Habari Gani?: What's the News? : A Kwanzaa Story

by Sundaira Morninghouse

A seven-year-old American girl of African descent describes her family's attempt to make the celebration of Kwanzaa, a colorful, week-long festival of food and African traditions, part of their Christmas season.

Genres: Holiday

32 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1992

Reviews

[Carolyn at Bloomers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a nice story about a family celebrating Kwanzaa within their community. It weaves the African words within the story, and teaches the concepts of Kwanzaa without being too didactic. The story flows.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Habari Gani?: What's the News? depicts a family preparing for and experiencing the seven principles of Kwanzaa. The age level given for the book is 8-12 Years, however, younger readers can understand the principles because Morninghouse, relates the narrator as an approximately eight year old girl with a younger brother possibly four years old. Explanations and demonstrations are clearly explained so that the young brother may participate. This is one of the better Kwanzaa books that I have read which younger children may grasp, yet is not too simple for the older child.

[Abigail · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lots of information, almost too much. Hard to get into the story. Goes through each day of Kwanzaa, from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1. Lots of good information, though. Maybe better to use as a resource book.