by Godfrey Nkongolo and Eric Walters
Orca Book Publishers, 2019
ISBN 978-1-4598-1700-5 (hc)
$19.95, 32 pp, ages 6 – 9
orcabook.com
Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest peak in Africa, is located in the northeast corner of Tanzania. In 1962 Julius Nyerere became the first president of this new republic (combining Tanganyika and the islands of Zanzibar). Before he became the president, Nyerere stated that he would like the people to light a candle at the top of the mountain to “shine beyond our borders, giving hope where there was despair, love where there was hate, and dignity where before there was only humiliation.”
Light A Candle is the story of a young boy, named Ngama, who climbs up the mountain against his father’s wishes to honour this request. As he trails behind his father and the group of men who are designated to this task Ngama experiences many challenges edpharm-france.com. The cold, the diminished oxygen levels and the steep climb do not deter him. Finally, as the sun is setting on the second day, the group reaches Uhuru peak. A beacon is built from the wood that the men have carried with them and Ngama is invited to light it with a torch as a signal of freedom.
Classroom Connections: Written in both English and Swahili, this beautifully illustrated book brings history to life for the young reader. With such a positive message of hope and community building, Light A Candle would be a welcome addition to classroom and library shelves. Making predictions, making connections, and asking questions are some of the reading comprehension strategies that would be a good fit for this book. The author’s note at the end of the book gives historical and geographical context to this story and could be used by teachers to extend the learning.
Review by Brenda Boreham.
This book review is featured in Canadian Teacher Magazine’s Spring 2021 issue.