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Korobá
Korobá: The Case of the Missing Kolo
A charismatic young sleuth takes on a case close to home in this new graphic novel series set in a vibrant African community.
Ten-year-old Korobá knows everyone in Makoko, the Nigerian fishing village where she lives.
She knows her way up and down the bright, colorful waterways, knows where to sell fried shrimp, and knows what to look for at the crowded daily market. Makoko is her playground, and she roams free with her best friends, Saidat and Joba, and her adorable dog, Popi.
The last thing Korobá would expect in Makoko is a thief. Yet Saidat’s wooden piggy bank—her Kolo—has been stolen. The children of Makoko save coins in their Kolo all year long, waiting to spend their money at the annual harvest festival. Saidat saved and saved, but now she will have nothing. It’s not fair!
Korobá knows what good detectives do…(sort of?). Should the primary suspect be Saidat’s grumpy cousin, visiting on vacation? Or could it be the village carpenter, who has been doing some work on Saidat’s house? It's up to Detective Korobá to catch the thief and find the missing Kolo before Breaking Day!
Buckle up, budding mystery fans… It’s time to join Korobá and friends on their thrilling chase for the culprit. With rich, detailed illustrations—featuring some very important clues—that bring Makoko to life, this one-of-a-kind graphic novel series is a modern day Tintin meets Encyclopedia Brown.
Ten-year-old Korobá knows everyone in Makoko, the Nigerian fishing village where she lives.
She knows her way up and down the bright, colorful waterways, knows where to sell fried shrimp, and knows what to look for at the crowded daily market. Makoko is her playground, and she roams free with her best friends, Saidat and Joba, and her adorable dog, Popi.
The last thing Korobá would expect in Makoko is a thief. Yet Saidat’s wooden piggy bank—her Kolo—has been stolen. The children of Makoko save coins in their Kolo all year long, waiting to spend their money at the annual harvest festival. Saidat saved and saved, but now she will have nothing. It’s not fair!
Korobá knows what good detectives do…(sort of?). Should the primary suspect be Saidat’s grumpy cousin, visiting on vacation? Or could it be the village carpenter, who has been doing some work on Saidat’s house? It's up to Detective Korobá to catch the thief and find the missing Kolo before Breaking Day!
Buckle up, budding mystery fans… It’s time to join Korobá and friends on their thrilling chase for the culprit. With rich, detailed illustrations—featuring some very important clues—that bring Makoko to life, this one-of-a-kind graphic novel series is a modern day Tintin meets Encyclopedia Brown.
144 pages, Paperback
Published February 24, 2026
2 people are currently reading
2391 people want to read
About the author
Alaba Onajin
34 books14 followersÀlàbá Ònájìn is a children’s book author/illustrator born in Lagos state, Nigeria and has a Diploma in Freelance Cartooning and Illustration from The Morris College of Journalism, Surrey, Kent, UK. He is currently living in Gloucester, England, having recently emigrated from his home in Lagos, Nigeria. He has always had a passion for telling stories through his drawings, and as a child, was strongly influenced by the illustration style of Hergé’s Tintin series; these books sparked an energy to bring his stories to young readers around the world.
Ònájìn’s work includes two picture books with Maria Modugno at Random House Studio, Waaa Waaa Goes Tawa!, and Oh No, Ojo (2025). Past books include Anike Eleko, a comic book on girls’ education published by Farafina Books, On Ajayi Crowther Street, a graphic novel published by Cassava Republic in collaboration with the German cultural organization Goethe Institut, and other art collaborations with UNESCO on the Role of Women in African History Project, illustrating the lives of three great African women: Funmilayo-Ransome Kuti, Empress Taytu Betul of Ethiopia, and Miriam Makeba.
Ònájìn’s work includes two picture books with Maria Modugno at Random House Studio, Waaa Waaa Goes Tawa!, and Oh No, Ojo (2025). Past books include Anike Eleko, a comic book on girls’ education published by Farafina Books, On Ajayi Crowther Street, a graphic novel published by Cassava Republic in collaboration with the German cultural organization Goethe Institut, and other art collaborations with UNESCO on the Role of Women in African History Project, illustrating the lives of three great African women: Funmilayo-Ransome Kuti, Empress Taytu Betul of Ethiopia, and Miriam Makeba.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 19, 2026
This clever and adorable children's graphic novel series debut is an immersive delight from start to finish!
Koroba is a young girl who lives with her mom and two younger siblings in the fishing village of Makoko, Nigeria. Most of her school holidays are spent helping her mother catch, prepare and sell seafood, tho she's not above occasionally teasing her younger brother Taju as well. Her dog Popi is her constant companion, whether she's with family or with her best friends Saidat and Joba.
