A Baobab Is Big

by Jacqui Taylor

Once again author and illustrator Jacqui Taylor has drawn inspiration from the animals, plants and images of Africa for this delightful book of verse. Children will love the bright colors, textures and detail in her illustrations, which are factual rather than fantastical and therefore educational, yet in a fun style. The verses themselves are rhythmical and make use of indigenous words in the context of the imagery. Also included is a section of fascinating facts that teach and add value to the verses themselves.

Hardcover

First published August 1, 2005

Reviews

[LeAnne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the kids I read to in a Johannesburg township have asked for poetry. Much of what I have found is too sophisticated for their command of English or culturally irrelevant. Even African American poetry speaks to a totally different world.

This is thoroughly African and shows children of a variety of racial backgrounds. The pictures are lovely although occasionally the rhythms don't quite work. Some of the poems tell stories that take several pages. There are titles in the table of contents, but not in the text, which I find strange. In the back is extra information about plants and animals that appear in the poems. If you read poems aloud to smaller children, you will want to review this information ahead of time for interacting with them while you read.

[Melissa Mannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is filled with lovely children's poetry punctuated with colorful and friendly imagery. For Americans, this book introduces the remarkable, diverse, and (to us) unusual, natural surroundings of Africa. While, at the same time the book highlights that African children are similar to American - with the same sense of wonder, same fears, and dreams. The book provides "fascinating facts" at the end that describe the animals of the area. This is a nice addition. My one criticism is that the book seems to have a disproportionate number of light skinned children as one would really find on the continent and even the dark skinned children have caucasian features. I wonder why this was done.

[Terry]

The balance between story and verse is exceptional. The presentation and transitions are so smooth that you keep going seamlessly from one story to the next. The illustrations blend photo-quality backgrounds with illustrated characters.

Get more about this wonderful book.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up on a whim in the bookshop at Fairchild's Tropical Garden in Miami when I was expecting my first child. In the following years it has stayed a favorite of both my children. Rhymes, illustration, and over all themes are warm and amusing with an emphasis on a connection/respect for the natural world.