Chocolate on a Tree

by Robert Peprah-Gyamfi

Based on the author’s own childhood memories, Chocolate on a Tree tells the story of a young boy, Kofi Mensah, growing up in a rural village in 1960s Ghana. Through a beautifully told story, you learn all the facts about cocoa and how it is made into chocolate.

Genres: Childrens

30 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 9, 2021

About the author

I was born in Ghana in a tiny village called Mpintimpi. I faced many difficulties and challenges, surviving illnesses and horrendous treatment by traditional doctors. Eventually, I moved to Germany where I qualified as a family doctor in 2001. In 2006 I moved to the UK. I combine my work as a doctor with that of writing and evangelism.

Reviews

[#AskMissPatience · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I like most about Robert Peprqh-Guamfi’s Chocolate on a Tree is, the story speaks to children’s curiosity for where things come from. If I were teaching a class about things we grow, other nations, or the day in the life of an elementary school student on a different continent this would be a top story.

This story taught me a few things and will surely help young children learn more as well from a relatable journey of what it means to be part of a family.

Mr Peprah-Ghandi self publishes a children’s series he calls Kiddy Kiddy Books. This is my second of the series. Following the life of Kofi. A boy discovering how the world works. Whether within his family or community.

This series works best if an adult reads to young children ages up to mid elementary. Able to respond to open ended questions.

In this installment Kofi is in his second year of school. About second grade. But this story can be read to younger or older children. As most children know what chocolate is will enjoy learning where it comes from.

This story is a wonderful way to introduce cultural diversity among nations. Via cross curriculum opportunities. Including social studies, science, art, math, etc.

If using with math recommend partnering Joey Benin’s Pebbles and the Biggest Number.

The story does a wonderful job with details. Could benefit children in metric and standard measure. As the author includes both while describing things like the size of the cocoa tree.

With Pebbles could expand county and discussing math activities. Ask open ended questions like, “how many cocoa beans are there on a tree?” “How far do the beans travel?” And, so on.

Tools for math could be a calculator plus abacus; and globe plus maps for a social studies activity and include names of countries, continents, etc.

For American readers, the word color is spelt colour. This opens the door to foreign language. The children can be introduced to other languages and the history of American English. I find fascinating. Your students or children may also especially if other than American speaking enrolled.

One year had six continents of children represented in the classroom. Several were not native tongue Americans. Acknowledging different ways to write words even if we read them in American English is a way to connect to one another.

Another different spelling is metres is meters in American English.

I like how the story explains Kofi’s family life. Similar to Countdown to a very special Christmas.

One take away; Kofi’s family is “poor”. Translates to team work. Everyone has their roll and helps. This can open discussions of economic differences between families.

Steve Hartmen from CBS does a series called Kindness 101. These can be introduced to the children as another teacher does. Users this to help the children learn empathy and kindness.

This can help students be kind toward others who do not have the same economic prowess. Making for a better collective student atmosphere.

Kofi is inspired by watching the adults and asks to help. Read to find out their solution. Super cute, to me.

The story can be used as a class play. As Kofi interacts with readers through the authors writing style.

Children will learn a lot about where the ingredients for chocolate come from. How it is harvested. Who does the work. Can relate as children as young as elementary age.

This could bridge stories about American farm communities through history. Where children use to be field hands.

The story could partner well with studies on gardening. Like, kindergarteners grow grass and other ages who grow marigolds as introductions to plants. Or, perhaps start a community garden.

The back of the book has a word glossary. This may help to read prior to the book or visit as a spelling or vocabulary test.

A few extra words like molecules would benefit the children being added to the glossary. A bit more explanation for understanding. Rather than in context of the story using “particle”.

This would be a great kick off section to sharing science basics. With pictures and models if any are available of an atom and molecule. Include a microscope exploration unit, too.

Lorries is another for the glossary. It’s a vehicle that transports. Asked Alexa :) Though the following page Mr Peprah-Gyamfi includes a drawing that is helpful.

My favorite part besides the theme is the ending. Kofi is excited to try chocolate someday. Mr. Asante, the man who purchases cocoa beans in the village promised to get a bar on one of his trips to a town.

I imagined Mister Rogers there speaking with Kofi about this. Gave me a big smile.

Children will learn so much about where their chocolate comes from and the endless possibilities for cross curriculum topics is plentiful. Ways to engage children with this fun story about a little boy in a small village who helps his family harvest cocoa and make money to support a living.

Asking the children about compare and contrasts to the way Kofi lives to them would be a great open discussion.

I really like Kofi. Mr. Peprah-Gyumfi includes hand drawn illustrations to inspire curiosity brings meaning to the story.

An art activity could include the children creating drawings and collages using their imagination to describe details from the book.

I applaud the author for creating a series to share the culture of his youth. Helping people around the world learn more about children like Kofi. Who support their family at a young age on the farm and in other ways.

It’s an exciting way to share the world of cultural diversity from the view of a child with guidance of adults.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Els · Rating 5 out of 5]

A choclate bar, chocolate mousse, a hot chocolate, chocolate cakes or tarts … All these things are so normal for us. We have them at home to enjoy any time we feel like it or there is so much choice in the supermarkets we hardly know which one to pick. But I have realized, after having read this book, that I never stop and think about what happens before chocolate is ‘born’.

This the story about little cocoa beans being born on a tree and growing up into this great delicacy that is so often to difficult to resist. 🙂

What we also don’t take in consideration is the back breaking work the farmers do to enable millions of people to enjoy this black gold. And this is what this book is all about. It’s written for children which means it’s very well explained and the text is accompanied by drawings to make it even more clear.

For us chocolate is part of our every day life. It’s very hard to imagine that some people did not ever have the chance or the pleasure to enjoy a piece.

I wonder what will happen next in this boy and his family’s life. 5 stars.

Thank you, Robert Peprah-Gyamfi

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Chocolate on a Tree" is a cute little book that introduces children to the growing of cocoa. The beautiful illustrations make this book suitable for even the youngest children, with fairly simple language that older children could read alone. It would be a perfect book for parents to share with their child (with a chocolate bar reward at the end!).

My thanks to the author. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting book about a young boy in Africa growing Cocoa on their farm. He really has not idea what chocolate is – in the near future a man is going to bring him a chocolate bar so he can see what his family is raising. The book goes through the process of what cocoa is, how it is grown and processed. I learned a lot and found it fascinating!

[Kelly Knapp · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an excellent example of a multicultural story. The story is interesting, uses content specific words, and contains a glossary.
Learning about another culture can open the readers minds to the fact that life varies greatly around the world.

[Theresa Wade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent children's book about coca beans. How one family's manual labor work is done. It teaches the reader the knowledge of how the process works. The reader also learns that not everyone has had the privilege of knowing what Chocolate taste likes.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Needs some work.

I like the information provided about the cocoa plants and the process. However, clearer illustrations would be helpful, and spaced more through the book. I think it would be better as seen more through Kofi’s eyes rather than just telling about the process.

[RACHEL · Rating 3 out of 5]

A delightful look at the growing of cocoa beans though I'm not sure how engaging it will be for children.

My copy was a gift through Goodreads First Reads.

[Angela Randall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

This is a good book for kids that explains how coco is made. I like that in a book.Nice book