I Lost My Tooth in Africa

Book Title: I Lost My Tooth in Africa

Author(s): Penda Diakite

Illustrator/Photographer/Artist: Baba Wague Diakite

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Copyright Date: 2006

Genre: Contemporary realistic fiction picturebook

Brief Annotation: Amina has a loose tooth and she really wants it to come out during her family’s trip to Mali. Her dad tells Amina that if you lose a tooth in Africa and put it under a gourd, the African Tooth Fairy will bring you a chicken. One morning while brushing her teeth, Amina’s tooth comes out and falls to the ground. Amina waits and waits for the chicken to come, thinking perhaps the African Tooth Fairy has forgotten about her, when a rooster and a hen appear in the yard. Amina takes good care of the chickens and soon discovers eggs in their coop. On the morning of their departure back to America, Amina goes to say goodbye to her chickens and notices that the eggs are hatching! Although she doesn’t want to leave the chicks, Amina’s uncle reassures her that he’ll look after them until her next visit.

Your Rating (1-5) and why: 5—I really enjoyed this story because it takes a subject that American children are so familiar with and gives it a broader, more international perspective. The book teaches readers a lot about the customs and culture of Mali, even including a glossary of Bambara terms, a goodnight lullaby, and a recipe for African Onion Stew. The pictures are vibrantly illustrated and were created using ceramic tile, and each one is framed in a colorful border. Another fun fact that kids will enjoy is that the author originally wrote I Lost My Tooth in Africa when she was eight years old, inspired by her little sister who lost her tooth in Mali.

Readers who will like this book: Children who are in the stage of losing their baby teeth will enjoy hearing about other customs and the African Tooth Fairy; kids who are aspiring writers will appreciate that a child wrote and published this story (a side note: I took this book to Tanzania to read to my niece right after she had lost her first tooth; she loved the story and made a special note to write down the word “gourd” so that she could be sure to put her next lost tooth under one. I’m not sure how my sister will come up with a chicken when my niece loses her next tooth!)

Teaching Strategy from Tompkins or Yopp & Yopp: Language Experience Approach. In this strategy, “A child dictates words and sentences about an experience, and the teacher writes the dictation. As the words and sentences are written, the teacher models how written language works. The text that is written then becomes the child’s reading material” (Tompkins, p. 60). When using this strategy with this particular book, I would ask children to tell me about the time they lost their first tooth. Children in the early years (K—2) will be able to dictate the story better than writing it, and they will enjoy seeing their story in print. I would then have the students draw their own illustrations to go along with their story. This strategy is also supportive of ELL students who may have a better grasp on oral language than on written language.

Question to ask about this book before a read aloud: How many of you have lost a tooth? What do you do with your baby teeth when they fall out? Do you think the tooth fairy visits other places?

Optional, but noted as extra effort:

1. Interest Level: PreK—grade 3

2. Grade Level Equivalent (grade): 2.8

3. List awards: ALA Notable Children’s Book, Children’s Africana Book Award

4. Book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjp2rX1dazY