Reviewed by Paige Pagan
Review Source: Teaching for Change
Book Author: Naaz Khan
Note: While we recommend this book for early elementary children as it focuses on community and is an ideal read aloud, we also want to point out a few things to keep in mind while reading. Although the setting of the story is in Zanzibar, there’s little Zanzibari history presented. This is unfortunate because there are so few children’s books set in this Tanzanian archipelago. As the book focuses on a dala dala ride from Stone Town to Nungwi Beach in Unguja, there were many missed opportunities to include historical landmarks and other key places. Stone Town is a historical trade center and houses many 17th-19th century landmarks, such as The House of Wonders, Old Fort, and many others.
In addition, the intercultural aspects of the story are only indirectly presented. While the author’s note mentions the various cultural influences on Zanzibari music, crafts, architecture, and cuisine, that mixture isn’t directly reflected in the narrative. Zanzibar’s large Muslim population is recognized in the author’s note, but is only represented through the women’s Islamic attire and the daladala passengers’ shout of “Alhamdulillah!” (p. 30) when they finally reach the shore of Nungwi Beach.
Introducing this book to children can serve as a segue into discussions on Zanzibar’s rich history.
This note is based on a discussion with Brenda Randolph, founder and director of Africa Access.
Paige Pagan is a Social Justice Books Program Specialist at Teaching for Change.
Room for Everyone by Naaz Khan
Published by Simon and Schuster on November 9, 2021
Genres: Africa, Read Alouds
Pages: 40
Reading Level: Grade K
ISBN: 9781534431409
Review Source: Teaching for Change
Publisher's Synopsis: A young boy on a crowded bus discovers that, after some wiggles and giggles, there’s room for everyone in this lighthearted rhyming picture book set in Zanzibar.
The dala dala rumbles and roars as Musa and Dada drive off to the shore — but the bus stops for multiple detours: “Do you need a ride? It’s hotter than peppers out there in the sun! Come in, there’s room for everyone!”
One stop becomes two stops which soon becomes ten, and Musa wonders when it will end: “How can any more people get in? We’re already smushed like sardines in a tin!” But there's always room for one more, if you make the room, which is the heartwarming take-away from this bouncy, joyous tale in rhyme.
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