Dear Baobab

by Cheryl Foggo, illustrated by Qin Leng

tagged: emigration & immigration, africa

Description

Maiko has left his village in Africa far behind, moving to live with his aunt and uncle in North America. When he thinks of home he thinks of the large Baobab at the center of his old village. To ease his loneliness, Maiko adopts the little spruce tree in the front yard of his new home. When he learns that the spruce is in danger of being cut down, Maiko knows he can't let that happen.

About the Authors

Cheryl Foggo is a journalist, screenwriter, poet, and playwright. She has a particular interest in the history of Black pioneers on the prairies and has written extensively on that subject in books, magazines, and anthologies. She lives in Calgary.

Qin Leng was born in Shanghai and lived in France and Montreal. She now lives and works as a designer and illustrator in Toronto. Her father, an artist himself, was a great influence on her. She grew up surrounded by paintings, and it became second nature for her to express herself through art. She graduated from the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema and has received many awards for her animated short films and artwork. Qin has always loved to illustrate the innocence of children and has developed a passion for children’s books. She has illustrated numerous picture books for publishers in Canada, the United States, and South Korea.

Age:: 5 to 8
Grade:: 1 to 3
Reading age:: 3 to 5

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Librarian review

Dear Baobab

by [Top Grade]

After moving from Africa to North America, Maiko knows what it is to feel planted in the wrong place.

This is a story to share to help young readers understand the feelings and challenges that many young immigrant children face when moving to a new country. The special relationship that Maiko has with a giant baobab tree in his village in Africa as well as the spruce tree that sits in the yard of his new home, shows the comfort – and friendship — we can find within our natural environment.

Source: Association of Canadian Publishers. Top Grade Selection 2016.