Nine months after the vicious attacks of
September 11, 2001 – in Pennsylvania, at the Pentagon and in New York City –
hearts in America remained broken. Across the world in an African village a
remarkable gesture of friendship and hope was being made to our nation in
mourning. Kimeli Naiyomah had returned to his west Kenyan home from New York
with news of the attacks, and villagers responded with the most heartfelt gift
they had: 14 cows. To the Maasai, cows mean life; they provide shelter and
food. An American diplomat received the gift in June 2002, surrounded by
hundreds of Maasai people. The event was reported in media around the globe,
evidence of the depth of feeling inherent in this gift. The hues and textures
of the African landscape in Thomas Gonzalez’s paintings draw readers into 14
Cows for America with a distinct immediacy. Storyteller and author Carmen
Agra Deedy collaborates with Wilson Kimeli Naiyomaah to bring elegant prose,
profound in its simplicity, to a true story that shows how generosity and
compassion can bridge cultures and bring healing in the name of our common
humanity. Ages 5-9.
Related activities and interviews may be found at: TeachingBooks.net
Related activities and interviews may be found at: TeachingBooks.net
