14 Cows for America
By, Carmen Agra Deedy
In collaboration with, Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah
Illustrated by, Thomas Gonazalez
Genre: Fiction
Grades: 3rd to 5th
About The Author
Carmen Agra Deedy lives in Decatur, Georgia and is young mother. Born in Havana, Cuba she came to the U.S.A. as a refuge. Writing and traveling the world for over twenty years and as an immigrant, Deedy has a unique perspective on the world. She is known for several works, some of which have won awards: The Library Dragon, The Yellow Star, and Martina the Beautiful Cockroach.
About The Book!
Upon first glance I did not open the book to read it while at the store. After taking a moment I opened the book and became mesmerized by not only the illustrations but the content within the book. I was not only moved but felt compelled to share the story with everyone around me, adults, teenagers, and children. On the last page I was left speechless and moved in so many ways. How could the Maasi Tribe be so compassionate towards people they did not know? The truth is we are all the same, and we can all be wounded, but you are never to small to help or to large to fall. This book does an outstanding job of conveying this point, while also brining life and truth to the Maasai Tribe.
The book begins with Kimeli as he walks towards his village in Kenya. The reader is then introduced to the Maasai people and importance of the cow to their culture. Once the Maasai people hear of America's horrific story on 9/11 the Maasai people want to help. The Maasai tribe have a very heartfelt and meaningful ceremony in which they give America fourteen cows.
Lesson
Purpose: To understand the moral of 14 Cows For America, while also using technology to aid in research.
Pre-assessment: Giving the students a quote from the last page in the book. Have students think about the quote then write what they think it means.
Lesson idea: Have students complete a research paper in which the use the 14cowsforamerica.com website (above, "click here"). The web site elaborates on the Maasai culture. Each student can be given similar questions, such as, explaining the Maasai history, culture, geography, and getting more in depth about what cows mean. Students can all
Assessment: Reading the research paper and re-giving the pre-assessment quote. One can look at the new facts that they have learned due to the research and how they now better understand the quote on the last page.
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