More than anything, Amina wants to lose her loose tooth while visiting her family in Mali, West Africa. Only then can she put it under a gourd for the African tooth fairy, who will exchange it for two chickens! Happily this happens, and even better, the chickens lay eggs. But will the eggs hatch before it’s time to return home to America? In this fresh, spontaneous story that is infused with close family warmth, Penda June Diakité joins forces with her award-winning author/artist father to give a charming peek at everyday life in Mali.
Featured in Volume 1, Issue 3 of WOW Review.
Related: Africa, Mali, Primary (ages 6-9), Realistic Fiction
- ISBN: 9780439662260
- Author: Diakité, Penda
- Illustrator: Wague Diakité, Baba
- Published: 2006, Scholastic Press
- Themes: Chickens, Eggs, Family, tooth, Tradition
- Descriptors: Africa, Mali, Primary (ages 6-9), Realistic Fiction
- No. of pages: 32
I Lost My Tooth In Africa by Penda Diakité and illustrated by her father Baba Wagué Diakité retells the story of the authors little sister losing her tooth in Bamako, Mali. The note (and photograph) at the end of the text from the author and her father, the illustrator, makes the story even stronger as a resource to use in a classroom because it’s a true story, written originally when Penda was eight years old, and published when she was fourteen, what an inspiring story for young authors to be exposed too! The photograph of Penda and Baba on the back cover of my edition I think also helps makes the story more real and tangible for readers.
Additionally, the explanations in the story about what goes on when they visit their family in Mali is set up in such a way the supports comparison. Written in first person, the way the story travels through Amina’s day allows the reader to go through her day with her and see what is similar about where they live and what is different. The illustrations provide additional descriptions by visually showing what is in the text, as well as, expanding upon it. The authenticity of the illustrations and information being presented is also unparalleled as the creators are telling their story, through their own personal lens. Even with their viewpoint so strongly intact any child who has lost a tooth and knows the excitement of the tooth fairy would not only enjoy but connect with this charming story about a family’s cultural heritage.
I Lost My Tooth in Africa by Penda Diakite is such a beautiful true story of a girl who goes to visit her heritage in Africa. While she is visiting there, we are able to see what their culture is like and are able to connect to the story. The text-to-self connection that my students were able to make was about tooth. They were not able to have an actual connection with being in Africa but being first graders, the fact that she lost a tooth and they have lost teeth was a close connection for them to make.
After reading this to my class, we were touched by the pictures painted on ceramic tiles. The illustrations in the story were very detailed and made the story seem that much more realistic. It allowed my students, as well as myself, the opportunity to see what Africa is actually like. The character was portrayed in a way for us all to feel like we were with her in the story through her traits along with the wonderful illustrations.
I Lost My Tooth in Africa by Penda Diakite, is a colorful, thoughtful book. The illustrations help bring a full meaning for the text, but still leave room for inferring.
As I read this to my class of kindergartners, we were able to stop and predict, infer, and observe the illustrations.
We also spend a lot of time comparing and contrasting the concept of the tooth fairy.
Most of my students have experienced loosing a tooth, and receiving something from the tooth fairy, and were able to connect with this book. Those who have not had that experience, were also able to connect, through the anticipation that is expressed through the anticipation that the character experiences before loosing her tooth.