Sunday, March 11, 2012

My Heart Will Not Sit Down by Mara Rockliff

The people in America are suffering during the Great Depression.  Can a small African girl help them in some way?

Alfred A Knopf sent me a copy of this book for review (thank you).  This children's picture book is now available for sale at your local bookstore.

Ann Tanksley is the illustrator for this book and she uses bright colors to express the emotions and the personality of the African village and its people.

Kedi and her family don't have much, but they have enough.  They live simply, eat what they grow, and she goes to school.  When she learns about how bad things are in New York during the Great Depression, she wants to help.  Her heart "will not sit down", but she has no money.

She asks her mother and members of her village for money to send, but no one can spare any.  As time goes by, more and more of her village visits her door and gives her a coin because she's made them aware of the depression and they can't forget about it either.

I was very impressed about this story because they truly don't have much money in the African villages.  They only way they could share was to have less for themselves.  Yet, they gave.  Now if we would give back in their time of need, many African families would be living a better life right now.

This fictional account is based on a true story.  The African county of Cameroon sent $3.77 to New York.  I'm glad their sacrifice didn't go unnoticed.

Why not show your child even a small amount of money or goods can help during bad times.  Especially if they are combined with other small donations.  Maybe you might even make a donation of your own to the children of Africa to help them survive to adulthood.

Happy reading.

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