Kenya Christmas - Hardcover

Tony Johnston; Leonard Jenkins

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0823416232 ISBN 13: 9780823416233

Publisher: Holiday House, 2003

Synopsis

Ten-year-old Juma and his aunt Aida plan to surprise his Kenyan village with an appearance by Father Christmas and find that they themselves are surprised.

About this title

About the Author

Tony Johnston is an award-winning author who has written more than seventy books for children, including The Chizzywink and the Alamagoozlum, illustrated by Robert Bender. Her experiences and travels around the world have found many expressions in her work. She lives in San Marino, California.

From Booklist

K-Gr. 2. Father Christmas riding an elephant in the African bush? The British Empire did leave behind some cultural remnants, including the magic of Santa bringing gifts. Juma tells how his rich aunt from Nairobi brings presents to the village children and arranges for a local man, Ole Tunai, to dress up as Santa and arrive by elephant. The children even make "snow" in midsummer by shredding chicken feathers. Then the story takes an odd turn into magic realism with a decidedly confusing twist involving a mysterious Santa (not Ole Tunai) who disappears with the elephant into the starlit sky. Unfamiliar terms are explained in a glossary, but what language are they? Are the people Maasai? Still, the dynamic, richly colored art provides a glimpse of a village community and the Western imports, and there's a strong sense of the east African rural landscape. Kids in hot climates will recognize the desire for snow at Christmas, and, in Africa and the West, many will enjoy the play with popular tradition. Hazel Rochman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Edition details

• Publisher: Holiday House
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0823416232
• ISBN 13: 9780823416233
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 32