The annual Makoko Harvest Festival is just around the corner, and everyone is excited to celebrate. The kids, especially, are anticipating the traditional breaking of their kolo boxes. In the months leading up to the Harvest Festival, the kids save money in wooden piggy banks called kolo, that are often decorated in paint and colorful beads. A few days before the festival itself, the kids gather together to smash their kolos open so that they can use their savings to buy holiday-appropriate clothes and shoes, as well as treats if there's any money left over.
Three days before Kolo Breaking Day, Koroba heads to Saidat's house to return some money her mom borrowed from Saidat's mom. As expected, the best friends' chatter turns to talk of the upcoming festivities. Koroba is surprised that Saidat hasn't bothered decorating her box, but their discussions are interrupted by Saidat's grumpy cousin Risi, who hates that she's been sent here from the big city. Saidat's father Alhaji advises the girls to go spend time outdoors as Benson the carpenter is coming to fix some floorboards. Saidat thus accompanies Koroba first to visit Joba, then to help her sell spicy shrimp by boat. It's just another long, fun and productive day in Makoko, if somewhat marred by the dispute between Alhaji and Benson that the girls witness as Koroba drops Saidat off in the evening.
The next day is nowhere near as happy, however, when Saidat runs to meet her friends in the fish market, bearing alarming news. Her kolo has gone missing, and with it all the money she's meticulously saved up this past year. Koroba and Joba immediately spring into action, putting on their detective caps and making a list of suspects. Will they be able to figure out who stole the box and get the money back in time for Saidat to participate in the holiday and buy new clothes?
Alaba Onajin is up front with his inspirations for this charming graphic novel mystery, citing Enid Blyton, Carolyn Keene and Herge as direct influences. He's done credit to all of those luminaries while also creating something uniquely Nigerian. I literally had no idea of this aspect of Nigerian culture and geography before reading these pages, but felt deeply immersed in the world he was portraying, in no small part due to his terrific art. While he doesn't sugarcoat how hard everyone works or how poverty takes a toll or, via Risi, how relatively rough conditions can be, he does highlight the communal spirit, ingenuity and kindness of Makoko's residents. It's a delicate balancing act, celebrating the people without romanticizing their circumstances, and one he carries off with aplomb.
I'm really looking forward to the next book in this series, and highly recommend it for anyone who appreciates quality diverse fiction as well as an immensely satisfying children's mystery.
Korobá: The Case of the Missing Kolo by Alaba Onajin was published February 24 2026 by Holiday House and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!
This review first appeared at TheFrumiousConsortium.net.
Koroba is a young girl who lives with her mom and two younger siblings in the fishing village of Makoko, Nigeria. Most of her school holidays are spent helping her mother catch, prepare and sell seafood, tho she's not above occasionally teasing her younger brother Taju as well. Her dog Popi is her constant companion, whether she's with family or with her best friends Saidat and Joba.
The annual Makoko Harvest Festival is just around the corner, and everyone is excited to celebrate. The kids, especially, are anticipating the traditional breaking of their kolo boxes. In the months leading up to the Harvest Festival, the kids save money in wooden piggy banks called kolo, that are often decorated in paint and colorful beads. A few days before the festival itself, the kids gather together to smash their kolos open so that they can use their savings to buy holiday-appropriate clothes and shoes, as well as treats if there's any money left over.
Three days before Kolo Breaking Day, Koroba heads to Saidat's house to return some money her mom borrowed from Saidat's mom. As expected, the best friends' chatter turns to talk of the upcoming festivities. Koroba is surprised that Saidat hasn't bothered decorating her box, but their discussions are interrupted by Saidat's grumpy cousin Risi, who hates that she's been sent here from the big city. Saidat's father Alhaji advises the girls to go spend time outdoors as Benson the carpenter is coming to fix some floorboards. Saidat thus accompanies Koroba first to visit Joba, then to help her sell spicy shrimp by boat. It's just another long, fun and productive day in Makoko, if somewhat marred by the dispute between Alhaji and Benson that the girls witness as Koroba drops Saidat off in the evening.
The next day is nowhere near as happy, however, when Saidat runs to meet her friends in the fish market, bearing alarming news. Her kolo has gone missing, and with it all the money she's meticulously saved up this past year. Koroba and Joba immediately spring into action, putting on their detective caps and making a list of suspects. Will they be able to figure out who stole the box and get the money back in time for Saidat to participate in the holiday and buy new clothes?
