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Portrayals of Poverty
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From: Kemienix_at_aol.com
Date: Wed, 11 May 2011 09:28:24 -0400 (EDT)
Robin and Monica are spot on about the "Anna Hibiscus" series set somewhere in West Africa. It is a totally delightful series. While Anna herself is not poor, one of her adventures involves setting out dressed in finery. She alarms the extended family in which she lives by coming home in her underpants. She literally gives "the shirt off her back," (in her case, a dress) to a poverty-stricken child.
The tone is cheerful, the characters ring true, and the setting is authentic. I applaud calling the setting "amazing Africa," as children in other parts of Africa can identify, strongly, I believe, with Anna. I love reading the episodic adventures of this appealing child. The books will be slightly exotic to our children, in a good way, but the thoughts and emotions are universal. Comparisons may be odious, but shorthand for the CCBC friends is that Anna is the African "Ramona."
Received on Wed 11 May 2011 09:28:24 AM CDT
Date: Wed, 11 May 2011 09:28:24 -0400 (EDT)
Robin and Monica are spot on about the "Anna Hibiscus" series set somewhere in West Africa. It is a totally delightful series. While Anna herself is not poor, one of her adventures involves setting out dressed in finery. She alarms the extended family in which she lives by coming home in her underpants. She literally gives "the shirt off her back," (in her case, a dress) to a poverty-stricken child.
The tone is cheerful, the characters ring true, and the setting is authentic. I applaud calling the setting "amazing Africa," as children in other parts of Africa can identify, strongly, I believe, with Anna. I love reading the episodic adventures of this appealing child. The books will be slightly exotic to our children, in a good way, but the thoughts and emotions are universal. Comparisons may be odious, but shorthand for the CCBC friends is that Anna is the African "Ramona."
Received on Wed 11 May 2011 09:28:24 AM CDT
