June 24, 2024
Young Esi “loved monsters and ghosts and things that went bump in the night.” Though she considers herself exceptionally brave, her mother nevertheless warns her that the Kakamotobi Festival where the family is headed will involve “really loud music, scary monster faces, and a very big crowd.” Esi is unconcerned until, as the family arrives, the swishing, swirling rainbows seen from the car window transform into monsters with “GOOGLY eyes” and “DROOPY LOOPY tongues”—beings that are “ten times scarier than the monsters in her books.” Worse, her parents seem to completely disappear. Surrounded, Esi flees, twisting and weaving through the festival, chased by monsters that call her name. When she is cornered, Esi draws on her courage to demand the monsters return her parents—a brave act that results in a surprising reveal, and a way to join the festivities. Sensate rhymes by Mensah, making his children’s debut, offer musicality, while brightly patterned illustrations from Figueroa (We Wait for the Sun) express big emotions in this tale of courage and culture. Characters are portrayed with brown skin. An author’s note about the Ghanaian festival concludes. Ages 4–8.
October 4, 2024
Gr 2-4-Esi is a young Ghanaian girl who goes with her mom and dad to the Kakamotobi Festival, an annual street festival in Ghana. Esi says she's brave, but when she gets lost in a crowd of masked celebrants, she imagines all the participants as scary monsters. The story is slight but rich with vocabulary that evokes the symphony of festival sounds. Onomatopoeic and rhyming words appear in all caps. The font size is small. Illustrations are done in digital watercolor. Esi has natural hair and an expressive face. An abundance of colorful masks are depicted. Scenes often are abstract, with Esi lost in a metaphorical sea of texture. Artwork is colorful and chaotic, but clear, fun, and enjoyable as befitting a bustling street festival. An author's note provides a little more context about the Kakamotobi Festival, but those interested in learning more will have to turn to other sources. VERDICT Until there is a more informative book about this unique celebration, this works in large collections.-Chance Lee Joyner
Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Starred review from January 1, 2025
A courageous young Ghanaian girl faces a scary challenge. Nothing fazes Esi--up until the day Mummy and Daddy load up the car and take her to the Kakamotobi Festival, where people dance, eat street food, and don strange masks. Esi assures her parents that she won't be scared. But when they arrive, the mask-wearing festivalgoers look like monsters "with GOOGLY eyes, DROOPY LOOPY tongues, and TOWERING TALL legs." They're so frightening that Esi hesitates to leave the car. But when her parents are seemingly abducted by the creatures, Esi leaps into action. Striking a bold stance that even Max ofWhere the Wild Things Are would find impressive, she demands that the creatures "GIVE MUMMY AND DADDY BACK NOW." Her parents quickly remove their own masks and comfort her. "Were you afraid?" asks Daddy. "Don't be silly." Esi was neverreally afraid and ultimately joins in the festivities with a mask of her own. Esi conjures up visions that are simultaneously frightful, dynamic, and all-around enchanting--a wonderful reflection of how very young children often see the world. Mensah's onomatopoeia-laced narrative is a delight, while Figueroa relies on full-page spreads festooned with arresting West African-inspired patterns, as well as the clever use of negative space, dramatic angles, and vignettes. A monstrously good time. (author's note)(Picture book. 4-9)
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