Alaba Onajin is up front with his inspirations for this charming graphic novel mystery, citing Enid Blyton, Carolyn Keene and Herge as direct influences. He's done credit to all of those luminaries while also creating something uniquely Nigerian. I literally had no idea of this aspect of Nigerian culture and geography before reading these pages, but felt deeply immersed in the world he was portraying, in no small part due to his terrific art. While he doesn't sugarcoat how hard everyone works or how poverty takes a toll or, via Risi, how relatively rough conditions can be, he does highlight the communal spirit, ingenuity and kindness of Makoko's residents. It's a delicate balancing act, celebrating the people without romanticizing their circumstances, and one he carries off with aplomb.
I'm really looking forward to the next book in this series, and highly recommend it for anyone who appreciates quality diverse fiction as well as an immensely satisfying children's mystery.
Korobá: The Case of the Missing Kolo by Alaba Onajin was published February 24 2026 by Holiday House and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!
This review first appeared at TheFrumiousConsortium.net.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Set in a Nigerian fishing village, this graphic novel features 3 friends working together to solve the mystery of a special savings bank gone missing. Koroba is an energetic, hard-working older sister who loves to spend time with her two best friends, Saidat and Joba, between her daily chores of checking shrimp traps, selling them after her mother turns them into a spicy delight, and helping her mother sell the fish she’s caught. Saidat is a talented seamstress who is meticulous about noting important details around her and Joba takes his inventions and construction seriously, keeping them under wraps until they are exactly right. An annual festival is just a few days away and the children in the village are anxious to break open the traditional banks, called kolos, they have been adding money to all year so they can purchase needed items as well as a few just for fun goodies but Saidat’s has gone missing. Joined by Koroba’s adorable puppy Popi, the group brainstorms possible suspects and begins to investigate.
Author Alana Onajin,Nigerian by birth, grew up loving the detective books of her day and now brings one to readers in grades 1-4 set in a real life community in her home country. While far more simple than the Nancy Drew she loved, the elements of those classics are there-friends working together, gathering clues to support hypotheses, and making mistakes along the way. A sub plot about Saidat’s grumpy cousin provides a model of kindness and finding your joy where you are and after the thief is revealed, the message of kindness is reiterated and forgiveness is added. Text is brief but clearly develops the personalities of not only Koroba and her friends but her younger brother and friend Mausi. Her detailed drawings give plenty of context to allow younger readers to determine word meaning as well as provide a vivid setting that may be unfamiliar to most. A glossary of Yoruba words used is provided, but with the rich context, will only be necessary for a few. Also included in the back matter are more details about the community of Makoko.
Target age: grades 1-4
Profanity: none
Sexual Content: none
Violence: none
LBGTQ+: none
Representation: All characters are Black/Nigerian; Saidat and her family are Muslim; and all characters, with the possible exception of cousin Risi, seem to be struggling financially.
Thanks for the print arc, Holiday House, and I look forward to seeing the full color final book.
Author Alana Onajin,Nigerian by birth, grew up loving the detective books of her day and now brings one to readers in grades 1-4 set in a real life community in her home country. While far more simple than the Nancy Drew she loved, the elements of those classics are there-friends working together, gathering clues to support hypotheses, and making mistakes along the way. A sub plot about Saidat’s grumpy cousin provides a model of kindness and finding your joy where you are and after the thief is revealed, the message of kindness is reiterated and forgiveness is added. Text is brief but clearly develops the personalities of not only Koroba and her friends but her younger brother and friend Mausi. Her detailed drawings give plenty of context to allow younger readers to determine word meaning as well as provide a vivid setting that may be unfamiliar to most. A glossary of Yoruba words used is provided, but with the rich context, will only be necessary for a few. Also included in the back matter are more details about the community of Makoko.
Target age: grades 1-4
Profanity: none
Sexual Content: none
Violence: none
LBGTQ+: none
Representation: All characters are Black/Nigerian; Saidat and her family are Muslim; and all characters, with the possible exception of cousin Risi, seem to be struggling financially.
Thanks for the print arc, Holiday House, and I look forward to seeing the full color final book.
October 11, 2025
ARC provided by Young Adult Books Central
In this graphic novel, we meet Korobá, who lives in Makoko, Nigeria with Iya, her mother, four year old brother Taju, and baby sister Pofpof, as well as their dog, Popi. As the Harvest Festival approaches, Korobá and her friends at St. Helenś Primary School investigate how much money theye gathered in their Kolo boxes, and plan their purchases of clothing and food for the festival. Korobá has decorated hers, but her friend Saidat has not. Saidat has to deal with her cousin Risi, who is visiting from the city and rather snobby about the more rough and tumble life in a fishing village. There is also a carpenter working on the floor of her house. When Saidat's Kolo box goes missing, Korobá helps to investigate. There are plenty of suspects, from Risi to the carpenter, to Mausi, a friend who has been acting suspiciously. The real test of the Kolo box's ownership is that Saidat's knows exactly how much money is in the box. Will Korobá be able to find the thief before the Harvest Festival?
