It Takes a Village

I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Benin and I love reading this story to my daughter to help her learn what Benin is like. The lesson the story teaches is so true to village life in Benin where everyone looks out for everyone. The pictues are beautiful and amazingly detailed depicting even the smallest details of the typical southern Beninese market including many of the typical prodcuts sold there such as Omo soap.

I simply adore this book. I was a Peace Corps volunteer in Togo (next door to Benin) and my daughter enjoys hearing my stories about Africa. We both love this book. The illustrations are a beautiful, astoundingly realistic depiction of life "au village". The story is sweet and entirely plausible. The title almost turned me off from the book but I'm sure glad it didn't.

It Takes A Village is the well-crafted story of Yeis who joins her mother for market day. She's been entrusted to watch after her little brother Kokou and is quite proud of her responsibility, so she heads off with her brother. Departing, she shares news that she's watching her brother all alone. Knowingly, her mother smiles...moments later Kokou is separated from Yemi and she searches through the marketplace worrying over his safety.Not only has Cowen-Fletcher given us a moving story, but it is complemented well by her beautiful colored pencils with watercolor washes. They bring out the importance of community and the saying "it takes a village to raise a child."Reviewed by Tee C. Royalof The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

I lived in Benin for two years and I must say that the drawings in this book are amazingly realistic and incredibly detailed. It is a wonderful story for children and families. I usually give it to first time parents (unique baby shower gift). Regarding the previous review - "Cho" and "Yay Gay" are interjections similar to "Oh No" or "Oh My".

I Love this book very much. Like Osa's Pride (Grifalconi, 1990), It Takes a Village (Cowen-Fletcher, 1994) depicts both universal and cultural specific themes. In the story, Yemi is learning to take responsibilities, watching her little brother while her mother is busy. And she is proud of being able to take such a responsibility. The positive portrayal of sibling relationship seems to be a common and preferable theme in many children's books. The culturally specific value, collectivism, is carried out through the story naturally and in an authentic manner. Cowen-Fletcher's first hand experience of living in Benin and her careful note in the end of the story add the authenticity to this story. In addition, Heath's study (1983) of child rearing practice among African Americans in rural areas of South Carolina also reveals this collective aspect of African culture. The author/illustrator is sensitive about the pronunciation of the child's name and explains it before the story. However, she does not explain the meaning or pronunciation of some Benin vocabulary in this book, such as "Yay gay" and "Cho". It would have been more helpful had she adds notes for these two words.