My Painted House, My Friendly Chicken, and Me

by Maya Angelou

Full color photographs. "Hello, Stranger-Friend" begins Maya Angelou's story about Thandi, a South African Ndebele girl, her mischievous brother, her beloved chicken, and the astonishing mural art produced by the women of her tribe.  With never-before-seen photographs of the very private Ndebele women and their paintings, this unique book shows the passing of traditions from parent to child and introduces young readers to a new culture through a new friend.  

Genres: Picture Books, Poetry, Africa, Nonfiction, Art, Childrens, Geography

48 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Maya Angelou was an American memoirist, poet, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and is credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning over 50 years. She received dozens of awards and more than 50 honorary degrees. Angelou's series of seven autobiographies focus on her childhood and early adult experiences. The first, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969), tells of her life up to the age of 17 and brought her international recognition and acclaim.
She became a poet and writer after a string of odd jobs during her young adulthood. These included fry cook, sex worker, nightclub performer, Porgy and Bess cast member, Southern Christian Leadership Conference coordinator, and correspondent in Egypt and Ghana during the decolonization of Africa. Angelou was also an actress, writer, director, and producer of plays, movies, and public television programs. In 1982, she was named the first Reynolds Professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Angelou was active in the Civil Rights Movement and worked with Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Beginning in the 1990s, she made approximately 80 appearances a year on the lecture circuit, something she continued into her eighties. In 1993, Angelou recited her poem "On the Pulse of Morning" (1993) at the first inauguration of Bill Clinton, making her the first poet to make an inaugural recitation since Robert Frost at the inauguration of John F. Kennedy in 1961.
With the publication of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Angelou publicly discussed aspects of her personal life. She was respected as a spokesperson for Black people and women, and her works have been considered a defense of Black culture. Her works are widely used in schools and universities worldwide, although attempts have been made to ban her books from some U.S. libraries. Angelou's most celebrated works have been labeled as autobiographical fiction, but many critics consider them to be autobiographies. She made a deliberate attempt to challenge the common structure of the autobiography by critiquing, changing, and expanding the genre. Her books center on themes that include racism, identity, family, and travel.

Reviews

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

To check out my reviews: http://dancinginth3dark.blogspot.com

When it comes to this book I see Maya Angelou getting excited about writing and in particular writing Children books. We get to see the whimsical side of her and I wish I could have loved this and rated it 5 stars but I feel as though Maya fell short on this poem.

Instead of creating an original poem and incorporating illustrations or beautiful artwork instead she told a story through photographs. The photographs were already taken and she tried to make a fun and entertaining read which I believe she conquered in the beginning of the poem but by the time I reached the ending I felt like she lacked information about the Ndebele women and the growth of her characters.

I have no clue how to pronounce Ndebele which should have been incorporated into the book, I have no clue about African culture except women like to paint their houses with beautiful patterns and design. It's been a few days since I read this story and yet it's already forgettable which speaks volume for me because my memory is one of the best.

The photographs are marvelous and really capture the beauty of the artwork and I believe it's the reason why I rated this book 4 stars instead of 3. I wouldn't recommend it unless you like Maya Angelou or want to read a bit about African culture.

[Bridget's Quiet Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

There really isn't a whole lot I can say about this little picture book except the pictures were beyond beautifully taken, and of course it was beautifully written by one of my top favorite authors. There are very few authors that would be automatic pick ups for me and Maya Angelou is one of them. There have been maybe one or two books of Maya Angelou's that I wasn't able to get into at the time I tried to read them so I just set them aside. Majority of the books I have read by her I have enjoyed tremendously, even if was a hard to read/sad book. This one was far from sad. It made you want to go live in Ndebele. Now, if you try to get me to pronounce that, I would be at a total loss! lol....

Maya wrote this in the voice of a little girl named Thandi and she is telling the story of her home, her family & her favorite friendly chicken. She made me fall in love with this whole village of people, the village itself and especially Thandi. And the pictures that went along with them just made it even better. I found myself just staring at every picture just trying to take in and [almost] memorize each one. I couldn't help but smile at many of the pictures because you could see the mischievousness in some of their faces....and all of them were adorably cute!

I won't say much more about the book because I don't want to give away too much of what is in it...even in the pictures themselves. I want people to just go find it, pick it up and look into the book themselves. I believe children as well as adults will enjoy this little book equally.

