On a road in Africa by Kim Doner, afterword by Chryssee Perry Martin - review

On a road in Africa by Kim Doner, afterword by Chryssee Perry Martin
A day in the life of an animal orphanage in Kenya, told in colored pencil, oil washes, and rhyme.

The textures and details of a trip along the road, to the market, and around the orphanage more than make up for a few rather strained rhymes ("lion" rhymes with "try on," for example). The depictions of people and animals look suspiciously like portraits, and in the afterword we learn that "Every scene in this book has happened and happens still; every person exists and, this very moment, may be wrapping a snuggly blanket around a frightened baby baboon or heating milk for a tiny new cub".

Swahili vocabulary words enrich the text and add a participatory element to an inspiring and accessible book about Africa, excellent for sharing with a class.