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1st out of 61 books
—
154 voters
14 Cows for America
In June of 2002, a ceremony begins in a village in western Kenya. Hundreds of Maasai surround an American diplomat to bestow a gift on the American people. The gift is as unsought and unexpected as it is extraordinary. A mere nine months have passed since the September 11 attacks, and hearts are raw. Tears flow freely as these legendary warriors offer their gift to a griev...more
Hardcover, 36 pages
Published
August 1st 2009
by Peachtree Publishers
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Carmen Agra Deedy’s 14 Cows For American is the true heart-wrenching story of Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah, an African medical student studying in New York when the twin towers burned on 911. He returns to his Maasai tribe and retells the story in the hopes that the elders will bless the cow he worked so hard to purchase for his mother but now decides to give to America. As Kimeli Naiyomah explains, his tribe taught him that, ”to heal the pain in someone’s heart, you give something that is close to yo...more
The picture book, 14 Cows for America, is a great piece of multicultural literature that I would like to use in my classroom someday. This picture book is about a man who is from Kenya and all throughout his life wanted a cow. He grows up being taught that compassion and caring for another person is just as important as being a warrior, which he was. When he grows older he is blessed to go to America on scholarship. While in New York in 2001 he witnessed the attack on the twin towers and was blo...more
I was moved by this picture book. It tells us the story of Kimeli, a Maasai man, who returned to his home village for a time as he was studying to be a doctor. When he returns, his people ask for a story and he provides them with one of the attacks of September 11th. The Maasai respond with a stunning and inspirational gift of what they hold most dear; cows; fourteen, in fact.
It takes talented authors to write about such an emotional event as September 11th in a manner that is understandable to...more
It takes talented authors to write about such an emotional event as September 11th in a manner that is understandable to...more
14 Cows for America is a book by Carmen Agra Deedy illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez that is both beautifully written and illustrated. As far as style goes, the illustrations are absolutely brilliant. The illustrator was able to capture life through his drawings which is both a unique and difficult characteristic to possess.
This story celebrates diversity and common bonds in humanity more so than any of the other stories I reviewed which is why it should have been considered an Honor book for Notab...more
This story celebrates diversity and common bonds in humanity more so than any of the other stories I reviewed which is why it should have been considered an Honor book for Notab...more
Grade/interest level: Upper Elementary
Reading level: 540 Lexile
Genre: Picture Book
Main Characters: The Maasai Tribe
Setting: Kenya
POV: Narrator
The book has gorgeous illustrations. The book tells the story of Kimeli and how he returns to Kenya after attending college in New York. All of the tribe members in Kimeli's tribe want him to tell stories of America. Kimeli tells about what happened on that fateful day, September 11th. The tribe is extremely impacted by what happened and decided they wa...more
Reading level: 540 Lexile
Genre: Picture Book
Main Characters: The Maasai Tribe
Setting: Kenya
POV: Narrator
The book has gorgeous illustrations. The book tells the story of Kimeli and how he returns to Kenya after attending college in New York. All of the tribe members in Kimeli's tribe want him to tell stories of America. Kimeli tells about what happened on that fateful day, September 11th. The tribe is extremely impacted by what happened and decided they wa...more
With the recent passing of the anniversary of September 11th, 14 Cows for America provides a beautiful lesson on the lasting effects of the terrible attacks.
14 Cows for America tells the true story of Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah who returns to his village in western Kenya from America nine months after the attacks in New York. Kimeli is deeply affected by what has happened in America and returns to his people, the Maasai, to tell his story. The Maasai, a kindhearted people, cannot believe such a...more
14 Cows for America tells the true story of Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah who returns to his village in western Kenya from America nine months after the attacks in New York. Kimeli is deeply affected by what has happened in America and returns to his people, the Maasai, to tell his story. The Maasai, a kindhearted people, cannot believe such a...more
Deedy, C.A. (2009). 14 Cows for America. Atlanta, GA: Peachtree Publishers.
9781561454907
This picturebook hit the streets last year and became very popular as the go-to narrative to discuss the events of September 11, 2001. And for good reason.
Appetizer: Based in truth, When Kimeli arrives home to his Maasai tribe in Kenya from his trip to the United States (where he's studying to become a doctor) he must share the story of September 11th, 2001 with the members of his tribe.
