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Too Small Tola #1
Too Small Tola
Tola may be small, but she's very determined.
Three delightful stories about Too Small Tola, a young girl who, though small, is very determined. Tola lives in a flat in Lagos with her sister, Moji, who is very clever; her brother, Dapo, who is very fast; and Grandmummy, who is very bossy. Tola proves to be stronger than she seems when she goes to market with Grandmummy and manages to carry home a basket full of yams and vegetables, chilli peppers and fish. When the taps in the flat don't work, it's Tola who brings water from the well, and it's Tola who saves the day when Mr Abdul, the tailor, needs his goods to be delivered quickly. Too Small Tola is a wonderful new character in the world of children's books by multi-award-winning children's writer and storyteller Atinuke.
Three delightful stories about Too Small Tola, a young girl who, though small, is very determined. Tola lives in a flat in Lagos with her sister, Moji, who is very clever; her brother, Dapo, who is very fast; and Grandmummy, who is very bossy. Tola proves to be stronger than she seems when she goes to market with Grandmummy and manages to carry home a basket full of yams and vegetables, chilli peppers and fish. When the taps in the flat don't work, it's Tola who brings water from the well, and it's Tola who saves the day when Mr Abdul, the tailor, needs his goods to be delivered quickly. Too Small Tola is a wonderful new character in the world of children's books by multi-award-winning children's writer and storyteller Atinuke.
96 pages, Hardcover
First published January 2, 2020
24 people are currently reading
469 people want to read
About the author
Atinuke
43 books205 followersAtinuke is a Nigerian-born author who started her career doing traditional oral storytelling. Her books include a Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor Winner, a Notable Book for a Global Society, a Cybils Award Winner, and an Africana Award Winner. She lives in Wales.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews
July 27, 2021
If you are good at something, better than anyone else, it would be a crime not to use your talents for the greater good. Take Atinuke. I can remember the very first time I read one of her books. It was way back in 2010 when Kane/Miller Press released the very first Anna Hibiscus book in America. It was an early chapter book, one of the more maligned reading levels for kids. Unlike most children’s books, early chapter books take up a very small window in a young reader’s life. They last for two years, maybe three tops. Yet for all that, they’re the gateway to more advanced thinking and processing. Many chapter books believe that their purpose in life is to encourage children to keep reading. To do this, they compete to be as silly as possible. There are some books, though, that take a different tactic. When Atinuke, for example, writes an early chapter book, she keeps the fun but adds all kinds of layers as well. An Atinuke story doesn’t shy away from problems, but also taps into the child character’s very identifiable emotions, the matter-of-fact, day-to-day life they lead. Add in funny characters, funny situations, funny lines, and then wrap each story up perfectly by the end with a tiny message that’s there if you want it and not there if you don’t. Nobody does this balancing act better than Atinuke. And like the debut of her new series Too Small Tola, she has turned her books into small masterpieces. Read these books, ye other mighty authors, and despair.
“Tola lives in a run-down block of apartments in the megacity of Lagos, in the country of Nigeria.” How’s that for a beginning! Living in an apartment with her soccer obsessed older brother, her brainy older sister, and her tough as nails Grandmommy, Tola finds it hard to be the youngest. She’s smaller than everybody, but that doesn’t mean she has to take being called “Too Small Tola” lying down. In three Tola-sized adventures, we watch her hold her own. In the titular “Too Small Tola”, the first story, Tola and Grandmommy run an errand of sheer endurance, and reap the rewards. In “Small But Mighty” a bully discovers that women aren’t the easy targets he expected. Finally, in “Easter and Eid” Tola discovers she has something to offer a friend in need that truly saves the day.
When we go back and try to think of some of the first early chapter books published in the English language that feel contemporary today, one gal comes immediately to mind: Ramona. But Beverly Cleary’s specialty wasn’t just creating three-dimensional characters with a minimal number of words. Each chapter in a Ramona book is a perfect little short story. They may have elements that carry over, but if you pluck them out of the book, they stand on their own. Atinuke follows in that same tradition. Whether we’re talking about her Anna Hibiscus series or The Number One Car Spotter, she too knows how to tell a remarkably short story. This is not an easy task. If it were you’d see it done well more often. In this little book, we manage to get three little stories in a mere 89 pages that engage and enthrall. Moreover, when you end them, you start flipping the pages back and forth, convinced that there must be more story lurking in there somewhere. Or was that just me?
