The Horn Book Guide

PICTURE BOOKS

Grifalconi, Ann

The Village That Vanished

40 pp. | Dial | September, 2002 | Trade ISBN 0-8037-2623-6 $$16.99

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Kadir Nelson. In an original tale, the Yao people evade approaching slavers, thanks to three female heroes. Mother Njemile proposes they hide in the forest; Grandmother Chimwala stands fast, posing as a hermit; while young Abikanile leads the tribe across the river. The illustrations reflect the story's gravity, and a ground-level point of view enhances the characters' dignity. This is a valuable and unusual addition to the literature about slavery.

Reviewer: Joanna Rudge Long | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2002