An author's note mentions that Makoko is a real place, and has high levels of poverty. The graphic novel allows young readers to not only follow Korobá's exploits, but to see how different Makoko may be from their own homes. It is a fishing village, and many of the houses and buildings are on stilts above the water, and the children often travel in boats. There are lots of good details about the Harvest Festival as well.
The artwork, which will be in full color in the finished book, does a great job of capturing Korobá and her friends, from their clothing to the range of expressions on their faces. Even Popi sometimes has an adorable scowl on his face!
I'm a huge fan of reading about the lives of children in places other than the US and Canada. I have had a few students with Nigerian backgrounds, and this would be especially interesting to them. Atinuke's Too Small Tola or Anna Hibiscus also have characters of Nigerian descent, and this graphic novel will be popular with readers who like gentle mysteries like Smith's The Great Cake Mystery, Butler's Kayla and King books or Haldar's Word Travelers.
In this graphic novel, we meet Korobá, who lives in Makoko, Nigeria with Iya, her mother, four year old brother Taju, and baby sister Pofpof, as well as their dog, Popi. As the Harvest Festival approaches, Korobá and her friends at St. Helenś Primary School investigate how much money theye gathered in their Kolo boxes, and plan their purchases of clothing and food for the festival. Korobá has decorated hers, but her friend Saidat has not. Saidat has to deal with her cousin Risi, who is visiting from the city and rather snobby about the more rough and tumble life in a fishing village. There is also a carpenter working on the floor of her house. When Saidat's Kolo box goes missing, Korobá helps to investigate. There are plenty of suspects, from Risi to the carpenter, to Mausi, a friend who has been acting suspiciously. The real test of the Kolo box's ownership is that Saidat's knows exactly how much money is in the box. Will Korobá be able to find the thief before the Harvest Festival?
An author's note mentions that Makoko is a real place, and has high levels of poverty. The graphic novel allows young readers to not only follow Korobá's exploits, but to see how different Makoko may be from their own homes. It is a fishing village, and many of the houses and buildings are on stilts above the water, and the children often travel in boats. There are lots of good details about the Harvest Festival as well.
The artwork, which will be in full color in the finished book, does a great job of capturing Korobá and her friends, from their clothing to the range of expressions on their faces. Even Popi sometimes has an adorable scowl on his face!
I'm a huge fan of reading about the lives of children in places other than the US and Canada. I have had a few students with Nigerian backgrounds, and this would be especially interesting to them. Atinuke's Too Small Tola or Anna Hibiscus also have characters of Nigerian descent, and this graphic novel will be popular with readers who like gentle mysteries like Smith's The Great Cake Mystery, Butler's Kayla and King books or Haldar's Word Travelers.
June 12, 2025
I had no idea what this book would be about, I simply saw the hijab wearing girl on the cover and started reading the 144 page graphic novel. And let me tell you, it was an absolute delight to spend time with this group of ten year olds in the fishing village of Makoko in NIgeria, just before the harvest breaking festival. Koroba tells the story, but every side character brings joy, insight, and charm through the illustrations and texts. There is no judgement, all the kids work, all the families are struggling, that is just life, and there is a lot of heart, adventure, and fun to be had each and every day before school starts back. But this isn't just a story about getting ready for a festival, the bustling little village has a thief in their midst, and Koroba and friends are going to find out who has stolen Saidat's kolo.
I love that I learned about a city, a little about a culture, and a holiday, all while this trio ran around helping their families, supporting one another, and solving a mystery. There is no religion in the book, but Saidat's parents are referred to as Alhaja and Alhaji and the glossary denotes that, that is the title of a Muslim who has gone for hajj. There are plenty of visible hijab wearing #muslimsintheillutrations in the diverse city, and I look forward to shelving the entire series for my kids to read. Fun and well done.
I love that I learned about a city, a little about a culture, and a holiday, all while this trio ran around helping their families, supporting one another, and solving a mystery. There is no religion in the book, but Saidat's parents are referred to as Alhaja and Alhaji and the glossary denotes that, that is the title of a Muslim who has gone for hajj. There are plenty of visible hijab wearing #muslimsintheillutrations in the diverse city, and I look forward to shelving the entire series for my kids to read. Fun and well done.
