Malaika’s mother can’t buy her a carnival costume — will she still be able to dance in the parade?
It’s carnival time — the first carnival since Malaika’s mother moved to Canada to find a good job and provide for Malaika and her grandmother. Her mother promised she would send money for a costume, and Malaika marks off the days on her calendar as she waits for Mummy’s letter to arrive. But when the letter finally comes, Malaika learns that there is no money for her costume.
Disappointed and upset at the thought of wearing her grandmother’s hand-me-down costume, Malaika leaves the house, running into Ms. Chin, the tailor, who offers Malaika a bag of scrap fabric. With her grandmother’s help, Malaika creates a patchwork rainbow peacock costume, and dances proudly in the parade.
This heartwarming story about family, community and the celebration of carnival is written in a blend of standard English and Caribbean patois. Nadia L. Hohn’s warm prose and Irene Luxbacher’s vibrant collage-style illustrations make this a strikingly original picture book.
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.6
With prompting and support, name the author and illustrator of a story and define the role of each in telling the story.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.1
Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
Malaika’s mother can’t buy her a carnival costume — will she still be able to dance in the parade?
It’s carnival time — the first carnival since Malaika’s mother moved to Canada to find a good job and provide for Malaika and her grandmother. Her mother promised she would send money for a costume, and Malaika marks off the days on her calendar as she waits for Mummy’s letter to arrive. But when the letter finally comes, Malaika learns that there is no money for her costume.
Disappointed and upset at the thought of wearing her grandmother’s hand-me-down costume, Malaika leaves the house, running into Ms. Chin, the tailor, who offers Malaika a bag of scrap fabric. With her grandmother’s help, Malaika creates a patchwork rainbow peacock costume, and dances proudly in the parade.
This heartwarming story about family, community and the celebration of carnival is written in a blend of standard English and Caribbean patois. Nadia L. Hohn’s warm prose and Irene Luxbacher’s vibrant collage-style illustrations make this a strikingly original picture book.
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.6
With prompting and support, name the author and illustrator of a story and define the role of each in telling the story.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.1
Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
| Published By | Groundwood Books Ltd — Mar 1, 2016 |
| Specifications | 32 pages | 10 in x 9 in 32 pages | 9 in x 10 in |
| Written By |
NADIA L. HOHN, B.A. (Hon.), B.Ed., M.Ed., M.F.A. is an award-winning educator and author of several books for children including the Malaika series, The Antiracist Kitchen: 21 Stories (and Recipes), and A Likkle Miss Lou: How Jamaican Poet Louise Bennett Coverley Found Her Voice. Nadia is an “artivist” who works to make sure that all young people see themselves in books. Based in Toronto, Nadia teaches elementary school and writing for children courses at post-secondary institutions. |
| Illustrated by |
IRENE LUXBACHER is an artist and author living in Toronto, Ontario, who has received many awards for her work. She has written and illustrated Deep Underwater, an Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Award finalist, and Mr. Frank, which was selected as a USBBY Outstanding International Book. Her illustrations for the Malaika series by Nadia L. Hohn have been highly acclaimed, and her illustrations for The Imaginary Garden by Andrew Larsen were shortlisted for the Governor General’s Literary Award. |
| Written By |
|
NADIA L. HOHN, B.A. (Hon.), B.Ed., M.Ed., M.F.A. is an award-winning educator and author of several books for children including the Malaika series, The Antiracist Kitchen: 21 Stories (and Recipes), and A Likkle Miss Lou: How Jamaican Poet Louise Bennett Coverley Found Her Voice. Nadia is an “artivist” who works to make sure that all young people see themselves in books. Based in Toronto, Nadia teaches elementary school and writing for children courses at post-secondary institutions. |
| Illustrated by |
|
IRENE LUXBACHER is an artist and author living in Toronto, Ontario, who has received many awards for her work. She has written and illustrated Deep Underwater, an Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Award finalist, and Mr. Frank, which was selected as a USBBY Outstanding International Book. Her illustrations for the Malaika series by Nadia L. Hohn have been highly acclaimed, and her illustrations for The Imaginary Garden by Andrew Larsen were shortlisted for the Governor General’s Literary Award. |
| Audience | ages 3 to 6 / grades P to 1 |
| Reading Levels |
Lexile AD610L
Guided Reading N |
| Common Core |
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.6
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.1 |
Commended, Commended TD Grade One Book Giveaway Selection, 2021, 2021
Winner, Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario Children's Literature Award, 2016
Commended, CCBC Best Books for Children and Teens, starred selection, 2016
Commended, School Library Journal Best Picture Books, 2016
Commended, USBBY's Outstanding International Books List, 2017
Commended, OLA Best Bets Honourable Mention, 2016
Runner-up, Américas Award Honorable Mention, 2017
Commended, Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Books of the Year, 2017
“A wholly earned celebration.” —Kirkus
“A fun choice for libraries seeking books about creativity in general or the Caribbean in particular.” —School Library Journal
“Like a rainbow peacock itself, the illustrations in this book burst with a frenzy of colors and textures.” —Booklist Online
“The text is told in the colloquial voice of the little girl, and readers will quickly and easily feel a part of her circle. Carnival is an important holiday in many cultures, and it's good to have a picture book to celebrate it.” —Horn Book
“This is actually a realistic portrait of the consequences of global immigration and economics. But it’s also the story of how much little girls love their moms. Beautiful.” —Globe and Mail
“Hohn employs a unique style of voice that is both figuratively and literaly lyrical.” —Canadian Children's Book News
“Malaika’s Costume is a highly recommended story that celebrates the different cultures of the world and the emotional journey of a young child.” —CM Magazine
“. . . an engaging, poignant story with exquisite taste and wonderful details.” —Kinderlit
Praise for author Nadia Hohn, illustrator Irene Luxbacher and Malaika’s Costume:
Commended TD Grade One Book Giveaway Selection, 2021
USBBY's Outstanding International Books List
Américas Award Honorable Mention
School Library Journal Best Picture Books
A Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Book of the Year
TD Summer Reading Club Recommended Read
"A wholly earned celebration." — Kirkus Reviews
"A fun choice for libraries seeking books about creativity in general or the Caribbean in particular." — School Library Journal
"Like a rainbow peacock itself, the illustrations in this book burst with a frenzy of colors and textures." — Booklist Online
"The text is told in the colloquial voice of the little girl, and readers will quickly and easily feel a part of her circle. Carnival is an important holiday in many cultures, and it's good to have a picture book to celebrate it." — Horn Book
"This is actually a realistic portrait of the consequences of global immigration and economics. But it’s also the story of how much little girls love their moms. Beautiful." — Globe and Mail
"Hohn employs a unique style of voice that is both figuratively and literaly lyrical." — Canadian Children's Book News
"Malaika’s Costume is a highly recommended story that celebrates the different cultures of the world and the emotional journey of a young child." — CM Magazine
". . . an engaging, poignant story with exquisite taste and wonderful details." — Kinderlit