When I Get Older: The Story behind "Wavin' Flag" by K'NAAN, Sol, Sol (2012) Hardcover

by K'naan

When I Get The Story behind "Wavin' Flag" by K'NAAN, Sol, Sol [Tundra ...

Genres: Africa, Picture Books, Nonfiction, Biography, Childrens, Social Justice, Poetry

Hardcover

First published November 8, 2011

About the author

Keinan Abdi Warsame (born 16 April 1978) (Somali: Keynaan Cabdi Warsame, Arabic: كَينَان عَبدِ وَرسَمَ Kaynān ʿAbdi Warsama), better known by his stage name K'naan (/ˈkeɪnɑːn/), is a Somali-Canadian musician. He rose to prominence with the success of his single "Wavin' Flag", which was chosen as Coca-Cola's promotional anthem for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Besides hip hop, K'naan's sound is influenced by elements of Somali music and world music. He is also involved in various philanthropic initiatives.

Reviews

[Dimitris Papastergiou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is it true when they say that all you need is just love? What about those who have loved only to find that it's taken away?

[Emily McCormick · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an ENL teacher for students ages 11-14, it is often difficult to find books that are at my students’ reading level, relevant, and age appropriate. While reading this book, my students were incredibly engaged and interested, because of the simplified language as well as the detailed illustrations. They have learned a lot from this book, and I believe that it has empowered them knowing that refugees are more than capable of achieving their dreams.

[Tracie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poet and rapper K'naan describes how his family fled civil war in their native Somalia to forge a new life--complete with different customs, strange clothes, a difficult new language, and snow--as refugees in Canada. Though the challenges were many, K'naan's passion for music and poetry helped him persevere.

This book unveils the inspiration behind K'naan's best-known song, "Wavin' Flag." While I haven't heard that song, I found K'naan's journey to be very inspiring. He is definitely a gifted wordsmith, and has a knack for distilling complicated issues into simple stories that kids can easily relate to. The vibrant illustrations by Rudy Gutierrez exude emotion as they deftly meld surreal elements with realistic portraits, adding further value to this well-executed picture book memoir.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

The true story of the song "Wavin' Flag" by K'naan. When war came to his African city, K'naan and his family became American, and then Canadian refugees. His poet Grandfather is unable to come with the family, but writes a short poem to reassure K'naan.

"When I get older,
I will be strong,
They'll call me freedom,
Just like a waving flag."

He teaches this poem to the other refugee children in his Toronto classroom, and together they sing it for the school talent show. Poetry and music become the magic that helps K'naan feel safe and express himself and his history.

Not at ALL my style of illustration, but a powerful, important story to be told.

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully told, poetic yet realisitic!
This book applies to so many young children I work with, especially males. I enjoy that the author references 'I chose to use my words instead of my fists'. He references wearing sandals even in the coldest Canadian temperatures. The real struggles of a young person joining a Canadian school context as a former refugee.
The notes in the back of the book are also beautifully written & shows author's country as a strong & proud nation.

Recommended for others to share with youth!

[Hugh Mcdonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

The true story as told by K'Naan is about his journey from the dangers of Mogadishu to the safety of being a refugee in Canada. It is the story behind his song. Beautiful!

[David Haggett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having heard the 2010 FIFA World Cup anthem often, I liked getting the story behind the song.

[Joelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing story behind the song, beautifully told, beautifully illustrated

[Shannon McCarty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this song, so of course I love the story behind it. One of the most inspirational stories I've read and can't wait to share the song and story with my class.

[Alison]

The title page of this picturebook memoir states that K'naan is the author "with Sol Guy" Illustrations by Rudy Gutierrez. K'Naan and his family fled Somalia when he was 13. This story actually is a biography of a song composed by K'Naan based on a poem from his grandfather. It is also a story about an immigrant's experience. K'Naan and his family fled Somalia when he was 13.

[Sunny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Soccer fans will be immediately familiar with the song, "Wavin' Flag" by Somali-Canadian rapper K'naan. This beautifully illustrated picture book takes us to the source of the song and introduces readers to his grandfather, one of the most famous poets in Somalia. The lines, "When I get older, I will be stronger. They'll call me freedom, just like a waving flag." carry through the story as K'naan's family moves first to New York City and then to Toronto as refugees. The illustrations are colorful and the lines feel full of life. The scenes depicting the happy parts of Somalia and the scary parts are very well done. I'd definitely recommend playing and singing the song alongside reading the book. The music and lyrics are included at the end and there are many recorded versions available online.

[Randy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember the first time I heard this song, and then when it was chosen as the anthem for the World Cup...Well, K'Naan has certainly become a world-wide phenomenon. This is his story, and we get a little insight into how this song has served as an inspiration to not only K'Naan himself, but now so many others in the world.

I picked this book up because I am always curious about the back story to these famous songs.

I finished it because it was short, and I ended up learning some things about K'naan's early life.

I would recommend this to Danny. He first introduced me to this song, so maybe he would want to know about how K'Naan came up with this song.

[CanadianReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely looking book that tells the story of the Waving Flag song, used by FIFA, but I really wish the story had told more about the reality of life for kids in Somalia and the experiences of a refugee child in North America. In the end this was a pretty book that missed a good opportunity to provide more information to Canadian kids about life in a very different place. The note at the back about Somalia uses some pretty sophisticated adult vocabulary--"democracy", "African Union", "protectorate" without providing any glossary or clarifying phrases for the target age group.

[Jessica Dykins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the illustrations in this book and even though it was written for little kids it was nice to read what K'naan had to say!

[Lizzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the bright colors and flowy illustrations.

[m.k.m. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!