Malaika¿s Costume

Malaika-s mother can-t buy her a carnival costume - will she still be able to dance in the parade?

It-s Carnival time. The first Carnival since Malaika-s mother moved to Canada to find a good job and provide for Malaika and her grandmother. Her mother promised she would send money for a costume, but when the money doesn-t arrive, will Malaika still be able to dance in the parade?

Disappointed and upset at her grandmother-s hand-me-down costume, Malaika leaves the house, running into Ms. Chin, the tailor, who offers Malaika a bag of scrap fabric. With her grandmother-s help, Malaika creates a patchwork rainbow peacock costume, and dances proudly in the parade.

A heartwarming story about family, community and the celebration of Carnival, Nadia Hohn-s warm and colloquial language and Irene Luxbacher-s vibrant collage-style illustrations make this a strikingly original picture book.

Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English