Tap-Tap: A Heartwarming Caribbean Picture Book About Dreams for Kids

by Karen Lynn Williams, Karen Lynn Williams

Sasifi longs to ride a tap-tap, a truck that carries passengers and their belongings in rural Haiti.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Cultural

48 pages, Paperback

First published March 21, 1994

About the author

Karen was born in Connecticut, and received her Master’s degree in deaf education. She has lived in Africa and in Haiti. Karen had an early dream to be one of the youngest published authors, starting a writing club at ten. However, Karen's published works came later in life, after extensive travels and family experience. Karen's ability to draw from personal experience and adapt into writing forms for all ages and interests expresses her true gift.

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming story about a young Haitian girl's determination to be strong and grown-up and walk all the way to market with her mama (even though she longs to ride in the tap-tap truck that wealthier folks are traveling in!) When she gets to market, she does wonders selling out the fruit they've brought and she gets a treat from her mama--a beautiful new hat! But, best of all, she gets a little spending money of her own, for the first time ever. And though the wares in the market are oh-so-appealing, she already knows just what she wants to spend it on ;-) The illustrations are lovely and vibrant and this story, while joyful in itself, is definitely poignant now in the wake of the tragic Haitian earthquake.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now eight years old, Sasifi is finally of an age when she can help her mother, carrying and selling their oranges at market! As they set out, early one morning, she asks if they can take a ride in a tap-tap - the brightly painted trucks that serve as buses in Haiti, so named because passengers tap on the side, when they are ready to disembark. Her mother explains that there is no money for such luxuries, but when all their oranges sell at the market, partly owing to Sasifi's hard work, and she is given a reward, she knows what she wants...

Tap-Tap is an engaging story that draws the reader into the world of rural Haiti, offering a gentle, non-didactic depiction of a child's life in the poorest nation in the western hemisphere. Although that poverty is evident throughout - Sasifi and her mother cannot usually afford to take the tap-tap, and Sasifi is excited to be given her very first brand-new hat - it is not the focal point of Williams' narrative, which concentrates instead on the joys of a new experience. Children will identify with Sasifi's longing for a treat, rejoice at the eventual satisfaction of that longing, and enjoy the tale of the (crowded) ride.

Catherine Stock, who also collaborated with Karen Lynn Williams on Painted Dreams (another picture-book set in Haiti), captures the colors of Sasifi's world, and her exuberant enjoyment of that world, in her lovely watercolor illustrations. Highly recommended to anyone looking for good picture-books set in Haiti!

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The same author and illustrator created another book I also enjoyed: Painted Dreams.

I adore the watercolor illustrations; they’re so colorful and vibrant and beautiful.

I really like this lovely story about a young Haitian girl helping her mother sell their oranges on market day. What’s special about the story is that while the girl (and most around her) are poor and how receiving a brand new hat and riding the bus home (called the tap-tap because riders make a tapping noise to signal when they want to be let off the bus) are brand new experiences because normally there’s no money to pay for such luxuries, children, even wealthy children, will recognize Sasifi’s emotions: her pride in being helpful, the pleasure she feels when given a choice, her joy at having new experiences.

[Brianna Davenport · Rating 4 out of 5]

TAP-TAP is realistic fiction book that portrays a mother and daughter living in Haiti, Sasifi and Mama who journey to the market to sell oranges and other fruit. Sasifi is very intrigued by the truck she calls a “tap tap” that takes people from Sasifi’s village to the market. Sasifi has always wanted to ride in the “tap tap” but Mama could not afford the trip until Sasifi sells all her oranges and in the end is able to ride the truck on their way home. This book is one I recommend for every child to read, from all different backgrounds. For children from a different background this book can serve as a purpose for them to be exposed to different types of families from their own, and hopefully spark a conversation about people being different and how that is okay. For children who can relate to Sasifi and her Mama this book is excellent in allowing those children to see people and families similar to theirs.

This book seems to be geared towards children in third grade plus for maximum understanding of the book . The characters in the book are very realistic as there are many people all around the globe that live similarly to Sasifi and her Mama, this is great because it makes it that much easier for young readers to relate to Sasifi even if their lives are parallel to that of Sasifi and her Mama. The water color illustrations in this book are beautifully done. They effectively capture Sasifi’s trip to the market through the vibrant use of colors and the detail in them. For a young child, the illustrations should capture the reader's attention. This book is one I recommend for all parents to get for their children!

[bookseverlasting · Rating 2 out of 5]

Story is adorable. It is an accurate depiction of a tap-tap (a Haitian jitney bus), but it does have a few racially insensitive illustrations. It was published in the 1990s -- now we know better, we do better. I always feel a little concerned when I read a book about people of a certain nation or people of color written by someone who is not a native of or who does not have ancestral links to that country. The author, Karen Lynn Williams, did live in Haiti for a time and it is apparent in her details and narrative. However beautiful the illustrations are at first, because they are not done by a person of color, some of the images are questionable. One image of a man who sells hats is supposed to be humorous (he has an overflow of hats falling off his head). In actuality, he comes off as a Sambo-type character to me (page 26). An illustrator who was from Haiti or a person of color would never have depicted a Haitian man of color this way. I can't get away from it, even though the story was good. For that reason, I have to say leave it off your list. Definitely do not order it for your library. In fact, if you are weeding books, it's time to pull this one out and put an Edwidge Danticat in.

