Love from Anna Hibiscus (Walker Racing Reads)

by Atinuke

Paperback, 2015

Status

Available

Call number

823.92

Publication

Walker Books Ltd (2015)

Description

The seventh title in this brilliant series about Anna Hibiscus, who lives in Africa with her large extended family, by a renowned Nigerian storyteller.Anna Hibiscus is on holiday with Grandmother and Grandfather in the village where they were born. She befriends the local children there and teaches them their ABC and 123. When Anna goes to market one day and a boy steals a banana from her, she runs after him. It turns out that the boy is poor; he lives alone. Anna and Sunny Belafonte become friends and when Sunny is taken ill, it is Anna who makes sure he gets the medical help he needs. Happily, Grandfather invites Sunny Belafonte to come and live with them, and be part of their family.

User reviews

LibraryThing member AbigailAdams26

The delightful Anna Hibiscus returns in this seventh chapter-book devoted to her doings in "Amazing Africa." Still on holiday in her grandparents' ancestral village, where she traveled in the previous installment, Go Well, Anna Hibiscus!, our heroine here confronts some rather unpleasant realities.

In ABC and 123, Anna discovers that the village children her own age are smaller than her because they don't get enough to eat, and withdraws in hurt and confusion until she discovers that she has been helping them after all, by teaching them. Anna Hibiscus Catches a Thief sees Anna chasing after the young boy who steals her banana in the market, only to discover that he is an orphan with no family and no home. Help Sunny! sees Anna and her family stepping in when the young banana thief becomes ill, and needs medical care. In Anything Is Possible Anna's cousins help the village get a school, when the government ignores Grandfather's pleas. The book closes as Grandfather invites Sunny (the banana thief) to become part of the family...

Likes its predecessors, Love from Anna Hibiscus pairs an engaging and ultimately heartwarming narrative from Nigerian expatriate author Atinuke with charming illustrations from English artist Lauren Tobia. The social lessons that are woven into all of Atinuke's books are a little more pointed here than in previous installments of the series, but nevertheless feel like natural parts of the story, and never overwhelm the more entertaining, humorous side of the narrative. Anna continues to learn and grow, surrounded by her loving extended family, who are always ready to lend a hand, or to teach her important lessons about how to be in the world. I continue to appreciate Grandmother and Grandfather in particular, and the gentle wisdom they show in guiding the impulsive but goodhearted Anna as she confronts some of the less pleasant aspects of life in her country (and the world). Recommended to anyone who has read and enjoyed other books about Anna Hibiscus, and to anyone seeking beginning chapter-books with an African (no doubt Nigerian, like the author) setting and cultural outlook.

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