Ms Maya Angelou died this week. A very sad time for the literary world and the world at large. Before this week I did not know much about this lovely lady. Most of her writings, I believe, are a little heavy for the kids who read to me. But I am a bit familiar with her. I have heard her enchanting voice on the radio and seen her face in magazines. And we do have one of her books on my bookshelf. A picture book that we like to take to school to share with my reading buddies.
My Painted House, My Friendly Chicken, and Me
by Maya Angelou
photographs by Margaret Courtney-Clarke
designed by Alexander Isley Design
published by Clarkson Potter in 1994
Themes – South African culture, traditions
Suitable for ages 3 and up
It begins ….
Hello Stranger-friend
I am Thandi, an Ndebele girl in South Africa.
I am eight years old, and my best friend is a chicken.
This is a fascinatingly unique book. It is filled with beautiful photographs of Ndebele women, children, and painted houses. It is also filled with the rhythmic words of Ms Angelou painting a picture of life in a South African village. A life quite alien to what my reading buddies are used to. Many of the kids in Glen Rose have chickens. And some even talk to their chickens like Thandi does. Thandi has a mischievous younger brother that she would like to give away. Many of my readers can sympathize with those feelings! But Thandi’s village life is quite a bit different from our small town life. For one thing, Thandi and her friends don’t wear much clothing! Mostly LOTS of beads. And they are quite proud of their beadwork. The women do all the beading and Thandi looks forward to one day being able to make her own beaded apron. The women also paint their houses in fantastic geometric patterns – using chicken feathers as brushes! These are traditions that will be passed down to Thandi and her girl friends.
Thandi says that Ndebele people do not call anything beautiful. They say that the best thing is GOOD. This is a very GOOD book full of joy and the music of hope.
When we read this book, we have Good discussions about different cultures and traditions and how traditions get handed down from one generation to the next. We talk about family traditions that the kids might have.
It would be fun, if you have thumbs, to try painting some pictures using the Painted Houses as a model – and paint them with feathers!
To learn more about the art of the Ndebele visit HERE.
Here are some instructions for GOOD beaded snowflake or star ornaments.
Have some fun and laugh and play like Thandi and her friends!
And try this little game!
Now you might want to venture over to the GOOD Ms Susanna Hill’s blog where she keeps a list of Perfect Picture Books.
I challenge you to go out and find your Rhythm
and Dance!
In memory of the GOOD Ms Maya Angelou
Your dancing friend
Rhythm
Reading With Rhythm 
Loved the video! She has a voice like the scent of vanilla, warm and irresistible! I’ll be looking for the book when I hit the library in a few hours. Thanks!
Oh, I like that! A scent of vanilla. Exactly. I’ve always liked hearing her voice on the radio. I think that she could have made some of those calming CDs for dogs.
Missed opportunity! Haha! I suppose dogs would enjoy audio tapes of her poems too!
I’m thinking so. I need to get the Mom Person to try that with Dogzilla.
Thanks for posting your thoughts on Maya’s wonderful book. I’d forgotten about the chicken-feather brushes. Would be fun to try painting with feathers. You, on the other hand, don’t need thumbs to paint …
i do paint sometimes with the “fingers” that I do have. And Walker paints with his tail feathers!
I did NOT know she wrote this picture book! Thank you so much for posting it 🙂 She was one of the “good ones” and will be missed. She left behind a so much for people to be grateful for 🙂
She most assuredly was one of the GOOD ones.
She brought so much lovely to this world.
Yes indeed she did.
I also didn’t realize she wrote a picture book! Will have to look for this one for sure – she was an amazing writer AND woman.
She actually wrote a couple of picture books. Ms Snedecor at For the Love of Kidlit just did a review about another of Ms Angelou’s PBs – Life Doesn’t Frighten Me. Check it out here – http://beverlysnedecor.com/2014/05/29/life-doesnt-frighten-me-by-maya-angelou/
Oh, another Maya Angelou children’s PB. Saw another one on a blog last night. This sounds amazing. Will check it out. Great choice this week in honor of a great lady.
Yes, For the Love of Kidlit did a review. Ms Angelou was a great lady indeed.
That video is worth watching many times. Thank you so much as I had no idea Maya Angelou had also written a picture book. Great choice as a tribute to this incredible lady.
Isn’t that a fun video? I would like to play games with Ms Angelou! She was certainly a lady with many talents. Incredible indeed!
Great work highlighting this book – I’m sure very few of us knew she wrote a children’s book. I will begin my exploration of Ms Angelou’s work with this one.
I hope that you enjoy it! It is a delightful book. I think that Ms Angelou was a delightful lady!
What a wonderful tribute to the great Maya Angelou! Thank you, Rhythm…I’ve read several of Ms. Angelou’s books…but never this children’s story…I will try to get a copy…it looks lovely. And thank you for all of the resources and activities. 😉
Thanks for sharing this. My library has a copy so I put it on hold 🙂
Lovely Post and tribute. Loved the videos and links. Thanks Rhythm.
Great memorial of Ms. Angelou, Rhythm! 😀