About BC Books Online
BC Books Online was created for anyone interested in BC-published books, and with librarians especially in mind. We'd like to make it easy for library staff to learn about books from BC publishers - both new releases and backlist titles - so you can inform your patrons and keep your collections up to date.
Our site features print books and ebooks - both new releases and backlist titles - all of which are available to order through regular trade channels. Browse our subject categories to find books of interest or create and export lists by category to cross-reference with your library's current collection.
A quick tip: When reviewing the "Browse by Category" listings, please note that these are based on standardized BISAC Subject Codes supplied by the books' publishers. You will find additional selections, grouped by theme or region, in our "BC Reading Lists."
Description
Co-written by Eric Walters and Godfrey Nkongolo, Light a Candle weaves non-fiction with fiction to tell the story of a boy coming of age in the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro.
The son of the village's chief climbs the mountain against his father’s wishes to fulfill a request of the country’s first leader, Julius Nyerere, to light a candle on the top of the mountain and unify the mainland of Tanganyika and the islands of Zanzibar as one country, the United Republic of Tanzania.
This bilingual book includes full text in both English and Swahili.
Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels
- Age:
- 6 to 8
- Grade:
- 1 to 3
- Reading age:
- 6 to 8
Awards
- , Forest of Reading Silver Birch Express Award
- Commended, CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens
- Commended, Bank Street College of Education Children's Book Committee Best Children's Books of the Year
Editorial Reviews
“This beautifully illustrated bilingual picture book combines simple language with complex ideas about freedom, peace, and independence...Would work well as an addition to any home, school, or classroom library, or as part of a writing unit working with themes of bravery, wisdom, and determination. Highly Recommended.”
— CM: Canadian Review of Materials
“This beautifully illustrated book brings history to life for the young reader. With a positive message of hope and community building, Light a Candle would be a welcome addition to classroom and library shelves.”
— Canadian Teacher Magazine
“An informative story...Campbell's colorful and highly textured paintings capture the vastness of the terrain and the vibrancy of the characters’ patterned clothing...The importance of freedom in Tanzania comes through clearly.”
— Kirkus Reviews
“This is an excellent choice for a Read Aloud at the elementary level. Opportunities abound because not only could it introduce a unit on multicultural studies but also a unit on how fiction often mirrors history and can be developed to tell an inspirational story.”
— Must Read Literature: K thru YA
