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Too Small Tola

Too Small Tola

RRP: £12.87
Price: £6.435
£6.435 FREE Shipping

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The illustrations are done in friendly and often funny line drawings. These drawings show vital elements of the story such as the size of the rice bag that Grandmommy carries on her head and the length of the line at the well. They also help to break up the text, making this early chapter book approachable and adding clever humor. We love Anna Hibiscus and sequels by the same author. This book follows a different young girl, from a different neighborhood and economic class, through several quotidian adventures: a trip to the market, dealing with a bully while queueing for water, helping a neighbor keep his business running after an accident. Alive with unfamiliar, colorful words, this illustrated chapter book will broaden young readers’ views of the world. A young girl learns that she doesn’t have to be big to make a difference. . .This collection of stories is perfect for transitioning readers, with its manageable chapters, clear, plain language, simple sentence structures, wry sense of humor, and realistic illustrations of the diverse Nigerian cast. . . An enjoyable, endearing collection. Mae'r straeon byrion yn gwneud y llyfr hwn yn un hawdd troi ato, ac mae'r darluniau annwyl yn dod â bywyd Tola'n fyw gyda hiwmor. Dathliad hyfryd o gymuned, teulu a chariad.

In the other two chapters it's focused on her grandmother and her going to market and putting all their wares to return home to on their heads in the basket as they do in Lagos, Nigeria. (But they get to stop for treats along the way because her grandmother and her are small!) The other is about her going to school.Living in Nigeria with her grandmother and siblings, Moji and Dapo, is not always easy for Tola. The family’s apartment is small and in need of a makeover, not to mention that the electricity and water situation is unpredictable. But through it all, young Tola shows she can be a big influence. . . Throughout the story we see evidence of Tola’s tight-knit and diverse community. ­An appropriate and enjoyable beginning chapter book for young readers who are transitioning from picture books. Tola lives with her older brother and sister and Grandmommy in a one-room apartment in a run-down building in a large city. Her father moved to the UK for work (because, Grandmommy says, who can find a stable job in Nigeria!?) and sends money home. The mother is never mentioned. Brother is obsessed with football (soccer) and cars, sister is extremely focused on her studies as she has a scholarship to a good school -- they tease Tola sometimes for being so small -- they usually rise to the occasion when help is needed. Grandmommy is formidable but also loving. Life is not easy, but it's not miserable, either. Sometimes the electricity works, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes the water runs in the (shared) bathroom faucet, sometimes the children have to lug heavy jugs of water from the pump downstairs and be late for school. (But, Grandmommy reminds them, it could be worse -- they could be living in a cardboard box!) When Grandmommy and Tola go to market, they have to walk a long way, past stinking gutters and the market is all on mud. Atinuke keeps busy these days. At some point in the process people began to realize what a gift she was to children’s literature. Now she does lots of picture books of all kinds, and a bit of nonfiction too. Still, I get the feeling that early chapter books will always be her first love. I’m beginning to see other authors try to copy her style, all in vain. You’d have to practice for a very long while to duplicate the calculated degree of heart and the humor embedded in an Atinuke title. I know Atinuke can’t keep producing these books forever, but for as long as she can, let us hope that she does. Our kids are getting some of the best books in history right now. The least we can do is buy them. You’d have to practice for a very long while to duplicate the calculated degree of heart and the humor embedded in an Atinuke title. I know Atinuke can’t keep producing these books forever, but for as long as she can, let us hope that she does. Elementary readers will relate to Tola’s interactions with her family as they learn about Nigerian culture. . . an entertaining tale about determination and family. A good choice for fans of the author’s previous ‘Tola’ titles; readers will not be disappointed with this pleasant new installment.

This poignant book conveys great warmth and familial love despite the characters’ tenuous circumstances. Tola is an endearing and utterly relatable protagonist. The tale uses colloquialisms and references that will make Nigerian readers feel at home. . . . Mighty fine! Seren y casgliad gwych hwn o dair stori fer ydy Tola, sy'n byw mewn fflat un ystafell yn Lagos, Nigeria, gyda'i nain a'i brawd a'i chwaer hŷn. Ym mhob stori, mae Tola'n helpu ei theulu a'i chymuned. Ond mae Tola'n cael trafferth yn yr ysgol â'i ffrindiau. O na fyddai bywyd fel Mathemateg, gydag atebion hawdd. A fydd y bobl y mae hi wedi'u cyffwrdd yn ystod eu bywydau yn helpu'r ferch fach hon â'r galon fawr? Any new book by Atinuke is a treat, but one that introduces a new character and her family is a particular delight. As always, Atinuke shows both the poverty in Nigeria but also the strength of the community. Tola works hard throughout the book, making sure that she is taking care of her grandmother, her siblings and her neighbors. She uses her own particular skills to help, including her ability to notice small things, count correct change, and measure closely. She also uses her innate kindness and love for others to motivate herself. Tola is small, but she is mighty. In three episodic chapters, Tola uses her not-inconsequential perseverance to help her grandmother, other family members, and those in her wider Lagos community. . . Atinuke’s writing is rich with imagery and replicates the music and rhythm of Tola’s daily life. The stories are copiously illustrated with line drawings of a round-faced, appealingly welcoming protagonist. The friendly format, universal emotional truths, helpful illustrations, and strong writing work together to immerse young readers in Tola’s world.Too Small Tola’ has a diminutive heroine, but it’s a big charmer and treats its newly capable readers with a respect that will make them feel knowledgeable and sophisticated. Three delightful tales from a renowned Nigerian storyteller introduce a chapter-book heroine who is every bit as mighty as she is small.