I’m not going to make a lot of friends with this next point but there is one thing that Atinuke excels at that doesn’t really come up in the Ramona stories. You can certainly argue that Klickitat Street is present and accounted for in the Beverly Cleary books, but it can’t hold a candle to the role that Lagos, Nigeria holds in Too Small Tola. You smell, feel, hear, touch, and occasionally taste Lagos. It is present. It is accounted for. It is unforgettable. And what really makes it remarkable is that these are stories about the people that the aforementioned Anna Hibiscus might look down on from her series. Atinuke is on the other side of the compound now, but she’s doing something really slick. Tola’s life is hard, no question, but you’re not reveling in her poverty. It may be the main antagonist of the series, but it isn’t crushing Tola or her family members. Each one of them (even her annoying brother Dapo) is handling their life in a different way. Each one has dreams and aspirations and some of them have plans to boot. Their lower income lives aren't played up in an unrealistic way. But at the same time, there's not magical solution to what ails them. Just smarts and guts.
One thing about this book confuses me, though. It concerns illustrator Onyinye Iwu. I don’t understand. If Ms. Iwu is this good, why have we not yet flooded the market with her books? I am happy to see on her website that a sequel to this book may yet make it to our shores someday (Too Small Tola and the Three Fine Girls) as she is the perfect illustrator for this series. I just want to see more of her work in the future. Nigerian herself, the publisher lucked out in tapping her for these titles. After all, Ms. Iwu knows exactly how to draw Easter outfits appropriate for people on a wide range of economic strata. She knows how to depict a woman with feet “spilling out over tiny-tiny shoes.” Grandmommy’s outfits, jerry cans, a rusty yellow danfo mimibus, it’s all here. But best of all is Tola herself. Look at her. Look at her face. You like Tola immensely, even before you’ve heard her say a word. Some authors must compensate for the inadequacies of their illustrators. This author is lifted by her artist. Words and picture move in tandem, complementing one another to perfection.
Atinuke keeps busy these days. At some point in the process people began to realize what a gift she was to children’s literature. Now she does lots of picture books of all kinds, and a bit of nonfiction too. Still, I get the feeling that early chapter books will always be her first love. I’m beginning to see other authors try to copy her style, all in vain. You’d have to practice for a very long while to duplicate the calculated degree of heart and the humor embedded in an Atinuke title. I know Atinuke can’t keep producing these books forever, but for as long as she can, let us hope that she does. Our kids are getting some of the best books in history right now. The least we can do is buy them.
For ages 6-9.
“Tola lives in a run-down block of apartments in the megacity of Lagos, in the country of Nigeria.” How’s that for a beginning! Living in an apartment with her soccer obsessed older brother, her brainy older sister, and her tough as nails Grandmommy, Tola finds it hard to be the youngest. She’s smaller than everybody, but that doesn’t mean she has to take being called “Too Small Tola” lying down. In three Tola-sized adventures, we watch her hold her own. In the titular “Too Small Tola”, the first story, Tola and Grandmommy run an errand of sheer endurance, and reap the rewards. In “Small But Mighty” a bully discovers that women aren’t the easy targets he expected. Finally, in “Easter and Eid” Tola discovers she has something to offer a friend in need that truly saves the day.
When we go back and try to think of some of the first early chapter books published in the English language that feel contemporary today, one gal comes immediately to mind: Ramona. But Beverly Cleary’s specialty wasn’t just creating three-dimensional characters with a minimal number of words. Each chapter in a Ramona book is a perfect little short story. They may have elements that carry over, but if you pluck them out of the book, they stand on their own. Atinuke follows in that same tradition. Whether we’re talking about her Anna Hibiscus series or The Number One Car Spotter, she too knows how to tell a remarkably short story. This is not an easy task. If it were you’d see it done well more often. In this little book, we manage to get three little stories in a mere 89 pages that engage and enthrall. Moreover, when you end them, you start flipping the pages back and forth, convinced that there must be more story lurking in there somewhere. Or was that just me?
I’m not going to make a lot of friends with this next point but there is one thing that Atinuke excels at that doesn’t really come up in the Ramona stories. You can certainly argue that Klickitat Street is present and accounted for in the Beverly Cleary books, but it can’t hold a candle to the role that Lagos, Nigeria holds in Too Small Tola. You smell, feel, hear, touch, and occasionally taste Lagos. It is present. It is accounted for. It is unforgettable. And what really makes it remarkable is that these are stories about the people that the aforementioned Anna Hibiscus might look down on from her series. Atinuke is on the other side of the compound now, but she’s doing something really slick. Tola’s life is hard, no question, but you’re not reveling in her poverty. It may be the main antagonist of the series, but it isn’t crushing Tola or her family members. Each one of them (even her annoying brother Dapo) is handling their life in a different way. Each one has dreams and aspirations and some of them have plans to boot. Their lower income lives aren't played up in an unrealistic way. But at the same time, there's not magical solution to what ails them. Just smarts and guts.
