Imani's Moon by JaNay Brown-Wood

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Imani's Moon was written by Janay Brown-Wood and illustrated by Hazel Mitchell. It won The NAESP children's book of the year. [1]   

Summary

Imani is a young Maasai girl with a loving mother and a desire to do something great. When she decides she wants to touch the moon, she works hard to reach her goal, even in the face of teasing from the naysayers around her. [2]

However,every night before sleep her mother tells her about Olapa the goddess of the moon and Anansi the spider, while tracing their constellations in the night sky, put the unstoppable idea into Imani’s head that she will touch the moon. Undeterred by the other children’s and even the animal’s jeers, she perseveres, holding her mother’s words close to her heart: ‘Imani, it is only you who must believe.’ [3]

Pros

One of the reviewer of this book gave an excellent compliment about this book. They mention that Janay Brown-Wood’s beautiful story takes its inspiration from the adumu, the traditional jumping dance performed by Maasai men. It is the perfect context for Imani’s determined leaping to touch the moon. In fact, the illustrations are wonderful, they sketch in the landscape and village scenery, and Imani herself is sweet. Imani’s Moon will resonate with young readers, they will recognise and condemn the hurt caused by the other children, and they will remember with them the story’s message of perseverance and resilience. They might just want to find out a bit more about the Maasai,too, and they will surely feel inspired to follow their own dreams. [4]

References