When Malaika finds out she is going to have a new baby brother or sister, she worries that her mother will forget about her. But a surprise arrives on Malaika’s birthday that gives her more reason to celebrate her family’s love.
It’s summertime, and Malaika and Adèle are enjoying playing carnival in their bright costumes, dancing and laughing in the sunshine. But when Mummy announces that they will soon have a new baby brother or sister, Malaika is unsure how to feel about another change in her family. Will Mummy forget about me?
Back at school, Malaika is excited to see her teacher and classmates, and makes friends with a new girl who has recently arrived from a faraway country, just like Malaika. Then on her birthday, a surprise arrives to remind Malaika of the importance of family, and the story ends with a celebration of her family’s love.
Malaika’s Surprise is filled with the same warmth and charm as the first two books in the series, with Nadia L. Hohn’s enchanting prose, written in a blend of standard English and Caribbean patois, and Irene Luxbacher’s colorful collage illustrations.
Key Text Features
glossary
key text features
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.4
Ask and answer questions about unknown words in a text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.3
Describe how characters in a story respond to major events and challenges.
When Malaika finds out she is going to have a new baby brother or sister, she worries that her mother will forget about her. But a surprise arrives on Malaika’s birthday that gives her more reason to celebrate her family’s love.
It’s summertime, and Malaika and Adèle are enjoying playing carnival in their bright costumes, dancing and laughing in the sunshine. But when Mummy announces that they will soon have a new baby brother or sister, Malaika is unsure how to feel about another change in her family. Will Mummy forget about me?
Back at school, Malaika is excited to see her teacher and classmates, and makes friends with a new girl who has recently arrived from a faraway country, just like Malaika. Then on her birthday, a surprise arrives to remind Malaika of the importance of family, and the story ends with a celebration of her family’s love.
Malaika’s Surprise is filled with the same warmth and charm as the first two books in the series, with Nadia L. Hohn’s enchanting prose, written in a blend of standard English and Caribbean patois, and Irene Luxbacher’s colorful collage illustrations.
Key Text Features
glossary
key text features
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.4
Ask and answer questions about unknown words in a text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.3
Describe how characters in a story respond to major events and challenges.
| Published By | Groundwood Books Ltd — Mar 1, 2021 |
| Specifications | 32 pages | 10 in x 9 in |
| Keywords | blended family; new baby; birthday; Carribbean culture; black characters; French heritage; celebrations; holidays; festivals and special events; Canadian immigrant; new sibling; stepsister; adaptability; empathy; compassion; caring; inclusive; first person narration; child as narrator; figurative language; imagery; French language; Arabic language; patois; connecting; determining importance; Common Core aligned; CC Literature Key Ideas and Details; CC Literature Craft and Structure; |
| Written By |
NADIA L. HOHN is an award-winning writer and educator. Her picture books include, Malaika’s Costume, Malaika’s Winter Carnival and Malaika’s Surprise; A Likkle Miss Lou: How Jamaican Poet Louise Bennett Coverley Found Her Voice, illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes; Harriet Tubman: Freedom Fighter, illustrated by Gustavo Mazali; and two titles in the Sankofa series — Music and Media. Nadia’s writing is inspired by her childhood memories, Jamaican heritage, Black culture, world travels, and social issues. She lives in Toronto, Ontario. |
| 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 is an award-winning writer and educator. Her picture books include, Malaika’s Costume, Malaika’s Winter Carnival and Malaika’s Surprise; A Likkle Miss Lou: How Jamaican Poet Louise Bennett Coverley Found Her Voice, illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes; Harriet Tubman: Freedom Fighter, illustrated by Gustavo Mazali; and two titles in the Sankofa series — Music and Media. Nadia’s writing is inspired by her childhood memories, Jamaican heritage, Black culture, world travels, and social issues. She lives in Toronto, Ontario. |
| 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 7 / grades P to 2 |
| Reading Levels |
Fountas & Pinnel Text Level N
Guided Reading N |
| Key Text Features | glossary |
| Common Core |
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.3
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.4 |
Nominated, Forest of Reading — Blue Spruce Award, 2022
[A]n intimate and culturally rich picture book.
” —Kirkus Reviews“[A] joyful read.” —Huffington Post
A warm portrayal of a loving, close-knit community.
” —Horn Book[T]his picture book celebrates the expansion of a family we’ve grown to love.
” —Quill & QuireAn enjoyable, feel-good read for young children.
” —School Library JournalMalaika’s beautiful interracial family and new friendships make this story a powerful one.
” —Toronto StarMalaika’s Surprise offers a refreshing new sibling narrative … [the] joyful, textured illustrations are busy and inviting, like the other titles in this series, and the blend of English and Caribbean patois makes Malaika’s voice sing.
” —Canadian Children's Book NewsMuch of our lives, like Malaika's, involves change and a newness of circumstances. But what Malaika's Surprise demonstrates is that, though newness and change can be stressful because of the anticipation of the unknown, the reality is often not as bad as expected, especially with the knowledge that others care.
” —CanLit for LittleCanadiansMailaka’s Surprise celebrates culture, friendship and family in a captivating, warm way.
” —CM Review of MaterialsWritten in a combination of standard English and Caribbean patois, Hohn’s work celebrates family values and acceptance of cultural diversity. Bright and lively illustrations by Irene Luxbacher add to the book’s attraction.
” —Winnipeg Free PressHohn’s mastery of the craft command[s] a standing ovation.
” —Cloud Lake Literary