April 15, 2026
A cute start to a new mystery graphic novel series! Koroba and her friends are excited for Kolo Breaking Day. The day they finally get to break their piggy banks after a year of saving and spend their money on food, clothes, candy, books, and more at the Breaking Day Festival. But when Saidat's Kolo is stolen, Koroba will stop at nothing to return it to her and bring the culprit to justice. But who could it be? The carpenter who worked at Saidat's house that day? Saidat's super grumpy cousin? or someone else entirely? Good thing Koroba is determined and observant.
Beautiful art and a lot of interesting facts about Makoko, a place I had never heard of. Really enjoyed this and am looking forward to future entries in the series.
Beautiful art and a lot of interesting facts about Makoko, a place I had never heard of. Really enjoyed this and am looking forward to future entries in the series.
April 2, 2026
Koroba lives with her family in the Nigerian fishing village of Makoko. She and her friends are eagerly anticipating their annual harvest festivals where all the kids will get to break their “kolos” or piggy banks and buy whatever they like using their savings. But then her friend, Saidat’s kolo gets stolen and it’s up to Koroba and her friends to find it before the festival. This is a beautifully illustrated young graphic novels for fans of classic mysteries like Cam Jensen and Encyclopedia Brown. Koroba is a lively, bright main character that kids will enjoy following through the series. Ages 7+
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Super cute and a great intro for kids who are interested in mysteries. Reminiscent of Nancy Drew and Bobbsey Twins, where friends work together to solve mysteries, here the setting is a small fishing village in Nigeria. And through it all, it's Korobá and her best friends, Saidat and Joba, who search for Saidat’s missing kolo (piggy bank) before the huge festival. Excellent illustrations and story, what else does a kid want?
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
March 25, 2026
Love this graphic novel -- so cool to see one set in a small fishing village in Nigeria, where kids are being kids (and detectives). Very cool to learn about the kolo tradition and it's got a fabulous and feisty main character, with several excellent friends. Appealing, accessible, and the art is so intricate! This is where's waldo level of visual splendor -- there's just so much to see and enjoy in the various spreads.
April 4, 2026
A wonderful cozy setting in a fishing village with a tight-knit community, where Koroba and her friends play and help their families. The mystery of the missing kolo (piggy bank) is doable for kids, and also plays fair if the reader pays attention to the clues in both the text and the pictures. Despite the unfamiliar setting for most American readers, the adventure is interesting and the feelings will be familiar.
April 8, 2026
A thrilling mystery reminiscent of The Famous Five and Tintin. Vibrant panels and dialogue-based storytelling make this an engaging and rapid graphic novel read. Love the African setting (small fishing village in Nigeria) and lively characters. I’ll be looking out for the next one in the series.
March 10, 2026
This reminded me of The Great Cake Mystery in all the best ways. It’s a solid mystery with heart for younger kids.
March 12, 2026
I really enjoyed this graphic novel. It's a cute little quick read set in a fishing village in Africa. Young and emerging readers will like this little mystery and this group of friends.
April 9, 2026
A fantastic read. I loved how well the author tied in the mystery with the cultural traditions.
April 9, 2026
very cute!!
March 19, 2026
TLDR: For fans of fierce girl detectives, readers in the early chapter book level and anyone waiting for a new Tolo installation from Atinuke
Koroba: The Missing Kid introduces a new intrepid kid detective and her trusty friends. Koroba lives in the fishing community of Makoko in Nigeria with her Mom, two younger siblings and dog, Popi. Like many kids around the world she is in eager anticipation for an upcoming local holiday—a yearly harvest festival. But when her friend’s kolo box, containing the money she has been saving all year for, is stolen she knows immediately she is the girl detective for the job.
What works:
*The place is set somewhere foreign to the average American kid but Koroba’s experiences with friendship and responsibilities are universal
*Technically perfect mystery in terms of pacing and misdirection
*Brimming with heart
*Happy illustrations and vibrant coloring
*The whydunit wasn’t malicious and all the kids reactions demonstrated strong emotional intelligence and empathy
Koroba: The Missing Kid introduces a new intrepid kid detective and her trusty friends. Koroba lives in the fishing community of Makoko in Nigeria with her Mom, two younger siblings and dog, Popi. Like many kids around the world she is in eager anticipation for an upcoming local holiday—a yearly harvest festival. But when her friend’s kolo box, containing the money she has been saving all year for, is stolen she knows immediately she is the girl detective for the job.
What works:
*The place is set somewhere foreign to the average American kid but Koroba’s experiences with friendship and responsibilities are universal
*Technically perfect mystery in terms of pacing and misdirection
*Brimming with heart
*Happy illustrations and vibrant coloring
*The whydunit wasn’t malicious and all the kids reactions demonstrated strong emotional intelligence and empathy
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews