14 Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy in Collaboration with Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah, Illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez
Wow.
Do not let this unassuming cover fool you. 14 Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy in collaboration with Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah and illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez is a purely stunning picture book. When I finished reading the author’s note at the end, I had tears rolling down my cheeks. It’s a book that I think everybody needs to pick up and read both for it’s truly heartening, beautiful story and for it’s spectacular illustrations.
I usually don’t start off my book reviews with the book trailer but in this case I am because I want you to first see the amazing spreads of this book.
In June of 2002, Kimeli Naiyomah returns home to his native Kenya and the Maasai tribe after studying abroad in New York City. Kimeli was there on September 11, 2001 and watched the devastation upon his host country. When he returns home,
A child asks if he has brought any stories.
Kimeli nods.He has brought with him one story.
It has burned a hole in his heart.
And so he tells of buildings so tall that they can touch the sky, fires so hot they can melt iron and smoke, dust so thick they can block out the sun. A story that this village in Kenya had not yet heard.
The story ends.
More than three thousand souls are lost.
A great silence falls over the Maasai.Kimeli waits.
He knows his people.They are fierce when provoked
but easily moved to kindness
when they hear of suffering
or injustice.At least, an elder speaks.
He is shaken, but above all, he is sad.
“What can we do for these poor people?
As a child, Kimeli’s greatest ambition was to own a cow for his mother which is an animal that is the heart and soul of the Maasai tribe. He knows that to heal the pain in someone’s heart, you must give something that is close to your own heart. Now that he has earned enough for a cow, he asks the elders to bless a cow, “to make it special so the gift may take away some of the sadness from American hearts.”
The tribe is not content with just a gift of one cow and so they sacrifice from their own herd and give America a total of 14 cows which is presented in a beautiful, sacred ceremony. In the afterward Kimeli says, “We felt we had taken some of America’s pain into our Maasai hearts.”
14 Cows For America left me with profound compassion and respect for the Maasai people. I was truly touched.
The text of 14 Cows For America by Carmen Agra Deedy is simply beautiful and at the end of the book there is a note from Kimeli Naiyomah which fleshes out more of the details about his childhood, the 14 cows, and where those cows are now.
The story itself is beautiful enough that it could stand on it’s own regardless of the illustrations that accompany it but it’s truly remarkable that the strongest strength of this book is its stunning illustrations. My husband called them “haunting, mysterious and alive.” Thomas Gonzalez has set the tone for the story perfectly.
My two favorite illustrations are first when Kimeli is describing the 9/11 destruction and there is a swirl of color and clouds above him and the other is when the diplomat arrives in a jeep to the Maansai tribe and realizes that it’s no ordinary diplomatic visit but rather . . . turn the page and BAM! in your face full tribal splendor, dance and ceremony movement. Truly spectacular. I almost feel as though my meager words are giving the illustrations a disservice. So if you didn’t watch the above book trailer go back and do so.
Tomorrow I’ll be posting a video of Thomas Gonzalez as he describes the illustration process and offering a copy of 14 Cows for America to you as a giveaway sponsored by Peachtree Publishers. This book is one that you don’t want to miss so please a make a point of stopping by again. Edited to add: giveaway link.
A truly wonderful book that I’m proud to have in my home.
Links of interest: 14 Cows website with further study, teachers guide and more (still under construction), read more book reviews on the 14 Cows for America blog tour, Carmen Agra Deedy website, Thomas Gonzalez website, and more book blog reviews. Edited to add: 14 Cows for America giveaway and Thomas Gonzalez illustration process. Come share your thoughts about 9/11.
Genre: Non-Fiction Picture Book, Africa
Publisher: Peachtree Publishers, August 1, 2009.
Hardcover, 36 pages. ISBN 1561454907.
14 Cows for America is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.
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Tags: Africa, blog tour, book trailers, Cybils finalist, female author, Kenya, Non-Fiction, review copy, videos, war
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What a beautiful book. The words you posted,
“At least, an elder speaks.
He is shaken, but above all, he is sad.
“What can we do for these poor people?”
This book looks like it flows like poetry. I am definitely interested in knowing more.
on August 3rd, 2009 at 8:50 amHi Natasha
Such a beautiful book, filled with wonderful illustrations and poetry.
For these people to think of us on that dreadful day and to give something from directly from the heart is so touching.
How did you find this treasure?
on August 3rd, 2009 at 11:31 amI’ve heard of this book on a few other blogs but WOW. The quotes you posted actually brought tears to my eyes.
on August 3rd, 2009 at 12:38 pmI am so excited about this book and its message. Your review is touching and captures very nicely the spirit of the book. On Friday I am going to do a recap of all that has been in the blogosphere this week on 14 Cows and will have a link to your posting. I am hopeful of including the book in this year’s RIF Multicultural Book Collections we distribute through Macy’s sponsorship to selected RIF sites. Thank you for giving of yourself to promote this book!
on August 3rd, 2009 at 1:03 pmWow! A book that made you cry must be extra special! I cried just reading your review. What fabulous people.
on August 3rd, 2009 at 5:08 pmSheila – It just came out so go find it. You won’t regret it!
Patricia – I found this wonderful book while I was at BEA in NYC in May. I stopped by the Peachtree Publishers boot and talked with the publicist (who happens to follow me on Twitter already). She shared this book with me as they are really excited about it. And rightly so.
Heather – It is a very touching book, I’m glad that it brought you to tears.
Rasco from RIF – This book is definitely worth the promotion and I hope it does make the collection. It needs to be talked about.
Kathy – And I rarely cry! And with a picture book?!
on August 3rd, 2009 at 5:25 pmGreat review! I want to get it for my nieces and nephews, but wonder what ages it is good for?
on August 3rd, 2009 at 7:07 pmThis book sounds so amazing and beautiful! I must read it with my kids one day, hopefully soon.
on August 3rd, 2009 at 9:12 pmYou convinced me. I am going to buy this book for our library.
on August 5th, 2009 at 12:27 pmI haven’t read any 9/11 books yet. Not entirely sure why, but I haven’t.
on August 6th, 2009 at 10:45 am[...] the shortlists for the other categories on the Cybils site. Thrilled that my nomination for 14 Cows for America in non-fiction picture books made it through to the [...]
on January 4th, 2010 at 11:42 pm