Welcome to Zanzibar Road - Hardcover

Niki Daly is the award-winning author and illustrator of many books for children. He lives in Kleinmond, a small seaside town in Western Cape, South Africa, and often finds inspiration for his stories in African peoples and cultures.

PreSchool-Grade 2–Under a hot African sky, Mama Jumbo the elephant walks down Zanzibar Road and finds the perfect spot to build her house–under the pawpaw tree. Animal neighbors help her build her scrap house, hang a 7-Up sign above her door for her address, and settle in happily. Soon, however, Mama Jumbo is lonely, and she asks the animals if any of them would like to move in. Only Little Chico, a scrappy, uncared for chicken, takes her up on her offer. After she gives him a strawberry-bubblegum-scented bath, snazzy pajamas, and a lullaby, Little Chico and Mama Jumbo are content with their living arrangements. However, the next day the elephant cannot find her friend anywhere and she frets that he has left, but children will be quick to notice that he is on her head. After a day of searching, the two are happily reconnected. Through his warm, expressive watercolors, Daly teaches readers about some of the important things in life–friendship, family, and how to make a house into a home. Details abound, and the animals' patterned clothing adds texture and variety to the pages. Colorfully painted endpapers further weave Mama Jumbo and her animal friends together. South African culture flows joyfully in this vibrant tale that's sure to be a hit as a read-aloud or as a beginning reader.–Michele Shaw, formerly at Yorkshire Academy, Houston, TX
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