Una cancion para Jamela

Jamela #5

by Niki Daly

The summer holidays are here and Jamela is bored as a girl can be! All she can think about is the Afro-Idols TV final, so when she lands a job at Divine Braids hair salon, she can't believe her eyes when Afro-Idols celebrity Miss Bambi Chaka Chaka arrives at the salon to be coiffed. But while Jamela's idol dozes and Aunt Beauty designs her starry hairdo, a buzzy fly appears on the scene and threatens to ruin everything . . . Can creative Jamela save the day?

Genres: Picture Books, Africa, Childrens, Fiction, Cultural, Family

Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Nicholas "Niki" Daly, South African illustrator and children's book author.

http://www.childlit.org.za/ndaly.html

Reviews

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book sight unseen because I love these books.

This one falls a little flat for me. Jamela is bored, her mother sends her to visit with her aunt at her aunt's hairdressing salon, a star comes in for the South African version of "American Idol" (Afro-Idols... maybe it's not limited to South Africa? I don't know), she falls asleep while they braid her hair, Jamela accidentally smacks the hairdresser's behind with a flyswatter and the poor star ends up with a reverse mohawk from the razor.

These books always have simple resolutions and happy endings, and I'm not faulting that, they're picture books. But this time the solution was found too quickly, and it seems a little too pat. The star never notices a third of her hair has been shaved off (although she might figure it out in the morning) and nobody fesses up.

It just seemed a little too unrealistic. Most of the Jamela books, I really like. This one... not so much. Unless you're a big fan, pass it by. Get Jamela's Birthday or Jamela's Dress instead.

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh. A good enough story about a spunky girl, with a message of being open to improvisation. Apparently, this is part of a series?

[Hannah]

If I were a kid today, Jamela would be my Amazing Grace.

[Christine Turner]

Summary
The summer holidays are here and all Jamela can think about is the Afro-Idols TV final. So, when she lands a job at Divine Braids hair salon, she can't believe her eyes to see Afro-Idols celebrity, Miss Bambi Chaka Chaka, in the salon. But while Jamela's idol dozes and Aunt Beauty designs her starry hairdo, a buzzy fly threatens to ruin everything. Can creative Jamela save the day?

Notes
Niki Daly has won many awards for his work. His groundbreaking Not So fast Songololo, winner of a U.S Parent's Choice Award, paved the way for post-apartheid South African children's books. Since then, he has been widely published and has spoken in several countries. Among his many books, Once Upon a Time was an Honor Winner in the U.S. Children's Africana Book Awards, and Jamela's Dress was chosen by the ALA as a Notable Children's Book and by Booklist as one of the Top Ten African American Picture Books of 2000. Both live in Cape Town, South Africa.


Subject:
Jamela (Fictitious character) -- Pictorial works -- Juvenile fiction.
Celebrities -- South Africa -- Pictorial works -- Juvenile fiction.
Beauty shops -- Juvenile fiction.

[Erin Reilly-Sanders · Rating 2 out of 5]

Parts of this were really enjoyable- mainly the setting in South Africa and all the little elements of their culture that show up in both the pictures and the dialog but also the whimsical lines of the characters that dance across the page. All of the women (and men too) portrayed are depicted as individuals with different facial structures and body shapes, all of which somehow come across as attractive despite not conforming with traditional standards of western beauty. On the other hand, some of the textures in the backgrounds, didn't do it for and seemed sort of overly digital in a way that came of as cheesy rather than fun. This can be most easily seen on the endpapers where the vignette of Jamela is adorable but the washed out stripes and stars are too pastel in a sort of stomach twisting way that is difficult to articulate. I also found the story amusing but had some qualms about the hair salon shaving off part of the star's hair by mistake and not telling her. I love how they covered it up but felt bad about the dishonesty of it.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was going to only give this 4 stars, but my 3 year old keeps coming back to this, so there must be something about the story that has that extra bit of oomph. It is a fun and clever story, complete with uh-oh moments, dreams of being big, times with family, clever problem-solving, and even singing. I was worried about the focus on beauty, but even that is both matter-of-fact and humorous, so it may not be a problem as far as girl's esteem goes.

[Connie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute enough story about a young girl trying stay busy over the summer, and her interest in the show "Afro Idols" and it's star "Bambi Chaka Chaka". Illustrations are well done and it will appeal to girls bridging from picture books/readers to chapter books.

[Cathal Atkinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a real favourite of the children I read it to. The book is set is South Africa. It is an interesting clever and enjoyable story. The book is focused around beauty but it is humorous throughout so I don't think there is any problem with that.

[Alyx Campbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Age: Preschool
ECRR: Narrative Skills, Read, Talk

[Chloe Richardson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good be used in school in EYFS, KS1, and years 3/4. The illustrations are beautiful and mentions aspects of South African culture, which would be beneficial to teach about diversity. The glossary at the back is beneficial in explain differences in language used.

[Jenna Mills · Rating 3 out of 5]

My 2yo loves it

[Lea Kielsholm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sydafrikansk børnebog. Lidt kedelig, men hvis man i forvejen godt kan lide bøgerne om Jamela, er den udmærket.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not sure one could come up with a better character name than Miss Bambi Chaka Chaka. Fabulous.