Imani’s Moon

Imani is the smallest in her village. The other children tease her endlessly. Soon, Imani starts to believe what they say. But when Imani listens to her mother’s stories, Imani wonders if she might do something great like the characters in the stories. Her mother assures Imani if she believes in herself, she will be able to do whatever she dreams. Imani decides she will touch the moon, then everyone will know being small cannot stop her. She tries to reach the moon by climbing a very high tree, but Nyoka the snake jeers at her. Other days bring other obstacles, but Imani keeps trying.

JaNay Brown-Wood has written an absolutely magical story of one child’s journey from disappointment and fear to joy and success. This is placed in a village of the Maasai, an African tribe and is imbued with their culture and framed by their jumping dance. The charming, colorful illustrations by Hazel Mitchell complete this gentle story perfectly. The combination of story and pictures will enchant every reader and will give young readers a new reason to believe in their own dreams. This is a very special book that will demand to be read over and over.