Nya's Long Walk

 Park, Linda Sue. (2019). Nya’s Long Walk: A Step at a Time. Illustrator: Brian Pinkney.

  Clarion Books. ISBN: 978-1328781338

Synopsis:

Young Nya takes little sister Akeer along on the two-hour walk to fetch water for the family. But Akeer becomes too ill to walk, and Nya faces the impossible: her sister and the full water vessel together are too heavy to carry.

As she struggles, she discovers that if she manages to take one step, then another, she can reach home and Mama’s care.

Bold, impressionistic paintings by Caldecott and Coretta Scott King Honor winner Brian Pinkney evoke the dry, barren landscape and the tenderness between the two sisters.

My Review:

 I truly enjoyed this book, because it is a great example of what life in Africa is like for children. It helps children worldwide see how Nya and Akeer must endure so much to simply get water and how you can push yourself to achieve many things. I found the storyline and illustrations to be amazing. I liked that the illustrations showed how the homes, landscapes, and clothing are accurate to the Sudan culture and daily life. I like that this book is a companion book to the chapter book- A Long Walk to Water. It’s a great book to help those needed a more visual connection for understanding or bringing younger children into the discuss.

Awards/Reviews:

"Newbery medalist Park returns to the theme of her acclaimed novel A Long Walk to Water (2010), bringing a tender sensibility to this blend of fiction and reality that brings home the visceral fragility of living without access to fresh, clean water." — Booklist

"With compassion, the creators present younger readers with a portrait of a life in which determination is needed just to get enough clean water to drink, a reality for many villagers in South Sudan." — Publishers Weekly

 "Pinkney’s swirling watercolors aptly portray the open topography of South Sudan and depict both the hardships and closeness of this family....[This book] helps young readers understand the reali­ties of this water crisis and the solutions that have improved the quality of life for many." — Horn Book Magazine

"The illustrations beautifully capture life in a small South Sudanese village and earth-toned swirls create a lovely impression of dust and heat...A thought-provoking story to inspire ­empathy and social consciousness." — School Library Journal

Connections:

Discusses the process of providing clean water in South Sudan to reduce waterborne illness.

In this picture book companion to the beloved bestseller A Long Walk to Water, a young South Sudanese girl goes on a journey that requires determination, persistence, and compassion