Nana's Cold Days

Description

32 pages
$15.95
ISBN 0-88899-479-6
DDC jC813'.54

Publisher

Year

2002

Contributor

Illustrations by Bushra Junaid
Reviewed by Steve Pitt

Steve Pitt is a Toronto-based freelance writer and an award-winning journalist. He has written many young adult and children's books, including Day of the Flying Fox: The True Story of World War II Pilot Charley Fox.

Review

An African-Canadian family eagerly anticipates a visit from Nana, their
grandmother from Africa. But it is winter and as soon as Nana steps off
the airplane she declares, “Brrrr, it’s too cold for living
things.” Immediately, she climbs into the nearest bed and covers
herself with three blue top sheets, three red blankets, and three pink
comforters. Her family tries to coax her out with African music and
African food but Nana refuses to budge.

After three consecutive days in bed, Nana develops a loud barking cough
and the family sends for the doctor. The doctor diagnoses Nana with the
croup and prescribes plenty of cold winter air to effect a cure. To
everyone’s surprise, Nana immediately climbs out of bed and opens a
window. “Living things should dress warmly for the winter,” Nana
declares after she asks for a hot meal of plantains and palaver sauce.

This amusing picture book will ring true to any new Canadian who has
immigrated to friendly but frosty Canada from a warm country. Adwoa
Badoe’s story is funny and fast paced, but Bushra Junaid’s unusual
illustrations quickly steal the show. Junaid uses mixed materials
ranging from cloth patches to photographs to build her illustration
panels. The net result is a great story supported by extraordinary art.
Highly recommended.

Citation

Badoe, Adwoa A., “Nana's Cold Days,” Canadian Book Review Annual Online, accessed December 4, 2024, https://cbra.library.utoronto.ca/items/show/22288.