One thing about this book confuses me, though. It concerns illustrator Onyinye Iwu. I don’t understand. If Ms. Iwu is this good, why have we not yet flooded the market with her books? I am happy to see on her website that a sequel to this book may yet make it to our shores someday (Too Small Tola and the Three Fine Girls) as she is the perfect illustrator for this series. I just want to see more of her work in the future. Nigerian herself, the publisher lucked out in tapping her for these titles. After all, Ms. Iwu knows exactly how to draw Easter outfits appropriate for people on a wide range of economic strata. She knows how to depict a woman with feet “spilling out over tiny-tiny shoes.” Grandmommy’s outfits, jerry cans, a rusty yellow danfo mimibus, it’s all here. But best of all is Tola herself. Look at her. Look at her face. You like Tola immensely, even before you’ve heard her say a word. Some authors must compensate for the inadequacies of their illustrators. This author is lifted by her artist. Words and picture move in tandem, complementing one another to perfection.
Atinuke keeps busy these days. At some point in the process people began to realize what a gift she was to children’s literature. Now she does lots of picture books of all kinds, and a bit of nonfiction too. Still, I get the feeling that early chapter books will always be her first love. I’m beginning to see other authors try to copy her style, all in vain. You’d have to practice for a very long while to duplicate the calculated degree of heart and the humor embedded in an Atinuke title. I know Atinuke can’t keep producing these books forever, but for as long as she can, let us hope that she does. Our kids are getting some of the best books in history right now. The least we can do is buy them.
For ages 6-9.
November 22, 2024
Squee!
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Ah, this lived up to my expectations, even my highest hopes. Not only is this a wonderful story, but it's illuminating for all ages. How much do you know about the megacity of Lagos? About the mix of 21st century technology and 19th century plumbing? About finding hope & joy in what even the poor in America would consider crushing adversity? Not to mention income inequality etc.
But still, emphasis is on the joy, love, neighborliness, family ties.
I eagerly look forward to the sequel.
Oh, and more by the illustrator, too, please.
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Reread in prep. for sequels. Oh, yes, a delightful & funny & fascinating read.
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Reread again for the joy it makes me feel. I checked out the whole series because **love**. This time I also noted that the last 'story' in this advanced leveled reader would work well for Easter and for Eid, because this is part of how some in Lagos celebrate those holidays. And this year they aligned!
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Ah, this lived up to my expectations, even my highest hopes. Not only is this a wonderful story, but it's illuminating for all ages. How much do you know about the megacity of Lagos? About the mix of 21st century technology and 19th century plumbing? About finding hope & joy in what even the poor in America would consider crushing adversity? Not to mention income inequality etc.
But still, emphasis is on the joy, love, neighborliness, family ties.
I eagerly look forward to the sequel.
Oh, and more by the illustrator, too, please.
---
Reread in prep. for sequels. Oh, yes, a delightful & funny & fascinating read.
---
Reread again for the joy it makes me feel. I checked out the whole series because **love**. This time I also noted that the last 'story' in this advanced leveled reader would work well for Easter and for Eid, because this is part of how some in Lagos celebrate those holidays. And this year they aligned!
June 1, 2022
Short stories set in a large Nigerian city about Tola and her family. Since children in some communities may not find this on their own, this would be a great classroom read-aloud. Read a chapter or two to familiarize them with Tola and her world.
July 15, 2021
We love Atinuke in our household! We absolutely adore the Anna Hibiscus books, Baby Goes to Market is one of my youngest's favorite picture books, and I was really impressed with Africa Amazing Africa: Country by Country. I looked forward to Too Small Tola eagerly and it was very good, though it also wasn't quite what I was expecting. It is still generally sweet and upbeat, but it lacks the warm-and-fuzzy, comfortably-situated extended family that Anna Hibiscus knows. It presents a different look at modern Africa.
Tola lives with her older brother and sister and Grandmommy in a one-room apartment in a run-down building in a large city. Her father moved to the UK for work (because, Grandmommy says, who can find a stable job in Nigeria!?) and sends money home. The mother is never mentioned. Brother is obsessed with football (soccer) and cars, sister is extremely focused on her studies as she has a scholarship to a good school -- they tease Tola sometimes for being so small -- they usually rise to the occasion when help is needed. Grandmommy is formidable but also loving. Life is not easy, but it's not miserable, either. Sometimes the electricity works, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes the water runs in the (shared) bathroom faucet, sometimes the children have to lug heavy jugs of water from the pump downstairs and be late for school. (But, Grandmommy reminds them, it could be worse -- they could be living in a cardboard box!) When Grandmommy and Tola go to market, they have to walk a long way, past stinking gutters and the market is all on mud.