One of the many streng...more
9781561454907
This picturebook hit the streets last year and became very popular as the go-to narrative to discuss the events of September 11, 2001. And for good reason.
Appetizer: Based in truth, When Kimeli arrives home to his Maasai tribe in Kenya from his trip to the United States (where he's studying to become a doctor) he must share the story of September 11th, 2001 with the members of his tribe.
One of the many streng...more
The story entails the life of the Maasai tribe in Africa. The tribe used to be known for their fierce warriors but they are now a peaceful tribe that raise cattle for their survival. The story also develops as Kimeli, a member of the tribe who has gone to New York to become a doctor, tells the tribe of life in New York. He tells of the injustice and overall dirty atmosphere that surrounds New York. The tribe is in full shock over the immense differences between their two worlds, but being peacef...more
A non-fiction story, this book tells the story of a young man living in New York who returns to his home village in Africa after witnessing the horrific terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. After telling his village what he has witnessed, the tribe chooses to give America 14 cows – the animal that provides all for this village. The story depicts the village’s ceremony during which they presented an American diplomat with their generous gift, a touching, emotional gesture not just for those p...more
14 Cows for America is a story about a man, Kimeli, who is from a Maasai tribe in western Kenya. He moves to New York to go to school to be a doctor and comes back to Kenya to visit his tribe. Kimeli was in New York during September 11th and asks the people of his tribe to offer the gift of cows to the American people. In this tribe, the cow is a sacred animal. The tribe sets aside 14 cows that cannot be killed for American as they send their prayers.
The book is written by carmen Agra Deedy in c...more
The book is written by carmen Agra Deedy in c...more
On the tragic day of September 11th an exchange student, Kimeli who was from a small tribe in Kenya, felt the same pain and grief that swept across America. After experiencing this heartache, Kimeli went home sharing what happened with his tribe and offering a cow to the United States as a gift with thirteen other tribal members following the same action. Cows are very sacred to the Maasai people. In only thirty pages, 14 Cows for America shows the living style of the Maasai, displaying characte...more
This is a heartwarming story of the Maasai Tribe and the incredible gift they give to another country. Set in western Kenya, the cow is the way of life for these people and they treat them with great respect and honor. One of the tribe members, Kimeli is studying in New York City when the September 11th Attacks occurred and is decides he must do something to help. He returns to Kenya and informs his tribe of the catastrophe that has occurred in the United States. Kimeli decides he will offer his...more
14 Cows for America is about a man named Kimeli who comes back to his village in Kenya. He brought back with him an American diplomat and his wife. Kimeli and his tribe set aside 14 cows for the men and women who died on September 11. Even though the tribe is struggling with food they make these 14 cows off limit and they can never be eaten. They are a symbol of hope and peace.
This book really meets the requirements for chapter two. It has a great plot of Kimeli coming back to Africa and sharing...more
This book really meets the requirements for chapter two. It has a great plot of Kimeli coming back to Africa and sharing...more
This review pertains to the hardcover edition, Lexile 540L.
Kimeli Naiyomah is from a small Kenyan village. While Kimeli was a student at Stanford University, he was visiting New York City when the United States came under attack on 9/11. This spectacular book, suggested for grades 2 – 5, recounts his return to his native Kenyan village. Masterful paintings by Thomas Gonzalez span both pages, matching the splendor of the sweeping panoramic spaces that the Maasai inhabit. The narrative and imagery...more
Kimeli Naiyomah is from a small Kenyan village. While Kimeli was a student at Stanford University, he was visiting New York City when the United States came under attack on 9/11. This spectacular book, suggested for grades 2 – 5, recounts his return to his native Kenyan village. Masterful paintings by Thomas Gonzalez span both pages, matching the splendor of the sweeping panoramic spaces that the Maasai inhabit. The narrative and imagery...more
This is a beautifully illustrated nonfiction picture book about Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah, a Kenyan who comes to the United States to study. He finds himself in New York City the day of the 911 terrorist attack. He is so moved by this tragedy that when he returns to Kenya, he shares this story with his native Masai tribesmen. They are fierce warriors but have kind hearts that are so moved when they hear of this story, they offer the only thing they have...14 cows. This is a heartrendering story of...more
Sep 13, 2011
Jeff
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
everyone
Recommended to Jeff by:
found it on the library shelves
Shelves:
history-american,
favorites
"There is no nation so powerful it cannot be wounded, nor a people so small they cannot offer mighty comfort."
