Picture Book: Lola’s Nana Bibi Comes to Visit

Author: Anna McQuinn

Illustrator: Rosalind Beardshaw

I was immediately drawn to this story by Rosalind’s carefully illustrated African prints and hair textures because it allowed Lola’s East African Heritage to shine through. This gorgeously illustrated book is the latest title in the Lola picture book series by Anna McQuinn and Rosalind Beardshaw. It tells us the story of Nana Bibi, Lola’s grandmother who is visiting the family from Tanzania and like every African grandmother, she comes loaded with gifts for everyone.

'Everyday is special when Nana Bibi comes to visit’

Readers follow the family on a weeklong fun filled activities including shopping for gifts for everyone back home in Tanzania, braiding each other’s hair, gardening and making delicious mandazi doughnuts. She has so much fun that ‘…when she falls asleep she dreams of Mandazi doughnuts, hairdos, digging and dancing.’

However, I wish we could see the finished mandazi doughnuts or perhaps a recipe as the back of the book would have been good too. It could have been helpful to include a bite-sized back-matter about Tanzania for readers who are not familiar with the country.

Verdict:

Overall this book is simply a delightful story that celebrates multigenerational familial love. McQuin’s easy to read prose clearly captures this relatable grandparent-grandchild experience. It is so relatable, it reminded me a lot of my grandmother who passed away in July of 2022.

I highly recommend you add this book in your little one’s library. It’s perfect for fans of Anna Hibiscus by Atinuke, Jamela by Nikki Daly, Tobi series by Olubunmi Aboderin Talabi.

Thanks to Netgalley and Charlesbridge Publishing for giving me an eArC in exchange for my honest review.