While I can't say that the reading experience was as joyful as that of Anna Hibiscus (the realities presented are painful, though I appreciate that they are never sensationalized), I am impressed at what Atinuke has accomplished here in presenting a picture of modern Nigeria to young readers. In the chapter where Tola and Grandmommy go to market, it is eye-opening for young American readers to see what it takes for them to bring home groceries. The mention that Grandmommy distrusts air conditioning and thinks it is bad magic, or that she doesn’t know what a computer mouse is (while Tola feels very grown-up because she knows things even though she is so much younger than Grandmommy) subtly shows the difference in generations and that some in Africa do still believe in juju. The story about Eid and Easter shows that many in Africa are Christian, and many are Muslim, yet those in this story are all supportive of one another and their different celebrations. When the tailor who is to make Tola’s family’s Easter clothes is injured on his bike by a motorcycle, Tola and her brother help gather measurements for his remaining orders so that he can still make the clothes and will still be able to afford rent and his family’s Eid feast. The customers range from slightly better off than Tola’s family to a very wealthy celebrity, showing the vast range in economic and social status in modern Africa. I appreciate that one of the wealthy is presented as being snobby and rude, while the other is seen as being very nice (also, elsewhere in the book some of the poor people aren’t the nicest, but some are very kind). The overarching message of “small but mighty” is important, too.
Highly recommended, especially because books on modern Africa are few and far between, especially for this age group, and it’s done so well here. Do note that American audiences might cringe at a few word choices, a few people in the book are called “fat” (not derisively but as a statement) and one of the elderly neighbors is called Mrs. Shaky-Shaky (she must have Parkinson’s or something like) though she is respected and actually performs a heroic act so, again, I don’t think it is meant as any sort of name-calling.
Tola lives with her older brother and sister and Grandmommy in a one-room apartment in a run-down building in a large city. Her father moved to the UK for work (because, Grandmommy says, who can find a stable job in Nigeria!?) and sends money home. The mother is never mentioned. Brother is obsessed with football (soccer) and cars, sister is extremely focused on her studies as she has a scholarship to a good school -- they tease Tola sometimes for being so small -- they usually rise to the occasion when help is needed. Grandmommy is formidable but also loving. Life is not easy, but it's not miserable, either. Sometimes the electricity works, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes the water runs in the (shared) bathroom faucet, sometimes the children have to lug heavy jugs of water from the pump downstairs and be late for school. (But, Grandmommy reminds them, it could be worse -- they could be living in a cardboard box!) When Grandmommy and Tola go to market, they have to walk a long way, past stinking gutters and the market is all on mud.
While I can't say that the reading experience was as joyful as that of Anna Hibiscus (the realities presented are painful, though I appreciate that they are never sensationalized), I am impressed at what Atinuke has accomplished here in presenting a picture of modern Nigeria to young readers. In the chapter where Tola and Grandmommy go to market, it is eye-opening for young American readers to see what it takes for them to bring home groceries. The mention that Grandmommy distrusts air conditioning and thinks it is bad magic, or that she doesn’t know what a computer mouse is (while Tola feels very grown-up because she knows things even though she is so much younger than Grandmommy) subtly shows the difference in generations and that some in Africa do still believe in juju. The story about Eid and Easter shows that many in Africa are Christian, and many are Muslim, yet those in this story are all supportive of one another and their different celebrations. When the tailor who is to make Tola’s family’s Easter clothes is injured on his bike by a motorcycle, Tola and her brother help gather measurements for his remaining orders so that he can still make the clothes and will still be able to afford rent and his family’s Eid feast. The customers range from slightly better off than Tola’s family to a very wealthy celebrity, showing the vast range in economic and social status in modern Africa. I appreciate that one of the wealthy is presented as being snobby and rude, while the other is seen as being very nice (also, elsewhere in the book some of the poor people aren’t the nicest, but some are very kind). The overarching message of “small but mighty” is important, too.
Highly recommended, especially because books on modern Africa are few and far between, especially for this age group, and it’s done so well here. Do note that American audiences might cringe at a few word choices, a few people in the book are called “fat” (not derisively but as a statement) and one of the elderly neighbors is called Mrs. Shaky-Shaky (she must have Parkinson’s or something like) though she is respected and actually performs a heroic act so, again, I don’t think it is meant as any sort of name-calling.
April 10, 2022
Great short story collection! Highly recommend the audio edition, too.
We love Anna Hibiscus and sequels by the same author. This book follows a different young girl, from a different neighborhood and economic class, through several quotidian adventures: a trip to the market, dealing with a bully while queueing for water, helping a neighbor keep his business running after an accident.
In all of these stories, Tola and her neighbors are very capable and there is none of the poverty porn / "overcoming adversity" tone so common in books for children set beyond the West.
Points of interest for anyone on the fence:
Christians and Muslims living together en masse and not only getting along but enjoying & respecting each other as normal, whole persons; living with a grandparent; parent working overseas and sending money home for the family; some kids excel at school and some hate it; cottage industry; commuting for work by bicycle (warning: off-page the man is hit by a truck, he is badly injured but it's clear he is expected to fully recover); handling public conflict as a child; valuing neighbors, community & especially elders.