I found this book through Dr. Quiroa's Wakelet and was able to access it in an audiobook format via Hoopla through my local public library. It was an enjoyable listen. Though this book has not won any awards, Atinuke, the author has, and it was featured on the 2022 Outstanding International Book List by the United States Board on Books for Young People (USBBY). The story is comprised of three chapters or stories that are separate but center on the same themes of family life, overcoming adversity and rising above people's expectations. In a classroom setting you could easily just read one of the chapters as a stand alone story to expose students to this perspective rather than the entire novel for time's sake. Nigerian-born children’s author Atinuke introduces a memorable new heroine in Too Small Tola. . .Atinuke is a masterful storyteller, playing with language and rhythm as she evokes Tola’s world. Every sentence is fun to read. . . Too Small Tola’s gentle morals linger with an unusually satisfying combination of inevitability and surprise. . . Onyinye Iwu renders Tola and her family in endearing and expressive images that capture their personalities perfectly. Too Small Tola will make readers eager to read more about Tola; Lagos is clearly bursting with more stories to tell. In the second tale, Grandmummy announces that she and Tola are off to the beach! And Tola finds something impossible to count – the sand. Finally, in the third story, Tola is looking after baby Jide when he crawls off. Can Tola find him? Tola is the featured character of this chapter book that looks like a series. I had gotten recommendations from books published in other languages in (I believe) an SLJ article and have been chipping away at reading internationally - but obviously an English translation. This one was a nice one to read today because the last of the three generally unrelated chapters about Tola and her family was about Easter and Eid (and both Easter and Ramadan are both happening at the same time this year which doesn't align very often). In that story, their family friend Mr. Abdul breaks his leg and Tola volunteers to help take measurements for paying customers of his for their Eid outfits. Nothing is too small or too big a job for "too small Tola". As with her Anna Hibiscus series, Atinuke presents the reader with a delightful character that is impossible not to like. Tola lives with her older brother, Dapo, older sister, Moji, and her Grandmommy in a broken down apartment building in Lagos, Nigeria. The book is divided into three stories. The first story finds Tola and her Grandmommy walking to the market to buy supplies which they then have to carry home. Tola's siblings make fun of her for being too small, but refuse to take her place. The trip proves to be busy and exhausting, but is made easier when the two stop for some rest and treats along the way. The second story revolves around Tola's efforts to get to school on time even though she has to help get water from the pump in the street because the water and electricity is off in the building. She runs into a bully and other challenges that make it seem likely she will be late for math, her favorite subject. The last story sends Tola and her brother, Dapo, out running errands to help a neighbor who injured his leg in an accident. Both children learn a lot and have the opportunity to further develop some of their talents as they help their neighbor prepare for the upcoming Eid and Easter holidays.Everyone in Tola’s apartment complex in Lagos thinks she is too small to be of any use, but in this three-chapter easy reader, the girl proves them wrong time and again. . . Tola will be relatable to any youngster who has had to prove themselves to the big kids (or grownups). . . a must have for easy reader collections in need of cultural diversity.

It’s impossible not to love Atinuke’s little protagonist, who never lets her small size get in the way of her big personality or dreams. The frequent grayscale chapter illustrations will help readers who may be unfamiliar with aspects of Tola’s Nigerian life and culture. A great read-alike for Juana & Lucas fans, the Too Small Tola series is a wonderful addition to early-chapter-book collections. But none of this affects Tola. Just like her Grandmummy, she is never overwhelmed by the bigger world out there and rises to the challenge be it helping her grandmother with the weekly shopping, collecting huge cannisters of water before school or helping measure the Lagos residents for their Eid and Easter costumes. Lagos thrums with life and humour in this new series by Atinuke and glimpses are brought to life by Iwu's ink drawings. Tola and her family are very likable and have a believable relationship where you can tell they love each other even when they are not getting along. . . gives a clear picture of what it can be like to live in poverty without being too graphic for young readers. The short stories make this book easy to dip into, and the warm illustrations bring Tola’s world to life with humour. Readers will enjoy the portrayals of Tola’s community and family, and might recognise her friendship concerns. Life does not always have straightforward answers, unlike maths, and sometimes it’s your friends and family who help you find your way. A celebration of community and family – and love. In all of these stories, Tola and her neighbors are very capable and there is none of the poverty porn / "overcoming adversity" tone so common in books for children set beyond the West.



  • Fruugo ID: 258392218-563234582
  • EAN: 764486781913
  • Sold by: Fruugo

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