Okay, maybe I had a little more to say about the book than I thought I did! :-D

[Peach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Upon seeing this book, i wasn't sure if i would like it, but as the old saying goes, "Never judge a book by its cover." I read the book and immediately I became entangled in the South African culture of the Ndebele people. Unlike American culture where genders fight stereotype of gender roles, Ndebele people seem to be happy and accepting of their roles. As the little girl, Hope, discussed in the book, You may call yourself Hope but do it in secret if you are a boy. In their culture, it may not be acceptable for a boy to be named Hope. This book gives information about the Ndebele culture whereas women paint houses that the men build and women also make beads and body decoration. The men work and buy clothing for the children while the women seem to stay home or go into the village to shop for household goods like food. It is interesting and a good idea to incorporate knowledge of different cultures in a classroom. This book is good for the culturally responsive pedagogy. The photos are realistic pictures of actual Ndebele people in and around their homes, painting their homes, and making beads. There are also pictures of the children to further capture the story being told about Ndebele people.

[Eileen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is illustrated from photographs and can be a selection for reading around the world with young students. Ndebele people live in Zimbabwe and South Africa. This story is less poetic than I expected from co-author Maya Angelou, but is still lovely in its way. I like that it shows children happier dressed in their own home way and preferring it to uniforms purchased for school. Chickens as friends who can keep a secret is a fun idea, too.

[Kris Dersch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really wasn't sure how well this would hold up given how old it is but the answer is really well. I felt like I knew this kid, my toddler loved the chicken, the photography is beautiful, and there's whimsy only an author this talented can really accomplish. A pronunciation guide would have been very helpful, but all the small details were great.

[Amanda Quinn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Maya Angelou and I loved reading her poetry in a picture book. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the pictures and the poetry. Students would benefit from seeing a book like this one and I think t would be fun to have them compare and contrast this child's life with their own.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing photojournalism, and Angelou's text is, as always, poetic. However, I think for a non-fiction narrative, there should have been a bit more information interspersed. It captures atmosphere, but not culture.

[Linda Spear · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was charmed by this title years ago and when I saw it at a library book sale, had to grab it. Not just for myself but for a young friend who is very interested in cultures other than his own. I know he'll love it!

[Jeff Cliff · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 stars - 1 start for being still under copyright = 0.5 stars

Probably about as many words in the copyright restrictions on this book as the book itself. Terrible that children are so restricted from sharing.

[Mrs. Ruigrok · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has beautiful photographs and tells about a little girl who is Ndebele in South Africa. A great story to share with young children and to especially enjoy the beautiful photographs.

[Griselda DeLeo · Rating 5 out of 5]

An outstanding story that shines light on what life looks like through the eyes of an eight-year-old Ndebele girl in South Africa. Beautiful book and beautiful photographs.

[Alexandra Russo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This mocking, insightful, and beautifully told book depicts the life of a young girl, Thandi, in the Ndebele village in South Africa. The tone is friendly, wise, and joking; the writer speaks to the reader, calling her on the first page "stranger-friend" giving her a tour of the village and her life. The narrator seems wise beyond her years. Her best friend is a chicken, and she can tell the chicken all her secrets. The chicken has other uses, and the reader later finds out that chicken feathers are used as paintbrushes when they paint houses. The reader is told that the girl's name means hope in her language. The narrator has a second hope, to call the reader friend at the end of this book. The theme of hope was introduced on the first page of the book; Angelou dedicates the book to all the children, because they are the hope of the future. Like hope, the book has many thematic strands that continue to appear throughout. The book also contains recurring language that add to the symbolism and thematic recurrences, most notable is the author's use of the phrase "of course." The girl then explains the Ndebele custom of painting houses. All women paint their houses to be beautiful and colorful. It is clear that the girl is excited about her future in this custom, and she trains to become a strong painter with a steady wrist. The girl describes other customs such as beading, playing in small houses, and playing with penny whistles. She then talks about school, the other children in her village, and her brother, who is quite mischievous. She embraces the traditions and values of her tribe; she thinks that the people and houses in the city are plain and boring, and prefers her beautiful beads to the city bought uniforms she has to wear to school. The story is wrapped up with a return to the theme of the chicken, and the girl's playful and symbolic relationship with the reader, whom she now calls "friend."

[Sarah Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eight-year old Thandi introduces readers to her thriving Ndebele village in South Africa. She shares her daily life including her hand painted house, her friendly chicken, and her annoying brother.

Maya Angelou is a master at expressing personal experiences through the perspective of culture echoing her auto-biographical literature. The language is simple and reflects the speech and the conversation true to a child of that age. The story portrays the child as a whole person not merely an undeveloped adult and the world Thandi shares with us is robust, joyful and healthy.

The story is reinforced by photos of a Ndebele village community. The photos give the impression that the story is the conversation between the photographer and Thandi. The buildings are hand painted and much of the clothing is ornately beaded showing a culture that greatly values beauty and making art. The women dress up to visit town but their fashion is more elaborate and involved that North American culture, e.g. neck rings, beaded coverings. The photos have a photojournalistic element and celebrates world culture because it removes the barrier of stranger and establishes a connection through the eyes of Thandi. Recommended for readers exploring the cultures of the world.

