All Aboard for the Bobo Road

July 15, 2016
Climb onboard a busy bus in Burkina Faso.A brother and sister accompany their father as he drives his minibus on a long and winding road to Bobo in Burkina Faso. Fatima and Galo are excited to begin their journey, one that passes hippos in the lake, waterfalls, old rock domes, and forests. As they enter the city, they drive by fruit stands and the Grand Mosque, finally ending the trip at a railway station. The people, their luggage, sacks of rice, yams, watermelons, ducks, goats, and chickens--all come off. The travelers can now sell their wares, cook, and ride off on their bicycles and mopeds (also on the bus). But wait, there is one more wrapped package, and it is the best treat for Fatima and Galo: a "huge pot of rice, beans, and fried fish!" Davies, author of Don't Spill the Milk!, also illustrated by Corr (2013), who has lived in West Africa for years, gives readers an enchanting portrait of daily life along with opportunities to count goats, hippos, ducks, and more. Corr's folk-style gouache paintings pulsate with energy, bright colors, and design patterns. The natural world, the people, and the animals of Burkina Faso all have great appeal. Double-page maps open and close the tale, highlighting the colorful route. A delightful introduction to a lively way of life. (Picture book. 4-7)

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September 1, 2016

PreS-Gr 2-Fatima and Galo are helping their father, Big Ali, by loading the luggage for a trip to Bobo. Traveling along the Bobo Road in Burkina Faso, the children have the best view of the wild animals, waterfalls, and rock domes all around them because they ride on top of the bus. In this colorful picture book, readers are transported to West Africa for an everyday adventure to an extraordinary place. The tale capitalizes on the sights and sounds surrounding the children but also attempts to integrate counting in the narrative of the text. From the front flap, readers are instructed to "help count three bikes, seven melons, and even ten chickens," and the narrative does include a progressive buildup of things added to the bus (two mopeds, three bicycles, four cans of cooking oil, etc.); however, counting is never reinforced through the design of the text or any repetition in the story. Corr's images are vibrant folk-style depictions, created with gouache, that invite readers to experience a new kind of bus ride. VERDICT A light, fun read-aloud with some unusual twists.-Megan Egbert, Meridian Library District, ID

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