Synopsis
On Good Friday, a school holiday in Trinidad, Rajiv spends the day searching for a special birthday present for his grandmother.
| Details | | Publication Date: | 1997-03-01 | | Illustrator: | Sandra Speidel |
| Size | | Height: | 10.3 in | | Width: | 8.5 in | | Thickness: | 0.5 in | | Weight: | 12.0 oz |
Publisher's Note
On Good Friday, Aaji would like to get his grandmother a piece of smoked salmon to complete the meal she cannot afford to buy for herself, so he finds work at Teacher Omar's house, does his job well, and is rewarded with a piece of salmon that he proudly brings home.
Industry Reviews
On Good Friday, Rajiv's grandmother laments that they cannot afford the smoked salmon traditionally served in Trinidad on this religious holiday. Worse yet, even a small tin of fish to serve "for witness" is beyond their reach. The boy finds no takers when he goes from neighbor to neighbor, offering to work in return for a tin of salmon; he is especially concerned because it is also his grandmother's birthday. His perseverance finally pays off, and the generous child returns home with a special offering for his grandmother. Unfortunately, Rahaman's narrative is wordy and lethargically paced, especially for younger members of the targeted audience. While lilting island dialogue and descriptions of dishes like pelau and bhaahee add a dash of local color, it is not enough to spice up a weakly told story. Warm hues including rich salmon shades dominate Speidel's (Clap, Clap!) soft, sketchy pastels. But the illustrations, despite the visual appeal of their multicolored crosshatching and smudgings, do little to individualize the boy or to ground the story convincingly in Trinidad the reader gets little sense for what the island looks like. The good intentions here are obvious, but they can't carry the book. Ages 5-8. (Mar.)
Lopate
K-Gr 3 Rajiv's grandmother, Aaji, remembers a time when everyone in her village ate smoked salmon on Good Friday. But now, there's nothing extra to be had, no "witness" for the special day. Set in Trinidad, this story involves a boy's efforts to earn a tin of salmon for his grandmother's birthday, which happens to fall on Good Friday. Although he tries several neighboring homes, no one can help him. Discouraged, he's ready to give up until he remembers Teacher Omar, whose tiny backyard is covered with Ti Marie, a weed with the potential to carpet a lawn with thorns. He works hard to clear the land and is rewarded not only with the desired tin, but also with a small piece of fresh smoked salmon. Aaji happily gasps with wonder. The customs, the clipped language, and ethnic foods all work to lend a cultural atmosphere to the book. Actually, so many points about life on this Caribbean Island are thrown into the text that readers may get bogged down in details rather than caught up in the emotions of the story. With rich, luminescent hues, the pastel illustrations focus readers' attention on the main character and invite them to follow Rajiv on his journey. One can almost forgive the high-minded, vaguely unnatural text in favor of these lush drawings, which, like the work of Ann Grifalconi, can almost make viewers feel the native heat. Martha Topol, Traverse Area District Library, Traverse City, MI
Lopate
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