[Luisa Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed all of the colorful scenes, and the story of the little girl going to market with her mother was a delightful one. And for those of you who like to know how to properly pronounce words, Deschapelles is pronounced "Dechpel."

Ages: 4 - 8

#geography #haiti

**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it! Visit my website: The Book Radar.

[Heidi Burkhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am very fond of this wonderful story about an African girl who walks to market with her mother. The book gives the reader a nice view of village life and the people who live there.

Of course the illustrations are a delight.

[Candy Sydney]

I absolutely loved this book. I rode on a TAP-TAP bus when I was younger in Haiti. I could relate to Salafi in this book. I feel as though a lot of Haitian children along with other children from other countries can relate to this book. I like the fact that this books shed light on Sasifi earning money with her mom in order to ride on the TAP-TAP and get the woven hat she adored at the market. The genre of this book is an informational. This is a book that children would be interested in hearing during a read aloud. This book exposes children to a culture that have some similarities as the american culture as well as some differences. The illustration is realistic, detailed and correct. There weren't any negative stereotypes in this book and it expressed the value of "earning"things in life.

[Daniel L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Among Poverty Incredible Riches

Haiti is one of the most interesting countries. Although it is one of the poorest nations, it has astounding cultural riches. In this charming tale, Karen Lynn Williams tells the story of a village girl named Sasifi, who is thrilled by the prospect of riding to the market in a tap-tap, a bus in Haiti made from an old truck and decorated brightly. The humble tap-tap is one of many examples of how the people of Haiti create beautiful and colorful things from such humble materials. Sasifi's mother says there isn't enough money for the luxury of riding on a tap-tap. Sasifi offers to help and earn money and, in the end, a memorable surprise.

This story is an excellent parallel of Williams's book "Galimoto," which takes place in a country in sub-Saharan Africa. In that book, a little boy gathers scrap materials to build a toy truck that - a humble artifact of humble materials that becomes the envy of all the village boys. Once again, Catherine Stock provides beautiful watercolor illustrations, helping these treasured stories convey the lesson that great happiness can be found in small, everyday objects; moreover, children have the power to transform their world through ingenuity and perseverance. Young children will marvel that their peers in other countries make their own toys, as large toy stores simply do not exist. And these children create their own happiness through the magic of play and creation.

[Willow · Rating 4 out of 5]

We really enjoyed this book, and laughed about the similarities between Haitian tap-taps and Nepalese microbuses. I wonder if these modes of transportation are alike for all hot-climate cultures?

We are having so much fun with our booklists from Give Your Child the World: Raising Globally Minded Kids One Book at a Time as we work our way through National Geographic Kids Ultimate Globetrotting World Atlas.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

PB 21
This story about the life of a little girl in Haiti is really interesting. There is a lot in this book that shows the cultural differences. At the same time, there is an importance in this story in that it shows a lot of things that children in America also have to experience like waiting, being patient, not getting what you want, and having to do chores for a parent. Although this story has a lot that children wouldn't recognize, these main ideas still connect them to the story. This story would be really great in a classroom to teach about Haiti.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of a little girl in Haiti who goes to market for the first time with her mother. On the way there, they see the Tap-tap, a van that transports people from town to town. It is expensive to ride in the tap-tap, even though it is easier and makes the journey shorter. After a successful day, the little girl and her mother head home, and they get to take the tap-tap. However, on the way, the little girl’s hat blows away in the wind. They stop the truck, get out, and walk the rest of the way home. The illustrations are brightly colored and the story is detailed.

[Sung Baick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story about a certain aspect of life in Haiti. A young daughter follows her mother into the market area to sell. She learns about hard work and rewards. I would recommend this book to share about some of the Haitian culture. Also, it would be cool to show the kids how different people in different parts of the world buy their everyday items (supermarkets, street stores, wholesale stores, etc).

[Vanessa Peavy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great Haitian picture book. The illustrations are full of color and quite detailed. Realistic way of depicting my beautiful country and people of Haiti. I would use this book to do lesson on how other people live around the world. Can you imagine bringing this book into the classroom and having a discussion with your class about how Sasifi lives? Put this book in your bin!

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This made me smile. I visited my sister in Haiti several years ago, and I always admired the brightly-painted tap-tap. I rode in a few while I was there. Motorcycles were more fun, but it was all grand. I didn't go to market, and I do regret that. Fun book!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Shows a lot about Haiti!

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sure makes riding a bus sound like an adventure!

[Rita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Selected it since our son lives in Haiti and we will be visiting there soon. Nice children's book. $,3,&2 year-old nieces and nephews enjoyed learning about their Uncle's world!

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute. fun pictures. a girl. a mom. a market. a taptap.