Oh, No, Toto!

by Katrin Hyman Tchana, Louise Tchana Pami, Colin Bootman (Illustrator)

Toto Gourmand, an insatiable two-year-old who wants every single thing he sees, invokes panic throughout his West African village when his grandmother, Big Mami, brings him to the bustling marketplace.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Africa

32 pages, Library Binding

First published April 1, 1997

Reviews

[Allie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another weeding gem I came across today, and I'm keeping it because we definitely don't have a ton of Cameroonian stories. But more than that, a lot of picture books set in Africa tend to be pretty heavy on the message. This one is about a two year old who loooooooves to eat. Toto Gourmand is curious, adventurous, and so very hungry as he goes to the market with his grandmother. He causes a lot of trouble and chaos, but one reason I like this book is that everyone is really sweet and understanding. Even though he's a tiny hungry monster, he's still a two year old kiddo. The illustrations are also really beautiful. The back flap says the illustrator, Colin Bootman, is from Trinidad and mentions his vivid childhood memories of the bustling outdoor markets. That really comes through!

[Dennis Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh No Toto written by Katrin Hyman is a children's story of a young boy named Toto who loves to eat and habit continues to get him in trouble. It is a tale about a trip to the market with his mother where he accidentally cause damage to items to fulfill his gluttony. His mother has to pay of the merchants for damaged items.

The illustrations are captivating with its oil texture and realistic portrayal. The characters are of African decent and really portray the culture. The images are very detailed and the text is simple and really emphasized the title and stressed words of his mother, “Oh no Toto.”

[Mercedes Martines · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming story about a cute kid being mischievous. This story is great to read aloud because it is predictable and features a minority culture. The book even includes a recipe that was being made in the story!

[Chardell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great story is about a Cameroonian family that goes to the market to buy items for a special soup. While at the market, Toto gets into trouble.

[Aliyah Caldas]

great story to add diversity to my library -> Cameroon. Oil painted illustrations that go along with the text great. Would be great for a read aloud. Repetitive phrases

[Ryan Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Includes vocabulary and imagery from another culture with a fun story about a child who eats everything in sight.