Happy Birthday, Jamela! Book

What Jamela wants for her birthday is a pair of beautiful princess shoes. What she gets instead is clunky, practical school shoes. Jamela is definitely disappointed, but with glitter, beads, and glue - and a burst of inspiration - she transforms her present into a funky, fun work of art. Mama thinks Jamela's handiwork is a waste of hard-earned money . . . until a local artist helps Jamela tap the full potential of her spirited creativity.

Vibrant illustrations animate a sunny and satisfying story set in South Africa about embracing the imagination and also about feelings and situations that often arise at birthdays and other gift-giving occasions.

Children's Literature

Children love birthday celebrations and they will immediately be drawn to this charming story about Jamela and her desire for sparkling birthday party shoes. In anticipation of her seventh birthday, Mama takes Jamela shopping for a party dress and new shoes. Although Jamela finds the perfect party shoes, Mama decides to get Jamela a pair of strong practical black school shoes to go with her new party dress. At the store Jamela hides her disappointment, but at home in her room when she takes the school shoes out if their box, she suddenly has an idea. Jamela decides to turn her newly purchased black shoes into party shoes by gluing on shiny beads and bits of glitter from her special collection of sparkly bits. Lily, the neighborhood artist, loves Jamela's shoe creation and asks her to make more decorated shoes to sell at her stall at the market. The shoes sell like hotcakes! Set in Cape Town, South Africa, Jamela's story is a universal and charming tale of disappointment and reward that will appeal to young readers. Through the lively illustrations in this delightful book, readers experience the South African culture. Clothing is colorful and patterned, chickens wander freely throughout the house, people shop in open air markets, and there are several phrases in Xhosa, the native language. From start to finish children will enjoy this playful and imaginative story about Niki Daly's loveable character, Jamela.