Product Description

On market day, Mama Panya s son Adika invites everyone he sees to a pancake dinner. How will Mama Panya ever feed them all? This clever and heartwarming story about Kenyan village life teaches the importance of sharing, even when you have little to give.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #145533 in Books
• Published on: 2006-03-01
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 40 pages

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3–Mama Panya and her son, Adika, are all ready for market day where Mama is planning on using her few coins to buy the ingredients to make pancakes for dinner. Adika is so excited that he can't help inviting all of their friends and neighbors. Mama Panya is worried that his generosity may be more than her few coins and their meager supplies can provide. Luckily all of the guests arrive with gifts, and a Kenyan cross between "Stone Soup" and the story of the loaves and the fishes is realized. A recipe, map, details about daily life, and facts about Kiswahili and Kenya are included. With their bold colors, vivid patterns, and lush scenery, the illustrations will transport readers into this country to walk alongside Mama Panya and Adika on their way to market. Details from animals to foliage are depicted clearly and provide more than just a backdrop to the story; they're a great introduction to the landscape and people of East Africa. A strong selection for a read-aloud or as a supplement to units on Africa, community, or generosity.–Genevieve Gallagher, Murray Elementary School, Charlottesville, VA
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Review
"With their bold colors, vivid patterns, and lush scenery, the illustrations will transport readers into this country to walk alongside Mama Panya and Adika on their way to market. Details from animals to foliage are depicted clearly and provide more than just a backdrop to the story; they're a great introduction to the landscape and people of East Africa. A strong selection for a read-aloud or as a supplement to units on Africa, community, or generosity." --School Library Journal

"There is a timeless quality to this contemporary story about a Kenyan boy and his mother stretching their food to feed all their friends ... The old tradition of sharing all one's food with others works again. With the repetition of the phrase 'a little bit and a little bit more,' the folkloric feeling intensifies…With a recipe for spicy pancakes, information about local animals and village life in Kenya, some general facts and a map, this story will be a welcome addition to a school unit as well as traditional storytime." --Kirkus Review

Customer Reviews

I like this one
First, let me mention for those interested in the subject that this book shows babywearing in the background in one of the spreads.

The moral of the story, how a simple dinner became a feast when "all their friends" were invited to share it, is neither overly expressed nor too subtle for little ones. The illustrations are bright and colorful, this book will attract a lot of attention :)

Please note that it's a bit wordy, probably suited for the older of the 4-8 crowd. The same advice *definitely* goes for the supplemental information at the back of the book, all sorts of things on how people live in Kenya and a few simple Swahili phrases and, of course, a recipe :)

Mama Panya. Seriously?!
I have not read the book, however, as a Kenyan I cannot get over the fact that the Mothers name is Mama Panya, which, translated, means "Mother of Rat" (similar to how "Mama Simon" = Mother of Simon, "Mama Mary" = Mother of Mary, etc).

As a sign of respect in Kenya, children often refer to adult women as "Mama X" where X is the name of one of her children (typically her eldest child). As such, the name Mama Panya suggests that this poor lady has a child named "Panya", a rat, which Kenyans consider one of the lowest/ nastiest animals. This makes the name "Panya" an unlikely name for anyone.

The author could certainly have selected a better name. I will not be purchasing this book despite the positive reviews it has received.

Adorable story!
I found this book when I was searching for a story from Kenya. I was putting together a unit on Kenya for third graders and came across this book and fell in love with it. The mother and son have a sweet relationship and the message of sharing and community come through in the end. Wonderful illustrations and several reference pages at the end of the story. Mama Panya's recipe for pancakes are in there too. I made them and passed them around for my presentation.

I loved this book and used it for my unit and plan on purchasing it for my classroom in the future. A wonderful story!!