Elizabeti's School - A Contemporary Tanzanian Tale

Elizabeti’s School – A Tanzanian Tale of the First Day of School

Elizabeti is preparing for her first day of school. Her Mom braids her hair, she says good-bye to her little cat and hugs her little brother and sister. Elizabeti’s School is a contemporary Tanzanian story about how Elizabeti prepares and experiences her first day of school and then realizes the wonders and joys of learning. It’s a multicultural and wonderful adventure for any child who is going off to school for the first time.

Title: Elizabeti’s School

Author: Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen

Illustrator: Christy Hale

Publisher: Lee and Low Books – New York, New York

Publication Year: 2002

About Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen: Author of two award-winning books (Elizabeti’s Doll and Mama Elizabeti), Ms. Stuve-Bodeen was a Peace Corps volunteer in Tanzania in the 1980’s. She now lives in Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in Hawaii with her husband and their children.

Review: A very nice and engaging story about Elizabeti’s first day of school. She is nervous but excited for the new adventure. As her Mother braids her hair, she fidgets. She puts on her school uniform and twirls. She hugs her little brother and sister goodbye – but wonders what they are doing and if they will miss her – because she will sure miss them. Her older sister brings her to school and shows her the ropes – but while Elizabeti misses her family – she enjoys learning to count to five in Swahili, writing her letters, learning to play Machaura – a game with rocks, and learning a beautiful dance.

When Elizabeti returns home, she shows her family all the things she has learned that day – and get’s a surprise of her own!

Elizabeti’s school is a fantastic way to explain to children the wonders that await for them in Kindergarten. Yes, Elizabeti misses her family during the day – but the exciting things that she learns is worth being away for a while. At the end of the day – when the house is quiet, Elizabeti decides she wants to go back to school the next day to experience all the wonders that lay in store – she always returns home at the end of the day – and that’s good because home is the best place to be.

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This is an excellent read for any young child – at home or at school. It’s a great story and it teaches about language (Swahili) and culture. It talks very well, about the anxieties and anticipation of new things. I give Elizabeti’s school 5 stars!

Ages: 4-6

Rating: 5 Stars