Sleep Well, Siba and Saba - Hardcover

Isdahl, Nansubuga Nagadya

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1911373099 ISBN 13: 9781911373094

Publisher: Lantana Publishing, 2017

Synopsis

Forgetful sisters Siba and Saba are always losing something. Sandals, slippers, sweaters―you name it, they lose it. When the two sisters fall asleep each night, they dream about the things they have lost that day. Until, one night, their dreams begin to reveal something entirely unexpected... With playful illustrations and a lullaby-like rhythm, this heart-warming story set in Uganda is truly one to be treasured.

About this title

About the Author:

Nansubuga Nagadya Isdahl was born in the United States to Ugandan parents. For more than ten years, she has worked in international development in East and Southern Africa.

Sandra van Doorn was born in France and now lives in Australia. She attended art classes at Emily Carr University in Vancouver before embarking on her career as a children's illustrator.

Review:

"There is much to like about this unusual picture book. The title comes from a bedtime song that Siba and Saba's father sings to them at night. 'Sula bulungi, Siba and Saba,' he croons to the sleepy sisters, tired after a day of losing things. For losing things is what they do. Sweaters, slippers, shawls, and sandals all go missing during the day, only to mysteriously reappear in the girls' dreams. Until one night the dreams are different, filled instead with hopeful premonitions of the future. Textual and visual details locate the girls in contemporary Uganda. Isdahl's alliterative narrative floats like a poem, sometimes rhyming, sometimes not, and is perfectly complemented by Van Doorn's ethereal illustrations. A palette of citrusy yellow, green, and blood-orange hues share space with a crisp white background, sometimes textured with wispy grasses and the fluttering of birds, flowers, and bees. This beautifully rendered story is about the past and the future, change and constancy, and family love and inspired dreams, whether conjured while awake or sound asleep."―Booklist

(Journal)

"A charming picture book set in modern-day Uganda. Siblings Siba and Saba do everything in their own way: they lose stuff―quite regularly―and when they sleep, they find the lost things in their dreams. The story twists when, one night, the two sisters do not dream of their lost sweaters, silver sandals, and bedroom slippers. Instead, they dream of finding two unlikely objects: a silver shilling and a school uniform. When they wake up, they are surprised to discover more than they ever expected. The poetic voice of the text, along with the playful alliteration and delightful illustrations, conveys no sense of the anguish of losing the cherished belongings. Siba and Saba lose things gracefully and find them effortlessly. The expressive and elegant artwork, with references to Ugandan tales makes the journey to the world of Siba and Saba more delightful. Unlike most lost-and-found stories, there is a new solution to the problem: no reason to be frantic over losing your stuff because it comes back in your dream. While the story starts with a strong sense of playing a game, toward the end the story line suddenly changes to a more earnest tone of what is good for your future. This unexpected shift fragments the story. A comforting tale about loss and the ways of being found. Best shared one-on-one or in a small group setting."―School Library Journal

(Journal)

"A picture book that will transport readers to another place and time...where dreams come to life. Siba and Saba, two brown-skinned sisters wearing cornrowed hair, constantly lose things: shoes, scarves, sweaters, and more. They do, however, always keep track of each other. When they sleep, they dream of finding all they've lost. But one night, when Papa sings 'Sula bulungi, Siba and Saba,' as he always does, they dream not of lost things but of delightful new found things. Soon, the dreams come true in a way that portends a bright future for them both. Ugandan-American first-time author Isdahl weaves Ugandan culture into the tale by incorporating Luganda, the language of Uganda, into Papa's good-night song, through characters' names, and through the flora and fauna Siba and Saba encounter. And van Doorn, a French artist based in Australia, brings the whimsical story of these close-knit sisters vibrantly to life with colorful images of Ugandan plants, animals, and places the sisters encounter. Working in pastels and digital art, van Doorn integrates fanciful details and unusual shapes and patterns into the artwork and in so doing, creates a visually sumptuous story. This imaginative international tale will delight readers of all ages."―starred, Kirkus Reviews

(Journal)

About this edition

• Publisher: Lantana Publishing
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 1911373099
• ISBN 13: 9781911373094
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Van Doorn Sandra