In a story based on the West African proverb, "It takes a whole village to raise a child," a young girl proudly watches her brother and then realizes that the entire village has been watching them both. PreSchool-Grade 2-A wonderfully illustrated story based on a West African proverb. Yemi's mother asks her to care for her younger brother and the girl is delighted at the prospect of taking on a grown-up task. The three of them set out to the village market, where Mama will sell mangoes. Yemi soon loses Kokou, but instead of the terrible things she imagines happening to him, the toddler is lovingly cared for by all of the adults he meets-he is fed, given something to drink, played with, and allowed to nap. The bright watercolors depict the people's multicolored garb and show various aspects of village life, especially the workings of an open-air market. Men and women, young and old, are shown selling peanuts, cloth, pottery, and mats. In the end, Yemi learns, along with readers, that "It takes a village to raise a child." A lovely, gentle, visually appealing book that conveys a sense of what it means to belong to a community. Carol Jones Collins, Montclair Kimberley Academy, NJ Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. Ages 3-6. The communalism of African village life is at the heart of this cheerful picture book set in Benin, West Africa. The author spent two years in Benin with the Peace Corps, and her realistic colored pencil illustrations with watercolor wash show a variety of individual people in the vital marketplace, which is filled with pottery, fabrics, baskets, and produce. It's a simple story: Yemi is proud that she's to take care of her little brother, Kokou, while their mother is busy selling mangoes. When he wanders off, Yemi searches everywhere for him, but in fact, everyone in the village has taken special care of him, just as Yemi's mother always knew they would. The title comes from the African proverb, "It takes a village to raise a child." Hazel Rochman By a former Peace Corps worker in Benin, a simple story that demonstrates one of that West African country's proverbs. Yemi is pleased to be trusted to watch her little brother Kokou while Mama sells their mangoes in the weekly market--``all by myself!'' she says proudly. But Mama is secure in the knowledge that Yemi will have help if she needs it. Sure enough, Kokou wanders off, but the other vendors look out for him: while Yemi searches anxiously, sure that Kokou is hungry, thirsty, or tired, the little boy is getting a snack, a drink, and a place to nap in various stalls. Yemi finds him, thanks everyone, and returns to Mama, who's unconcerned; she knows ``It takes a village to raise a child''--an assumption of shared responsibility that we all might take to heart. The author's deep-felt, attractively designed illustrations include many details of the marketplace and underline its warm, neighborly atmosphere. A nicely shaped and unusually likeable story. Note on the market. (Picture book. 4-8) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. Used Book in Good Condition