Our 8yo son enjoyed these very much.
We love Anna Hibiscus and sequels by the same author. This book follows a different young girl, from a different neighborhood and economic class, through several quotidian adventures: a trip to the market, dealing with a bully while queueing for water, helping a neighbor keep his business running after an accident.
In all of these stories, Tola and her neighbors are very capable and there is none of the poverty porn / "overcoming adversity" tone so common in books for children set beyond the West.
Points of interest for anyone on the fence:
Christians and Muslims living together en masse and not only getting along but enjoying & respecting each other as normal, whole persons; living with a grandparent; parent working overseas and sending money home for the family; some kids excel at school and some hate it; cottage industry; commuting for work by bicycle (warning: off-page the man is hit by a truck, he is badly injured but it's clear he is expected to fully recover); handling public conflict as a child; valuing neighbors, community & especially elders.
Our 8yo son enjoyed these very much.
May 14, 2021
The kids and I were ecstatic to learn that the author of one of our favorite series, Anna Hibiscus, is writing another series set in her native Nigeria. We have already fallen in love with small but mighty Tola. Like the Anna Hibiscus series, Atinuke here expertly weaves together everyday Nigerian life with memorable characters and dashes of humor and tougher issues. We can’t wait for the next stories about our new friend Tola!
March 19, 2021
This short chapter book is made up of three stories about Tola. Tola lives with her older sister Moji, her older brother Dapo, and her grandmother in a run-down block of flats in Lagos. Her brother and sister tease her about being short and call her 'Too Small Tola' but Tola proves that even though she is small...she is mighty.
In the first story Tola has to go to the market with her grandmother. She realises that her grandmother is also small but she is strong, and Tola can be strong too. In the second story Tola wakes to find the electricity and the water have gone off. She must collect water from the borehole before she can get ready for school, but when a bully gets in her way, she discovers that she's not too small to stand up for herself. In the third book Easter and Eid happen to coincide and everyone in Tola's block of flats is celebrating. Tola is excited about getting a new outfit for Easter, but when their tailor falls off his bike and breaks his leg, Tola steps in to help him fulfil all his orders.
'Too Small Tola' is a wonderfully uplifting collection of stories that simultaneous feel like folk tales and small portraits of contemporary Nigerian life. These stories create empathy by giving a window on a different way of life, while all children can relate to the dynamics of Tola's family relationships - being teased by your siblings, having to do chores around the house, and enjoying a holiday celebration.
In the first story Tola has to go to the market with her grandmother. She realises that her grandmother is also small but she is strong, and Tola can be strong too. In the second story Tola wakes to find the electricity and the water have gone off. She must collect water from the borehole before she can get ready for school, but when a bully gets in her way, she discovers that she's not too small to stand up for herself. In the third book Easter and Eid happen to coincide and everyone in Tola's block of flats is celebrating. Tola is excited about getting a new outfit for Easter, but when their tailor falls off his bike and breaks his leg, Tola steps in to help him fulfil all his orders.
'Too Small Tola' is a wonderfully uplifting collection of stories that simultaneous feel like folk tales and small portraits of contemporary Nigerian life. These stories create empathy by giving a window on a different way of life, while all children can relate to the dynamics of Tola's family relationships - being teased by your siblings, having to do chores around the house, and enjoying a holiday celebration.
April 13, 2021
LOVE this series. Tola is a strong little girl with spunk who's favorite subject is math. It's engaging and full of metaphors. Tola's family lives in a low-income apartment building in Nigeria. It realistically describes how they may not have water one day, but they always have lots of love as a family together. There are sweet illustrations of their daily life and Tola's adventure on most pages. Heartwarming and Ramona like.
July 28, 2021
Yet another excellent book by one of our favorite children’s authors. Atinuke does such a great job balancing humor with important life lessons, all while giving us a window into people’s lives that are different than our particular life. We loved this book and are looking forward to more in this series.
March 23, 2021
Tola and her relations might have become my new favourite family in children's literature. Tola, her older siblings, Moji and Dapo, along with the formidable Grandmummy, all live in Lagos, Nigeria. Their home resides in a crumbling block of flats and comprises of a single room, with bedrooms separated by a curtain. Most of the clothes and furniture are hand-me-downs whilst daddy is away in the UK earning enough money to send back so that they can afford the rent.
But none of this affects Tola. Just like her Grandmummy, she is never overwhelmed by the bigger world out there and rises to the challenge be it helping her grandmother with the weekly shopping, collecting huge cannisters of water before school or helping measure the Lagos residents for their Eid and Easter costumes. Lagos thrums with life and humour in this new series by Atinuke and glimpses are brought to life by Iwu's ink drawings.
The first in the series, this collection of three short stories is pitched perfectly for a class read in Y2 or even Summer Y1 and beyond. It would make for a fantastic independent read for those who have become confident and would do well in helping readers see that Africa is much more than a continent with mud huts and intermittent meetings with wild animals.
