Where Are You Going, Manyoni? by Catherine StockI've mentioned this book on the blog before, but not as part of this series and it definitely deserves a post as one of my Favorite Picture Books.
Catherine Stock is one of my favorite illustrators. I love her double page spreads in this book of the African countryside. I love her depictions of the children playing games outside the school house. As a true artist should, she sketched and painted from life for the illustrations in this book.
The text simply describes Manyoni's journey from home to school one early morning, showing a world many of us will never see. How greatly Manyoni values her education! What I sense more than anything is her happiness. She skips and scrambles. She hurries and, finally, runs.
In addition to a lovely text and delightful illustrations, the end of the book includes a glossary and pronunciation guide for unfamiliar words and a pictorial list of wildlife included in the illustrations. This book is delightful to read, just for fun, but it provides a wonderful glimpse of life in Africa and a small study in African wildlife.
