I will pop like a balloon.”
“When I am happy,” Papa smiles, “I go to Mama and tell her how much I love her.”
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