But none of this affects Tola. Just like her Grandmummy, she is never overwhelmed by the bigger world out there and rises to the challenge be it helping her grandmother with the weekly shopping, collecting huge cannisters of water before school or helping measure the Lagos residents for their Eid and Easter costumes. Lagos thrums with life and humour in this new series by Atinuke and glimpses are brought to life by Iwu's ink drawings.
The first in the series, this collection of three short stories is pitched perfectly for a class read in Y2 or even Summer Y1 and beyond. It would make for a fantastic independent read for those who have become confident and would do well in helping readers see that Africa is much more than a continent with mud huts and intermittent meetings with wild animals.
March 4, 2021
Absolutely delightful chapter book! Full review to come ❤️
04/03/2021
Too Small Tola is a short, engaging collection of three stories about a young Nigerian girl, Tola. This chapter book depicts life in the city of Lagos, as well as the challenges of being a smaller child. Readers who appreciate an international appeal and enjoy books about bullying and grandparent and sibling relationships will enjoy this one. Bonus points for fans of illustrated stories, as this one is well illustrated.
Read my full review on my blog.
Many thanks to Candlewick Press for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
04/03/2021
Too Small Tola is a short, engaging collection of three stories about a young Nigerian girl, Tola. This chapter book depicts life in the city of Lagos, as well as the challenges of being a smaller child. Readers who appreciate an international appeal and enjoy books about bullying and grandparent and sibling relationships will enjoy this one. Bonus points for fans of illustrated stories, as this one is well illustrated.
Read my full review on my blog.
Many thanks to Candlewick Press for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 1, 2022
Atinuke is one of our favorite children’s book authors, so it was delightful to meet a new heroine created by her. This book has three separate smaller stories in it, and we enjoyed them all. I like how it shows a different setting than the Anna Hibiscus books, this time in the huge city of Lagos, Nigeria.
Review from my 5 year old: “I wuv it and I’m definitely going to read it again!”
Review from my 8 year old: “I liked it! One of my favorite short books!”
Review from my 5 year old: “I wuv it and I’m definitely going to read it again!”
Review from my 8 year old: “I liked it! One of my favorite short books!”
March 29, 2021
As with her Anna Hibiscus series, Atinuke presents the reader with a delightful character that is impossible not to like. Tola lives with her older brother, Dapo, older sister, Moji, and her Grandmommy in a broken down apartment building in Lagos, Nigeria. The book is divided into three stories. The first story finds Tola and her Grandmommy walking to the market to buy supplies which they then have to carry home. Tola's siblings make fun of her for being too small, but refuse to take her place. The trip proves to be busy and exhausting, but is made easier when the two stop for some rest and treats along the way. The second story revolves around Tola's efforts to get to school on time even though she has to help get water from the pump in the street because the water and electricity is off in the building. She runs into a bully and other challenges that make it seem likely she will be late for math, her favorite subject. The last story sends Tola and her brother, Dapo, out running errands to help a neighbor who injured his leg in an accident. Both children learn a lot and have the opportunity to further develop some of their talents as they help their neighbor prepare for the upcoming Eid and Easter holidays.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading these stories by Atinuke. She has a gift for pulling her readers into the worlds she creates. I enjoyed the characters, especially spunky, determined Tola, who definitely NOT too small despite her small size. The setting is wonderfully depicted, giving me and young readers a glimpse into a way of life quite different than most places in the United States. Despite the challenges that Tola faces though, she if easy to relate to and a delightful companion for a time. I look forward to reading and sharing this book and future volumes.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading these stories by Atinuke. She has a gift for pulling her readers into the worlds she creates. I enjoyed the characters, especially spunky, determined Tola, who definitely NOT too small despite her small size. The setting is wonderfully depicted, giving me and young readers a glimpse into a way of life quite different than most places in the United States. Despite the challenges that Tola faces though, she if easy to relate to and a delightful companion for a time. I look forward to reading and sharing this book and future volumes.
April 24, 2022
Tola is the featured character of this chapter book that looks like a series. I had gotten recommendations from books published in other languages in (I believe) an SLJ article and have been chipping away at reading internationally - but obviously an English translation. This one was a nice one to read today because the last of the three generally unrelated chapters about Tola and her family was about Easter and Eid (and both Easter and Ramadan are both happening at the same time this year which doesn't align very often). In that story, their family friend Mr. Abdul breaks his leg and Tola volunteers to help take measurements for paying customers of his for their Eid outfits. Nothing is too small or too big a job for "too small Tola".
In the other two chapters it's focused on her grandmother and her going to market and putting all their wares to return home to on their heads in the basket as they do in Lagos, Nigeria. (But they get to stop for treats along the way because her grandmother and her are small!) The other is about her going to school.
