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A group of ten Maasai children ranging in ages from toddler to young teen go on safari, accompanied by a spear-wielding older teen. Each double-page spread features rhyming text about the various animal groups they encounter, from 1 to 10 (“We all went on safari, When the day had just begun. We spied a lonely leopard. Arusha counted one”). Each page also shows the relevant number in bold, accompanied by the word for the number in Swahili, the official national language of Tanzania. The animals the children meet during the day range from those familiar to young readers (zebras and giraffes) to the more exotic (wildebeests and warthogs).
The vibrant illustrations show the children in their traditional clothes and striking beaded jewelry, walking barefoot through a jewel-toned and utterly stunning African landscape. The artwork reminded me powerfully of the idea that children’s first and most important exposure to art comes through their books. The artwork here is so gorgeous that I can easily imagine it framed on display in a gallery somewhere.
The text is followed by a glossary of the animals of Tanzania, the meanings of the children’s Swahili names, text about the Maasai people, Swahili numbers, and a map of Tanzania showing the Great Rift Valley, Serengeti National Park, and Lake Victoria.
I cannot think of a better way to introduce a young child to the wonderful diversity of our planet than through this brilliantly conceived and executed little book. By combining numbers, animals, and culture so seamlessly in one beautiful, easy-to-read-aloud book, Laurie Krebs and Julia Cairns have come up with a winner. I would give this book 6 stars if I could!
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We All Went on Safari: A Counting Journey through Tanzania