This festive book shows families "of many shapes, tastes, sizes, and tones" celebrating the history, rituals, and principles of Kwanzaa. Gentle rhymes and half-rhymes carry readers along:
Everyone all around has labored with love to craft their zawadi,
each handmade and homespun.
The kinara is front and center, candles held and lined up —
seven, six, five, four, three, two, one.
A "Words to Know" section helps four-to-eight-year-old readers with possibly unfamiliar terms. Zawadi is Swahili for gift; a kinara is a candleholder for seven candles to celebrate the seven principles of Kwanzaa:
- Umoja (unity)
- Kujichagulia (self-determination)
- Ujima (collective work and responsibility)
- Ujamaa (cooperative economics)
- Nia (purpose)
- Kuumba (creativity)
- Imani (faith)
Each of these principles receives its own two-page spread with pictures full of community spirit, for instance, to illustrate cooperative economics, a lending library that doubles as a classroom. Sawyer Cloud's illustrations convey joy and mutual support, whether around a campfire or in the heart of a market.
We're grateful to authors Nyasha Williams and Sidney Rose McCall for making Kwanzaa's traditions so accessible. Passionate about storytelling, Williams advocates for diverse works of art, media, and literature that amplify otherwise unheard voices. McCall brings integrative stories to people across cultures and communities. Together, they've created a book that speaks to those who celebrate Kwanzaa and anyone who doesn't but appreciates an inside view.