So it was that the Maasai people of Kenya donated 14 cows to the United States of America in remembrance of the September 11th attack. This unique and distinctive picture book gives the reader the how and why of possibly the most sincere, apolitical, generous offer of friendship between completely different peoples to come out of the 9-11 tragedy.
The illustrations are very deep and rich...more
So it was that the Maasai people of Kenya donated 14 cows to the United States of America in remembrance of the September 11th attack. This unique and distinctive picture book gives the reader the how and why of possibly the most sincere, apolitical, generous offer of friendship between completely different peoples to come out of the 9-11 tragedy.
The illustrations are very deep and rich...more
Description:
In June of 2002, a very unusual ceremony begins in a far-flung village in western Kenya.
An American diplomat is surrounded by hundreds of Maasai people. A gift is about to be bestowed upon the American men, women, and children, and he is there to accept it. The gift is as unexpected as it is extraordinary.
A mere nine months have passed since the September 11 attacks, and hearts are raw. Tears flow freely from American and Maasai as these legendary warriors offer their gift to a griev...more
In June of 2002, a very unusual ceremony begins in a far-flung village in western Kenya.
An American diplomat is surrounded by hundreds of Maasai people. A gift is about to be bestowed upon the American men, women, and children, and he is there to accept it. The gift is as unexpected as it is extraordinary.
A mere nine months have passed since the September 11 attacks, and hearts are raw. Tears flow freely from American and Maasai as these legendary warriors offer their gift to a griev...more
What a beautiful story of human compassion and sacrifice. 14 Cows for America tells the story of a young man,Kimeli, who belongs to the Maasai, nomadic hunters who live in a small village in Kenya. He has left his beloved village to study in America. While in New York City, he experiences the devastation of September 11th. It breaks his heart, and in his desire to share hope with those who lost so much, he vows to sacrifice his only cow. Cows to the Maasai are life. They raise them and love them...more
My Thoughts:
Whew! What a life-affirming story! It gives you hope for the world.
The pictures are up close and personal. The text is vivid and rings with compassion for the world.
Here’s the story, if you don’t know it: A Kenyan wins a scholarship to go to America and become a doctor. While he is there, he experiences 9/11. He returns to his people, a tribe once renowned as warriors but who are now known as master cow herders. The tribe feels great sorrow when the young man tells them of the traged...more
Whew! What a life-affirming story! It gives you hope for the world.
The pictures are up close and personal. The text is vivid and rings with compassion for the world.
Here’s the story, if you don’t know it: A Kenyan wins a scholarship to go to America and become a doctor. While he is there, he experiences 9/11. He returns to his people, a tribe once renowned as warriors but who are now known as master cow herders. The tribe feels great sorrow when the young man tells them of the traged...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
As with any tragedy, in the years following the wake of September 11th a spate of books came out discussing, dissecting, and generally trying to make sense of what occurred. In this the children’s literary world and the adult literary world were very much alike. Picture books in particular took a great deal of interest in making the events palatable to young impressionable minds. The results were mixed. The general consensus was to write titles that focused on the human moments that surrounded t...more
Synopsis
Opening the first page in 14 Cows for America shows a vivid illustration by Thomas Gonzalez. The color floods your eyes, touching upon the stunning colors and textures from the country of Kenya and the people of the Maasai tribe. The text written by Carmen Agra Deedy, reveals a beautiful story of friendship and hope spanning across the continents in support of a devastated country. Months after the aftermath of the tragic events of 9/11, a visitor shares the story of the fallen towers wi...more
Opening the first page in 14 Cows for America shows a vivid illustration by Thomas Gonzalez. The color floods your eyes, touching upon the stunning colors and textures from the country of Kenya and the people of the Maasai tribe. The text written by Carmen Agra Deedy, reveals a beautiful story of friendship and hope spanning across the continents in support of a devastated country. Months after the aftermath of the tragic events of 9/11, a visitor shares the story of the fallen towers wi...more
14 Cows For America is a fascinating look at how an event in America’s history affected a remote village in Africa thousands of miles away. A young man from a remote village in Kenya returns home for a visit. He is studying to be a doctor in New York, and 9/11 was just a few months past. He retells the devastation of that day to the elders in his village, and they come together to offer a gift of hope to America; 14 sacred cows.