Because the beginning chapter book is set in Nigeria, not only does a reader learn about the traditions of another culture and group, there are some drawings embedded in the chapter book to get the feel as well. It's as insightful (as an American) as it is wholesome with a spunky main character, Tola.
In the other two chapters it's focused on her grandmother and her going to market and putting all their wares to return home to on their heads in the basket as they do in Lagos, Nigeria. (But they get to stop for treats along the way because her grandmother and her are small!) The other is about her going to school.
Because the beginning chapter book is set in Nigeria, not only does a reader learn about the traditions of another culture and group, there are some drawings embedded in the chapter book to get the feel as well. It's as insightful (as an American) as it is wholesome with a spunky main character, Tola.
May 3, 2024
"Too Small Tola" is a book recognized by Booklist and originally published in the UK. Nigerian storyteller Atinuke takes readers on a journey through the eyes of the smallest member of the family, Tola. This is the first book in a series, and each chapter starts with the line, "Tola lives in a run-down block of apartments in the megacity of Lagos, in the country of Nigeria."
The book is available in audio format and gives insights into the lives of children growing up in poverty in the gentrifying area of Lagos. Tola has to overcome daily obstacles while being very independent at a young age. She carries heavy loads of errands on foot through the town, fills up cans of water to make sure her family has enough to get by, and becomes the town seamstress by biking around town to take the locals' measurements for EID attire.
The characters are endearing, and each member of Tola's family has unique qualities, including an old-school soul who is strong and fearless. Tola, though small, is mighty and smart beyond her years. You will also meet Tola's brother Dapo, the athlete, and Moji, who speaks her mind!
This story emphasizes independence, perseverance, and teamwork, and sends a great message to older readers. It offers them a perspective other than their realities. The book is a fun read that will make you laugh along the way. It would be beneficial to use it in older-grade classrooms, where students can reflect and write a narrative about their daily lives while tying in the differences that Tola faces in her life growing up in poverty in Nigeria. I highly recommend "Too Small Tola"!
The book is available in audio format and gives insights into the lives of children growing up in poverty in the gentrifying area of Lagos. Tola has to overcome daily obstacles while being very independent at a young age. She carries heavy loads of errands on foot through the town, fills up cans of water to make sure her family has enough to get by, and becomes the town seamstress by biking around town to take the locals' measurements for EID attire.
The characters are endearing, and each member of Tola's family has unique qualities, including an old-school soul who is strong and fearless. Tola, though small, is mighty and smart beyond her years. You will also meet Tola's brother Dapo, the athlete, and Moji, who speaks her mind!
This story emphasizes independence, perseverance, and teamwork, and sends a great message to older readers. It offers them a perspective other than their realities. The book is a fun read that will make you laugh along the way. It would be beneficial to use it in older-grade classrooms, where students can reflect and write a narrative about their daily lives while tying in the differences that Tola faces in her life growing up in poverty in Nigeria. I highly recommend "Too Small Tola"!
November 21, 2021
Tola lives in a small apartment in Lagos, Nigeria with her Grandmommy, Moji, and Dapo. In three short stories, Tola shows readers what her everyday life is like: going shopping with her Gandmommy, preparing for school in the morning (when their building is out of electricity and water), and helping friends.
A great windows/mirrors book that offers insight into what it is like living in Nigeria from the perspective of a young girl. Cute illustrations accompany text that fully depict the atmosphere of Lagos.
A great windows/mirrors book that offers insight into what it is like living in Nigeria from the perspective of a young girl. Cute illustrations accompany text that fully depict the atmosphere of Lagos.
September 23, 2022
Three delightful stories about a girl, her family, and her life in Lagos, Nigeria. Told with humor, empathy, and personality. A relatable, entertaining slice of life.
I think my favorite passage was:
I think my favorite passage was:
Tola hurries to put the big shopping basket on her head. She does not want to upset Grandmommy. If Grandmommy is upset, soon everybody will be upset. Grandmommy passes on her moods faster than mosquitoes pass on malaria.
August 10, 2021
Oh, what a sweet, sweet book! The details are culturally specific: at the beginning of each chapter, we read that “Tola lives in a run-down block of apartments in the mega city of Lagos, in the country of Nigeria.” But many of Tola’s experiences are universal: sibling relationships, neighborhood bullies, school stories, and loving elders. While there are ups and downs, each chapter has a happy ending. Highly recommended for readers ages seven to nine, who have just graduated from easy readers.
May 31, 2022
Darling early chapter book that shows diversity. I chose to read this out loud to my 3rd graders. Tola is a cute girl dealing with some of the same stuff all kids deal with: bullies, getting along with siblings, choosing to be kind, etc, all while the reader is learning more about what it's like to live in Lagos, Nigeria.
