Too Small Tola Makes it Count by Atinuke - Illustrated by Onyinye Iwu

 

Tola lives in a run-down block of flats in the megacity of Lagos, in the country of Nigeria. She lives with her sister, Moji, her brother, Capo, and Grandmummy. Grandmummy is the boss of them all.

Tola has lived with Moji, Dapo and Grandmummy since the day she was born. But when the virus came to Lagos and lockdown happened, then everything changed...

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Tola may be small, but she's very determined!

Lockdown is over and Too Small Tola has returned to the crowded family flat in Lagos, Nigeria. Even though she is back home and safe, there are still plenty of problems for Tola to solve - including her own. She may be small, but she is also thoughtful and kind and clever – and there really is no problem too big for Too Small Tola.

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Aimed at early independent readers, the book provides a great opportunity to consider a different culture. Indeed, the essence of Nigeria leaps from the page and being set in a contemporary timeframe (it is just after lockdown) it is extremely relevant.

The socio-economic divide is evident throughout and demonstrates how the wealthy and the poor co-exist. This is highlighted in the chapter, Tola Counts the Uncountable, where Tola's grandmother takes her to the beach, and we realise that there are different beaches for the rich and poor.

This is a fabulous book, well suited for sharing, where children and adults alike can consider a different culture in contemporary society.

I adored the characters in this book. Of course, there is Tola herself who is a determined and resilient little girl whose sensitivity to others is apparent. She looks out for her family and neighbours. Grandmummy herself depits strength in difficult circumstances, and who could fail to love Mrs Shaky-Shaky and baby Jida?

What a joy it has been to read about Tola for the first time. There are three other books in the series, Too Small Tola, Too Small Tola and the Three Fine Girls and Too Small Tola Gets Tough.

This is the best children's book I have read in a while and I highly recommend it.

ISBN: 978 1406399387

Publisher:  Walker Books 

Formats:  e-book and paperback

No. of Pages:  96 (paperback)

About the Author:

Atinuke was born in Nigeria and spet her childhhod in both Afrika and the UK. She is the author of the bestselling Anna Hibiscus and No. 1 Car Spotter series, as well as Africa, Amazing Africa, B Is for Baby and Catch That Chicken among others. Atinuke started her career as an oral storyteller of tales from the African continent; now she writes about contemporary life in Nigeria. Atinuke lives on a mountain overlooking the sea in Wales.

About the Illustator:

Onyinye Iwu is Nigerian. She was born in Italy, where she spent most of her childhood, before moving to the Uk when she was a teenager. As well as the Too Small Tola series, Onyinye has illustrated My Skin Yoour Skin by Laura Henry-Allain MBE, and is one of the artists celebrated in Hey You! by Dapo Adeola. A teacher by day and an illustrator by night, Onyinye enjoys reading books, especially ones that make her laugh.

(book courtesy of the publisher)

(author photo courtesy of Walker Books / Paul Musso)