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. He knows all too well what it’s like to be small, and feel planted in the wrong place.

About the Authors

Cheryl Foggo is a multiple award-winning author, playwright, and filmmaker, whose work over the last thirty years has focused on the lives of Black people in western Canada.

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

Editorial Reviews

"Foggo's lyrical text is perfect for reading aloud, and certain expressions nearly turn the story into poetry...Maiko's story is simple and buoyant and will appeal to a wide range of children."

— CM Magazine

"This book is highly recommended for both school and public libraries. It is suitable for both individual readers and for story time."

— Resource Links

"Dear Baobab is a charming read that, without being too syrupy-sweet, offers encouragement to anyone who has ever felt they are in the wrong place. ... The conversations between Maiko and the tree are particularly superb, capturing the charm and innocence expected of any seven-year-old, but containing the ache of someone who longs for the past."

— Quill & Quire

"Lovely!"

— Sal's Fiction Addiction Blog

"Leng's illustrations are a very good match for the story. Perfect for young listeners or readers ages 5 up."

— The Happy Nappy Bookseller

"This sweetly illustrated picture book is the story of a small boy’s struggle to develop a sense of belonging in a new country. All primary aged children can relate to his vulnerability and to the many emotions expressed in Maiko’s story, making it an ideal venue for teaching the concept of making connections."

— Canadian Teacher Magazine

"Maiko experiences an orphan’s loneliness and an immigrant’s unease but eventually finds comfort in his new home."

— Kirkus Reviews

"Dear Baobab is a gentle story about settling into a new home and a new culture. It opens up many questions for young readers, who will be touched by its universally relevant themes of bullying and belonging."

— Papertigers Blog

"Loved the original concept with the Baobab tree, and the universal concept of children having to move and try to fit in."

— So Many Books... So Little Time

"Calgarian Cheryl Foggo's impressive writing credentials foretold the jewel of Dear Baobab, her first children's picture book, a sympathetic but hopeful portrayal of finding a way to fit it."

— CanLit for Little Canadians

"This is a moving and delightful story of a child who has had to make enormous changes in his life. Beautifully - even lyrically - written, it also has evocative and warmly human illustrations. A lovely book."

— Healthy Books Blog

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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.