14 Cows for America

3.5

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Author(s)

Carmen Agra Deedy

Co-Authors / Illustrators

Thomas Gonzalez

Publisher

Peachtree

Genre(s)

Picture Book

Age Range

Release Date

August 01, 2009

ISBN

1561454907

Buy This Book

This New York Times Bestseller, from award-winning author Carmen Agra Deedy, is a true story of hope and generosity about a gift from a small Kenyan village to the people of America. This children's book was done in collaboration with Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah and features stunning illustrations by Thomas Gonzalez.

Editor reviews

2 reviews

A more gentle introduction to 9/11

December 27, 2016 (Updated: June 04, 2026)

Overall rating

3.5

Plot

4.0

Characters

N/A

Writing Style

N/A

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

3.0

This picture book details a real-life occurrence in the aftermath of the 9/11 devastation. The coauthor, Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah, visited his home in Africa while he was studying to be a doctor in the US. He told his tribe about the events of 9/11, and they were so moved that they decided to dedicate 14 cows to the US, since cows meant life to the Masai. This gesture of healing and hope was witnessed by the US ambassador, and the cows remain in Africa, where the herd has increased in size and is still held as a sacred gift.

Good Points

The pictures have a dark, dream like quality to them, especially when Kimeli is telling his unbelievable story of tall buildings and clouds of fire and ash. The mood is lightened a little, as is evident by the flashes of red as the celebration the ambassador attends. In general, the dark tones echo the sadness of the event.

The text is simple and a great way to introduce the topic to younger children, who may have heard
about the two towers but are not ready for too many details.

While there have been many books detailing the events of that day, such as Kalman's Fireboat, Aubin's The Survivor Tree, and Brown's American is Under Attack, it is interesting to get a more global perspective. Many schools study 9/11, especially since students today were almost all born after the event.

Karen Yingling, Staff Reviewer #1 Reviewer 2477 reviews

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A Gift For the American Heart

June 29, 2010 (Updated: June 04, 2026)

Overall rating

5.0

Plot

5.0

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Reader reviewed by Rita Lorraine Hubbard, The Original H.I.R. (Historical Investigative Reporter)

Here is a story that crosses vast oceans and glaringly different cultures, to warm the hearts of American readers.

14 Cows for America, by Carmen Agra Deedy, is a beautiful story of comfort and healing during our country's darkest hour. It is the story of Kimeli Naiyoma of the Maasai people of Kenya, who witnessed the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. Kimeli was studying medicine in America when he saw the towers fall. He carried the sorrow of that tragic day back to his village the following year, and his people, the fierce but compassionate Maasai, vowed to show kindness to the heartbroken Americans.

The question was, what could this modest people give to so great a country as the United States? The answer: Cows! The Maasai could offer their sacred cows, which were, to them, a symbol of life itself.

14 Cows is an unforgettable book. Award-winning illustrator Thomas Gonzalez uses earth-colors of brown and red to animate his stunningly-realistic drawings and make readers feel they have landed right in the middle of Kimeli's Kenyan village. Every page of art is breathtaking in its own right, from the achingly-beautiful African landscapes to several close-ups of the Maasai's wide brown eyes, shimmering with compassion.

Readers will absolutely love this book. The Maasai and their cows may not have made history in the sense that Americans know it, but this simple act of kindness will live on for generations. Because as Deedy writes in her book, "There is no people so small they cannot offer a mighty comfort."

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