I'll See You in Ijebu

I'll See You in Ijebu
Co-Authors / Illustrators
  • Diana Ejaita
Publisher Name
Barefoot Books
Age Range
4+
Release Date
March 12, 2024
ISBN13
9781646868445
ISBN10 or ASIN
      
A Read With Jenna Bookclub Pick on The TODAY Show!

★ “Eight-year-old Olu visits her mother’s family in Ijebu, Nigeria, as they observe Eid al-Adha . . . A loving embrace of faith and family and a wonderful window into Nigerian culture” – Kirkus Reviews, starred review

A Catholic girl growing up in the bustling city of Lagos, Nigeria takes a trip to spend a week with her Muslim extended family in the countryside town of Ijebu to celebrate Eid al-Adha. Her days in Ijebu are filled with celebrations, traditions and special time connecting with family. Breathtaking illustration and poetic writing draws the reader into the sensory experience of celebrating Eid in Nigeria, while detailed endmatter includes information about Nigeria and Eid al-Adha, recipe for Nigerian puff puff and more. A Read With Jenna Bookclub Pick on The TODAY Show!

Editor review

1 review
Gorgeously illustrated and brimming with soul.
Overall rating
 
4.8
Plot
 
5.0
Characters
 
5.0
Writing Style
 
4.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
5.0
What a beautiful book! The following is part of a poem in the book and gives you a glimpse of the beautifully written words and the soul that carries throughout:
"One family, many beliefs
The beauty of faith,
tradition, and love"
It truly is a book filled with beauty, faith, tradition, and love.
Olu, an 8-year-old Nigerian girl whose household holds to both Catholic and Muslim traditions, is traveling to Ijebu to spend Eid with her Muslim family. There she plays traditional games with cousins, sees street vendors, and helps aunties cook for the feasts—all presented in a back-and-forth of equally beautiful prose and poetry, with vibrant illustrations that further the soulful feel. Included in the back of the book were nonfiction sections on Nigeria; traditional food, games, and fashion; pronunciation guides for the interspersed Yoruba; author and illustrator notes; and my personal favorite, a recipe for Nigerian Puff Puff.
I loved every word of this book and have already shared with my library patrons. I do recommend this for kids older than the suggested 4+ age range, as it is quite wordy and requires a lot of explanation for younger readers, who tend not to have the required attention span.
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