May 1, 2021
I loved this little book, what a charming way to teach children about what a child’s life in Lagos is like. Amazing characters, fun adventures and a real slice of life.
June 1, 2021
Adorable Tola from Lagos shows us that you're never too small! Love the illustrations too!
September 22, 2021
Such a cute book, and a wonderful glimpse for my little girls into life in another country. We loved this one!
January 5, 2022
Good for early readers, with a vivid Nigerian setting.
October 15, 2022
I found this book through Dr. Quiroa's Wakelet and was able to access it in an audiobook format via Hoopla through my local public library. It was an enjoyable listen. Though this book has not won any awards, Atinuke, the author has, and it was featured on the 2022 Outstanding International Book List by the United States Board on Books for Young People (USBBY). The story is comprised of three chapters or stories that are separate but center on the same themes of family life, overcoming adversity and rising above people's expectations. In a classroom setting you could easily just read one of the chapters as a stand alone story to expose students to this perspective rather than the entire novel for time's sake.
Tola is an engaging character who faces problem after problem with a smile on her face. Her family is impoverished and living in Lagos, Nigeria, but Tola is a picture of strength in adversity. This book also gives a wonderful picture of community living and interdependence that is often foreign in American life.
Tola is an engaging character who faces problem after problem with a smile on her face. Her family is impoverished and living in Lagos, Nigeria, but Tola is a picture of strength in adversity. This book also gives a wonderful picture of community living and interdependence that is often foreign in American life.
March 11, 2021
This little gem will give readers insight into life in Nigeria from a young girl’s perspective and will generate hood conversations.
April 14, 2021
A small selection of stories about Tola, her family, and her community. Tola is a little girl growing up in Lagos. A solid young reader, cute illustrations.
January 12, 2022
A lovely book of a small girl in Nigeria.
May 15, 2022
This is a great early reader book that teaches diversity. The book is set in Nigeria. It is a great window into life in Nigeria. From carrying grocery items on your head, to poor living conditions, to lack of water, to the importance of education and family relationships, this is a beautiful but quick read. Tola is able to really make a difference to others. Beautiful!
November 24, 2021
A sweet collection of three short stories set in Legos, Nigeria where Tola lives with her older (and bigger) siblings and her grandmother in an older apartment block, which is crumbling a little at the edges. The neighborhood is diverse and close knit, and in one story everyone is excited that Easter and Eid are being celebrated at the same time that year.
Recommended for Grades 2 and 3, and may be a good read aloud for Grade 1.
Recommended for Grades 2 and 3, and may be a good read aloud for Grade 1.
May 15, 2021
Children's fiction, first chapter book level. Tola is a young girl in Nigeria who lives with her grandmother and her two older siblings. This book features 3 short stories about Tola: Too Small Tola, Small but Mighty, and Easter and Eid. I loved reading about life in Nigeria-- in one story Tola and her grandmother walked to the market, and tried to sneak out of the apartment. I wondered why they were being so stealthy, when they started getting phone calls from their neighbors. One neighbor needed diapers, and one wanted them to pick up his television-- which would have been interesting as they were carrying everything on their backs! The Easter and Eid story was fun because Easter and Eid are not usually at the same time, but in the story it was that rare year when they were, so everybody around-- Christian, Muslim, rich, poor was preparing to celebrate. After Tola and her brother helped the tailor get everyone's measurements and then deliver the finished clothes, Tola planned to go to church in the morning for Easter Sunday and then finish the day at the end of Ramadan feast held by the tailor's family. What an example of accepting different traditions!
This book was a welcome addition to our first chapter book section. While I feel picture books and middle grade have made great strides in offering more diverse perspectives, I still find a lot of non-human characters in the I Can Read and first chapter book sections (robots, dinosaurs, trucks, animals, etc; as well as a lot of TV characters in the I Can Read section). So finding an authentic story about life in a non-white country where the story is approachable and the main character lovable seems like quite the win. The cover shows Tola with her market basket on her head and a big smile, which seems like a great fit to the contents. Black and white partial-page illustrations are featured throughout, which also helps open up the culture to a non-Nigerian reader. I loved Atinuke's picture book Catch That Chicken! and am so glad to see this chapter book.
This book was a welcome addition to our first chapter book section. While I feel picture books and middle grade have made great strides in offering more diverse perspectives, I still find a lot of non-human characters in the I Can Read and first chapter book sections (robots, dinosaurs, trucks, animals, etc; as well as a lot of TV characters in the I Can Read section). So finding an authentic story about life in a non-white country where the story is approachable and the main character lovable seems like quite the win. The cover shows Tola with her market basket on her head and a big smile, which seems like a great fit to the contents. Black and white partial-page illustrations are featured throughout, which also helps open up the culture to a non-Nigerian reader. I loved Atinuke's picture book Catch That Chicken! and am so glad to see this chapter book.
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