Moja Means One: Swahili Counting Book (Picture Puffin Books)

This was my daughter's first book. She is in her 40's now. It became her daughter's first book. Here is how it all began.We were living in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. The year was 1977. I took her to the new book store's children's section. I told her she could pick out any book on the shelves. She was 3. She went from shelf to shelf and back again. She looked at every cover. Some books were famous, award winning books. I never encouraged her to look at any of them. I wanted it to be her choice. Finally, after over half an hour, she reached out and picked up MOJA MEANS ONE. Her face lit up. She held it up to me like a prize she had won. I was amazed at her choice, and delighted. She was a transplanted Greenwich Village girl who was now living on a West Indian island thousands of miles from her hometown and culture.She read and re-read the book every day. I read it to her every night before she went to bed. Eventually, she learned to read it herself. When we returned to the States, it was the first thing she packed. In 1st Grade she was reading Truman Capote. Her teachers were stunned at her reading ability. She was on high school level. And it all began with MOJA MEANS ONE.She was in her mid-30's when she had her daughter. I immediately ordered a copy from Amazon for my Grand Daughter. Tears came to her eyes when she opened the package and saw what was inside. A rush of Caribbean memories swept through the room. She read it out loud.I won't be around when Chelsea becomes a mom. I hope her mom chooses this book for her Grand Daughter. I hope she remembers the day long, long ago when she chose it as a child.This book is a loved and significant part of our family history. We are of European heritage. Yet, this book was the perfect choice for a child who embraced all cultures. Such memories.

My toddler likes it. Teaching him Swahili as I learn. It’s good to see yourself represented in books, even if there is a cultural difference we are the same people. The pictures were beautiful and I appreciate how it shows village life artistically, lovingly and tastefully.

Pristine condition. Great gift idea.

Love this book.I had it once when I was a child. It was nice to be able to reunite with a good childhood memory.

We use this book to familiarize our child with Swahili. Its a good reference tool. Thus while teaching her we a learning also.She enjoys the book, this is based on her touching the pages and her intelligent attempt to sound out words. We count moja to kumi while waiting for the milk warmer to finish. We also read the book in completion. Based on my experience with my child pattern it is best to do we her stomach is somewhat full or she has had her first changing and milk.

I have had this book before and it helps me to communicate with a little boy I have who speaks swahili

Great gift for people with kids or with a baby on the way. Introducing language to children early on is crucial and Swahili is a fun and exciting and easy language to start with for the little ones.

Being a Swahili speaker, I was looking for something for some Swahili speaking children in Tanzania whom I am sponsoring. This beautiful little book is exactly what I was looking for. The illustrations are so exceptional and sensitive, and the sense of East Africa is just right. Highly recommended for children of all cultures, but a particular treat for the Swahili speaking children who may be lucky enough to get a copy.

This is more like a poor quality political pamphlet from one of those 1970s American 'Black Power' organisations than an infant's introduction to counting. Dire introduction to 'the black children...' and pretty awful indoctrinating text throughout. The illustrations in the book are of rural East African life, and are superb - it's just a big pity that the authors did not match these with quality writing.I'll pass this on, if I can, and design a Kiswahili counting & alphabet book myself; I'll not be able to match the art in this one but the text will be infinitely better!

Bought for my ESL students who speak Swahili. They were happy to see something in their language. They enjoyed telling me how to pronounce the words.