ISBN # -13: 978-0-545-01865-4 or
ISBN # -10: 0-545-01865-X
This book helps Children discover the purposes and meanings behind the African American Holiday of Kwanzaa. Each page has step by step teachings about the language, culture, and traditions.
I think this book is appropriate for children age’s three to five because the book is organized in a way that allows for easy comprehension of the Kwanzaa holiday. The language is simple, and when the author refers to an African American word, the definition is then given in English.
The illustrations in this book help the reader to feel active, alive and energetic. The bright colors are bold and exuberant. Children can get a sense that Kwanzaa is a happy, fun, and exciting feast.
To help introduce the Kwanzaa holiday and the book to the children, I would place a Kinara (candle holder) in the classroom prior to reading the book. This will provoke interest in the book for the children and get them familiar with the Kinara. On the day that I would read the story to the children, I would turn off the lights and have them explore with flashlights. This will help illuminate the setting that goes along with the Kinara.
Another provocation I would do would be to find some music that is played at Kwanzaa and play it in the classroom before I read the book. The idea of the music is to introduce music from the African American culture.
Three ways to present the story
Story props: as the story is being told, the children could add the significant colored candles to the Kinara. (Candleholder). We could then dim the lights and shine flashlights on the candles rather than lighting them.
Audio participation: In this book the children in the story are invited to listen to the sound of Kwanzaa. I would read the book in a way so the children could not see the pictures. I would then have the children focus on the audio part of the story. I would then pass out drums and encourage children to chant when they hear the sounds of Kwanzaa.
Puzzle: This is another fun idea of how to present the book. I would make a puzzle that would represent the Nguzo Saba. (Which are seven guiding principals). Then I would have the puzzle pieces laminated. The puzzle pieces would include:
1. UMOJA – unity
2. KUJICHAGULIA – self-determination
3. UJIMA – collective work and responsibility
4. UJAMAA – cooperative economics
5. NIJ – purpose
6. KUUMBA – creativity
7. IMANI – faith
The children would be given the puzzle pieces. Then as the story is being told the
children could put the pieces of Nguzo Saba together.
Three possible extensions
Baking brownies: There is a no-bake Kwanzaa brownie bites recipe in the back of the book. I would be sure of any allergies before we made the recipe. Also any nuts in the recipe would have to be omitted and other ingredients would have to be substituted. I would also explore other Kwanzaa recipes and think of ways that I could introduce them to the children. This is also a great way to get the children thinking about different kinds of ethnic foods. I think making a recipe related to the book would be fun for the children but would also have to be done with adult supervision.
Ethnic day: After the book has been read to the children and we have had the opportunity to explore this African American culture, I would encourage the children to bring something from home that symbolizes something significant from their ethnic backgrounds. This could be called ethnic day and could extend into discoveries and exploration around other cultures and traditions.
Kinara (candleholder) craft: This craft could be constructed from empty toilet paper rolls. The rolls could be painted green, black, and red. The colors that represent the Kinara. The flames could be made from yellow tissue paper and glued to the toilet paper rolls. (Candles). The candles could then be mounted on something flexible that represents the holder. (ie. Coat hanger).
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