The story and the illustrations work together to show a different r...more
The story and the illustrations work together to show a different r...more
Kimeli returns to his Kenyan home and his Maasai tribe. He had been living in the United States after being awarded a scholarship to study there. He was welcomed with open arms by this peaceful tribe of cattle herders. The cow is life to the Maasai. Kimeli tells the tribe the story of 9/11 in New York City. The tribe is filled with kindness when they hear of the sadness and injustice of the events. The Maasai tribe wants to do something for the hurting people so they present 14 cows to the Ameri...more
Grade/Interest Level: 3rd-5th grade
Lexile Level: AD 540L
Genre: Historical fiction, Multicultural Literature, Picture book
Characters: The Maasai people, Kimeli
Setting:Kenya
POV: Third Person
Kimeli is a Kenyan man, of the Maasaii tribe, who completed his college education in the United States. He returns home to Kenya, and is greeted by his village who are anxious to learn all about his experiences. His tribe is known for their great storytelling ability, and he begins to tell them about his time i...more
Lexile Level: AD 540L
Genre: Historical fiction, Multicultural Literature, Picture book
Characters: The Maasai people, Kimeli
Setting:Kenya
POV: Third Person
Kimeli is a Kenyan man, of the Maasaii tribe, who completed his college education in the United States. He returns home to Kenya, and is greeted by his village who are anxious to learn all about his experiences. His tribe is known for their great storytelling ability, and he begins to tell them about his time i...more
This is a true story of a young man from Keyna by the name of Kimeli returning to his tribe, the Maasai people, and sharing the sad story of the September 11 attacks. This picture book created such an impact on me that I was crying as I was reading it. I was emotional as I read how this group of people living half way around the world had such a strong sense of empathy for individuals they never met. They expressed their compassion and empathy by giving America their most precious gift, 14 cows....more
A story of a young man from Africa who studies in America returns home to his village to tell them of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. It is a heart warming story of how others around the world had compassion and supported America in a time of need. The villagers decided to give their most prized possession as a symbol of their support and condolences. They gave them 14 cows--14 Cows for America--meaning that they would never slaughter those cows for food for themselves because they were 'America's'...more
In June of 2002, Kimeli returns to his village and the Maasai people in Kenya to share the tragedy he experienced on September 11, 2001 as he was in New York City. Kimeli’s heart was pierced by this horrible event in history and was moved to share his sacred cow with aching American hearts. Not only does Kimeli offer his only cow, others join in. It will be hard to finish this story with dry eyes. May we be humbled by these gracious givers from Kenya and learn lessons from them.
Social Studies:...more
Social Studies:...more
I read 14 Cows for America after a recommendation, and thoroughly enjoyed this nonfiction piece. Kimeli was a man from the Maasai tribe in Kenya, who attended Stanford University. He took a trip back to visit his people and explained how sad he was about the September 11th attack in New York. What is interesting however is that the book does not explicitly state what the tragedy in the United States was, but instead focuses heavily on the emotion the Maasai people feel. After hearing Kimeli's st...more
14 Cows for America is the story of Kimeli returning to his small village in the corner on Kenya, and the generous people of the Maasai tribe in June of 2002. Upon hearing of the tragic events of the 9/11 attacks, the Maasai bestow an unexpected and sacred gift to the grieving American people, 14 cows. “The Maasai wish is that every time Americans hear the simple story of 14 cows, they will find a measure of comfort and peace.”
Carmen Agra Deedy did a fantastic job of sharing the heart-warming tr...more
Carmen Agra Deedy did a fantastic job of sharing the heart-warming tr...more
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Carmen Agra Deedy is an internationally known author of children’s literature, a storyteller and radio contributor. Born in Havana, Cuba, she immigrated to the United States with her family in 1963 after the Cuban Revolution. Deedy grew up in Decatur, Georgia and currently lives in Atlanta and has three daughters.
More about Carmen Agra Deedy...
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“Because there is no nation so powerful it cannot be wounded, nor a people so small they cannot offer mighty comfort.”
—
9 people liked it
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You did a through synopsis of this beautiful picture book and I really admired the descriptions you used regarding the illustrations. I read thi...more
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