Ndakukhula

A book written by Cyprien K.M. Akuete and illustrated by Karim Diallo, first, the visual treatment is the most attractive aspect about the book because of its white background and images that consists of drawings which are only meant to support the text.

Using this strategy works well because it allows the reader to have a fair concentration of the story through image and the words.
This is a relatable story as many of us have gone through “growth curiosity” constantly wondering of what will happen when we grow. The story is also relatable because as we grow to encounter different stages we are deprived certain things or we are only allowed to do certain things because of age and size.

The boy on the story takes us through different stages of grown, exploring different acts that show different capabilities that one is able to achieve based on age and size. We see him as a little boy fitting in a suitcase, to being able to reach mangoes on a tree. As the story continues, we see him taking on hard labour like building with bricks and hanging laundry on the laundry line. The little boy on the story is impatient and curious, all he wants is to grow to become a lawyer and protect people.

Through the little boy’s determination, we learn about different sizes and abilities that one is able to accomplish as they grow. What is most appealing about the story is that everything that the little boy is impatient to explore has to do with helping other people- contributing to the efficient running of the home and the community. He is very helpful, this is a very important principle for little children to learn that they need to be able to help others, their friends and their parents at home.

Apart from its concise language, the book is most appealing to children due to images of the people in the story, the relatable experience like hanging washing and helping build a house.

This books also allows the child to dream, it offers progressive images of black people. Through reading the book, a child might be motivated to do better and be better like willing to learn a computer and dreaming of becoming a lawyer.