The Matatu Paperback – Picture Book, August 23, 2016

Very sweet story. Looking forward to reading it to my Kenyan children to see how they relate to it.

Fun story. Both my daughters loved it. It combines modern day kids and a classic tale.

Such a fun book! I thought there would be a little more of the Swahili language used.

Having lived there for a few years, I found this story a delightfully reminiscent visit with the people of one of the many cultures of Kenya. The illustrations give a great impression of Matatus, villages and people in the countryside. The story is similar to other stories I remember from our time there, where animals are the characters and a moral is taught - similar to Aesop's fables. When I read it to my almost-three-year-old grandson, it kept his attention all the way through, and I enjoyed it as much as he did! I'd love to find other books like this that give such a wonderful glimpse into everyday life in various places, with sensitivity and respect, and without being preachy.

This delightful story book to read aloud is one of the 2013 Best Books for Younger Children in the annual Children's Africana Book Award competition run by the K-12 Outreach Council of the African Studies Association. Eric Walters' charming tale is equally carried by Eva Campbell's vivid watercolors which depict the hustle and bustle of daily life in a rural village in contemporary Kenya. Walters' tale adapts folktales from the Kamba community in Kenya to show how a grandfather incorporates his vast repertoire of stories about animals to entertain and educate a five year old grandson during a long bus trip. For more information about the Children's Africana Book Awards, see [...]

Nice story

Set in East Africa and inspired by a Kamba folktale, The Matatu is a fun and educational picture book by author Eric Walters. For his fifth birthday, Kioko takes his first ride on a matatu (privately-owned bus transportation in East Africa) with his grandfather. Soon his grandfather is telling him to watch for goats, sheep, and dogs. As Kioko obediently looks out the window, his grandfather shares a folktale about why the dogs chase the mini-bus, the goats run away, and the sheep stand still. Eva Campbell delightfully complements the congenial story with bright and colorful watercolors.Even if readers skip the Forward from the Director of the Creation of Hope and the author's note, most American children will soon realize that The Matatu is about a different culture. Women carrying baskets on their heads isn't the norm in the United States. The marketplace with its huts, houses, and stalls isn't a common sight. Mandazi (fried bread or East African doughnuts) might be an unknown term. And then there's the matatu, which attracts the attention of two dogs, and for which one deposits shillings to ride.The forward reveals that a Kamba folktale exists about matatus and animals. One day the Director of the Creation of Hope in Kenya shared a brief version of it with author Eric Walters. Finding the story hilarious, Walters decided to capture it in picture book format. Before Walters was allowed to do this, however, the Kamba people needed to designate Walters as one of their elders with the right to tell their stories. The author's note further reveals that drivers of the matatu "barrel along at whatever speed the road will allow" and drive on "whichever side of the road is least potholed".Although reading the two informational notes provides insight into The Matatu, the story can also stand on its own as a shared moment between a grandfather and a grandson. The bus ride contains twists and turns, as does the charming tale told by Kioko's grandfather. After reading The Matatu, young readers might become more curious about the stories their own grandparents have to share. They might also want to jump aboard an African bus for a ride with a dog, a goat, and a sheep!