My Rows and Piles of Coins Hardcover - 1999 - 1st Edition
by Tololwa M. Mollel; E. B. Lewis (Illustrator)
A Tanzanian boy saves coins to buy a bicycle so he can help his parents carry goods to market. Then he discovers in spite of all he has saved, he does not have enough money. Glowing watercolor images capture the warmth and strength of a young boy's giving heart.
Summary
From the jacket flap
I emptied my secret money box, arranged the coins in piles and the piles in rows....
The market is full of wonderful things -- roasted peanuts, rice cakes, toy trucks, kites -- but Saruni doesn't buy any of them. He is saving for something special. How happy and proud he will be when he can help his mother carry heavy goods to market on his very own bicycle!
Master storyteller Tololwa M. Mollel has created a lively tale of generosity and determination that earn unexpected rewards. Striking watercolors by E. B. Lewis capture the warmth of Saruni's family and the color and excitement of market day in Tanzania.Details
- Title My Rows and Piles of Coins
- Author Tololwa M. Mollel; E. B. Lewis (Illustrator)
- Binding Hardcover
- Edition number 1st
- Edition 1
- Pages 32
- Volumes 1
- Language ENG
- Publisher Clarion Books, Boston
- Date 1999-08-23
- Illustrated Yes
- Features Illustrated
- ISBN 9780395751862 / 0395751861
- Weight 0.98 lbs (0.44 kg)
- Dimensions 11.22 x 9.28 x 0.37 in (28.50 x 23.57 x 0.94 cm)
- Ages 04 to 07 years
- Grade levels P - 2
- Reading level 760
-
Themes
- Cultural Region: African
- Ethnic Orientation: African American
- Topical: Family
- Library of Congress subjects Money, Bicycles and bicycling
- Library of Congress Catalog Number 98021586
- Dewey Decimal Code E
Media reviews
Kirkus Reviews
Mollel draws on his own Tanzanian childhood for this story of a boy, Saruni, who works hard, saves all his coins for months and months, and dreams of buying a bicycle--only to discover that he does not have nearly enough money. Many children will relate to what it's like to save, plan, and count towards a dream ("I emptied the box, arranged the coins in piles and the piles in rows. Then I counted the coins and thought about the bicycle I longed to buy"). As in his stunning watercolors for Echewa's The Magic Tree: A Folktale from Nigeria , Lewis' paintings root the story in the particulars of the contemporary village and landscape. Through the child's eyes, the scenes move from the busy market, where Saruni helps his mother, to his home among the coffee trees, and to pictures of him wobbling and falling as he learns to ride his father's bicycle every day after school.... The pictures quietly express (the boy's) bond with his mother in work and in love.
Booklist, ALA
"A warm family story contains several universal childhood experiences: the pride in persevering and gaining a new skill and in making an unselfish contribution to the family. . . . the fluid, light-splashed watercolor illustrations lend a sense of place and authenticity. Watching Saruni's savings mount visu-ally is a nice touch. . . . Deft and effective." School Library Journal, Starred
"In an ending that makes this selfless hero an inspiration to readers, Saruni contemplates using his savings to buy a cart to pull behind his bike, to further lighten the loads his mother must carry. Lewis's engaging and lifelike paintings convincingly portray a range of images and emotions, including the verdant Tanzanian landscape and bustling marketplace, and, most affectingly, the strong bond between this boy and his loving parents." Publishers Weekly, Starred
Citations
- ALA Notable Children's Books, 01/01/2000, Page 1346
- Booklist, 08/01/1999, Page 2066
- Hornbook Guide to Children, 07/01/1999, Page 47
- Kirkus Review - Children, 06/15/1999, Page 968
- New York Times, 04/16/2000, Page 30
- Publishers Weekly, 08/16/1999, Page 83
- School Library Journal, 08/01/1999, Page 140
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My Rows and Piles of Coins
by Mollel, Tololwa M
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My Rows and Piles of Coins (Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Books)
by Mollel, Tololwa M.
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My Rows and Piles of Coins (Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Books)
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by Mollel, Tololwa M.; Lewis, E. B. [Illustrator]
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