Kente for Jojo

PreS-Gr 2–A young, brown-skinned boy watches the sun rise with his parents. Today is an exciting day because they’re going to pick out his baby brother’s traditional cloth, a type of handwoven fabric with Ghanaian origins. The boy puts on his own cloth, called Sika Futuro or gold dust, which was chosen for him because he’s rare and precious. On the way, the dad recounts the origin story of this weaving tradition, which was first created a long time ago when a pair of hunters learned the technique from Ananse the spider. At the building where the fabric is made, the dad tasks the boy with selecting the perfect cloth for Jojo, the baby brother. The boy meets a weaver and together they create something that’s just right for Jojo. This title offers a fascinating exploration of this weaving tradition, its origins, and the techniques used to make it. The illustrations wonderfully exhibit a variety of patterns, each with its own meaning and story. Readers will learn how unique the different designs are and how significant they are in Ghanaian culture. They will also get to learn more about a family’s traditions and relate it to the traditions in their families or that of their friends.