Mama’s Sleeping Scarf

By Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Writing as Nwa Grace James, Illustrated by Joelle Avelino

A joyful exploration of family life, written by one of the most outstanding contemporary authors of our generation.

This beautiful family story follows a young girl called Chino as she plays with her mama’s sleeping scarf through the day. Running with the scarf, Chino weaves together little incidentals of home life into a glorious celebration of the power of a mother-daughter relationship, and the gentle joys that build a perfect day. Exquisitely written with compelling simplicity, this is a heartfelt homage to family love.

A compelling debut picture book from one of the most important voices in literature today, brought into glorious technicolour through the vibrant and contemporary illustrations of Joelle Avelino.

Format: Paperback
Ageband: from 3
Release Date: 18 Jul 2024
Pages: 32
ISBN: 978-0-00-855009-7
Chimamanda Ngozi is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels Purple Hibiscus, Half of a Yellow Sun and Americanah – which was a New York Times Best Book of the Year – as well as such essays as We Should All Be Feminists. A recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship, she divides her time between the United States and Nigeria. This is her debut children’s book.Joelle Avelino is a Congolese and Angolan illustrator who grew up in the United Kingdom. She is particularly motivated by the need for people from all races and backgrounds to see themselves in the world around them. So far, Joelle has worked on several titles including Hey You! An Empowering Celebration of Growing Up Black, written by Dapo Adeola, winner of the British Book Awards Illustrated Book of the Year.

”'A joyful, acutely observed picture-book account of imaginative adventures with family, a beloved soft toy, and, of course, Mama’s scarf” - Guardian

”'The recurring pattern of Mama’s vivid green scarf, decorated with bright red and blue rings and beautifully reproduced on the endsheets, poignantly evokes a sense of the circle of life” - Observer

”'Illustrations by Joelle Avelino help to bring to life the simple yet powerful message, which encourages every child and parent to keep their imagination alive” - Independent

”'[Mama’s Sleeping Scarf] is a celebration of mother-daughter love and shows how that bond remains, and in fact can be strengthened through objects rich with memories and symbolism . . . This is a heartwarming little tale for children who will be comforted by the notion that even when she is absent, their mother is not far away” - Big Issue