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Painted House, My Friendly Chicken, and Me by Maya Angelouwith photographs by Margaret Courtney-Clarke is a story of Thandi, an Ndebele girl in South African. She is eight years old and her best friend is a chicken.
Full color photographs bring us into her village life and brings her village life closer to us building empathy and bridges.
Age Range: 3 - 7 years
Grade Level: Preschool - 2

[Mathew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautifully crafted Non-Fiction book about the life of Thandi, a young girl of the Ndebele people living in South Africa. Written in an almost poetic format by Maya Angelou and photographed by Margaret Courtney-Clarke, the layout and presentation of the words on the page worked really well for me. The first person narrative, told through the voice of the young girl works well in bringing a strong and moving message about culture and society of these people living on the fringes of a different world. I found the book touching and appreciate how Angelou has obviously gone to great lengths to try and capture the voice of the Ndebele people. Published in 1994, it would be interesting to know how different life for these people in their village is now.

[The Styling Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Painted House, My Friendly Chicken, and Me by Maya Angelou and photographs by Margaret Courtney-Clarke
I had to share this book again. I was chatting with my assistant about how this book is one of those ideal books that can fit so many research units in addition to numerous topics…

I love the voice shared in this book. The photographs are poignant, beautiful, and a perfect fit with the gorgeous text. I’ve shared this book for years as a world awareness book to share with students.

When I share this in the future, I now also have a video – embedded below – with some more beautiful images to view… Such a

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

A different kind of book. Published in 1994, the photographs have an "old" 90's look to them, but the subjects (women, children, painted houses) are so very different than our own that they are still fascinating. Maya's poem runs across the spread on most pages, a day in the life as told by a young girl whose best friend is her chicken. I'd read this to a group, but some of the pictures are small, so they might be hard to see. Might be better reading to a child on your lap. Good discussion starters for cultural differences and similarities. And maybe to figure out where these Ndebele people are from! Get out your globe!

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is written by the noted African American novelist and poet, Maya Angelou and illustrated with photographs of scenes from Ndebele life. The narrator is eight year old Thandi, who describes her house, her friends and her activities in a cheerful, lively way. My daughter liked Thandi's sense of humor, especially in describing her frustrations with her young brother. The text is fairly long and may be a little too "belle lettre" for some young readers, but the pictures and colors of the text keep it interesting.

[Nicole Cingiser]

This book brings the reader into a South African village through the eyes of a young Ndebele girl named Thandi. Thandi shares many things about her culture emphasizing the way that the women paint the exteriors of their homes in elaborate patterns. The combination of beautiful, vibrant photos and Maya Angelou's narration make this book a joy to read. In addition, it is a great springboard for children to find similarities and differences between their lives and Thandi's.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another great book for my diversity collection. It's about a little girl who talks about her best friend. Her best friend happens to be a chicken. The photos are wonderful and show how this child lives where they are from. You also have to read this book differently then you read a book. You read across both pages and not one page at a time. I talked about how children don't all dress a like and that some kids weren't wearing much in the photos.

[Hae Sun]

This book gives us a glimpse of what life is like in a Ndebele village in Africa. This book is written in the point of view of Thandi, a little girl.

I said this was a non fiction book because it gives us facts about life in a Ndebele village. I would use this book instruction when I talk about diversity and life outside of the United State. It would be perfect for a mini lesson because it is short and engaging.

[Christabelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

My oldest daughter says "I loved it!" My next daughter says it was boring. Perhaps a matter of perspective? It was fun getting inside the life of a kid in another part of the world. We lived the photography and the anecdotes of life outside our own. The only problem was that as I tried to read it aloud, all the kids kept clamoring to "Go back! I didn't finish looking at the pictures!" For those of us that liked it, it's definitely worth a re-read.

[Rana · Rating 2 out of 5]

While this book is a bit of a difficult read due to its different style of writing, it does dive into a very colorful life of a little girl, Thandi. This is a good book to get children discussing life in other cultures. I did not particularly care for it myself, but I do think it can still be a good book for some children.

[Ida · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book with delightful accompanying words. It brings back wonderful memories of the country from which I came. My children (young at the time) were lucky enough to have seen some of these incredible Ndebele homes which are so lovingly and amazingly painted.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading Angelou, and this children's book is an awesome reminder that children everywhere love their homes, families, and what are familiar. And, of course, the phonomenial photos, an essay unto itself. Angelou's depiction of a South African child has never left me.

[JoJo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw this and its color and appreciated a little look into someone else's tribe, world, secrets...which are not disclosed. get it for your kids.

[Cherokee Maxwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

i leaern that everyone is the same

[Arema · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 4 year old daughter loves this book, and the vivid photography.

[Yanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This

[Amy Cobbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Timeless! I appreciate how the pride of the Ndebele folk beams through Thandi's telling of her story. Powerful!