It’s Christmas and even if
it doesn’t snow in South Africa for Christmas, a chicken meal at the centre of
the table is a must. Well that’s what everyone tells Jamela. But Jamela has
named her chicken Christmas. And you know what happens when you name farm animals –
they become friends. And of course you can't eat them.
In this wonderfully
authentic story that charts the hilarious adventure of Jamela and her chicken
Christmas, we run through the township, meet wonderful characters, hear African
dialects and words in context, and worry for the chicken.
The Jamela series by Niki
Daly, published by Frances Lincoln are enduring stories that show us the life
of people we are less familiar with – but not with a moral or a lesson about
life in South Africa or showcasing the poverty like charity ads do – these
celebrate life. These show characters in-situ and show us how these characters
are just like us, even though they are far away, they speak a different
language and wear colourful clothes (which I absolutely love).
These stories also remind me
of the young graphic novel that Flying Eye Books translated from French –
Akissi – of the little girl in an African township, running on barefeet,
bringing trouble and solving problems.
Did or did they not eat
chicken for Christmas? Did they eat Christmas the chicken? Maybe you will read
and find out and also find other Jamela books out there.
@csoundar
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2 comments:
What a fun book! Hope it does brilliantly.
Hi Chitra. Yes Jamela is a spirited character and the illustrations are lively. I know Niki well. Would you like me to pass this on to him or have you already sent it on?
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