Review: Sing to the Moon by Nansubuga Nagadya isdalh, illustrated by Sandra van Doorn

Supernovas to Mars, dhow boats to Zanzibar, mythical forest beasts, and deliciously monstrous feasts... 

A young Ugandan boy, who is staying with his jjajja, dreams of extraordinary adventures in faraway places. But in the morning when he awakes to dreary clouds and rain, boredom sets in, and there's nothing left to do but mope.

That’s until jjajja decides to liven his mood by regaling him with countless enthralling stories of yore. He tells wholesome tales from his Ugandan childhood, fables of dignified African kings and kingdoms, and creation myths explaining the wonders of nature. And as the rain clears, and they both stare into the starry night sky, the boy comes to an important realisation. 

Nansubuga Nagadya Isdahl's award-winning tale, written in gentle rhyming couplets, is a splendid celebration not only of Ugandan life and the African storytelling tradition, but also the loving bond between a grandparent and their grandchild. 

As jjajja plays storyteller they complete everyday chores together, such as, packing harvested peas and cooking a delicious tilapia fish stew. Through this quality time in each other's company the boy and his grandpa get to know each other a little better, their growing connection tenderly depicted in the words and illustrations. 

Additionally, as well as oral storytelling, jjajja reads from his treasured library of books, dispelling blanket notions that all Ugandans/Africans are illiterate.  

Sharing this text with children in EYFS/year 1 will provide them with a snapshot of Ugandan family life and might lead to further exploration if children show an interest (UW/Geography). In particular, older children might be interested to know there are two wet/rainy seasons in Uganda, prompting them to consider how they stop themselves from feeling bored on rainy days, and how their experiences might be similar or different to the boy in the story (CAL/UW/PSED/Geography/PSHE). 

Sandra van Doorn's wonderfully detailed, digitally enhanced spreads in matt pastel colours, have a slightly surrealist quality that will capture young children's interest. They will delight in spotting the small pet dog which is a motif that runs throughout the pages. The dog is never referred to in the text which leaves space for children to engage their imaginations and perhaps conjure up their own spoken, pictorial, or written tales about the pet (EAD). Children may also notice the symbolic red balloon tied to the boy while his dreams at night, and that it floats away at the end. 

I also love the painstaking care and attention taken to create minute labels on the jars and bottles in jjajja's storeroom, which are legible only on close inspection. The tropical mango crush, the homemade masala mix, and the little bottle of 'happiness'—the illustrations are truly a labour of love! 

This soothing memorable story is perfect for bedtimes or any other storytime. It reminds us that storytelling—and the passing down of traditional tales—not only has the capacity to help us make sense of a complex world but also to strengthen our connections with others. Spending quality time with our elders, particularly during this social-media age, can inspire, educate, and most of all bring us closer together. And this should never be lost! 

Notes and resources for teachers/parents

Adjoa Andoh reads Sing to the Moon (Tata Storytime)

jjajja - southern Ugandan word for grandfather

Guide for teachers and parents

Genre	Poetry: structured narrative poem with supporting illustrations; stories from other cultures
Child-led interests (EYFS)	my family, home corner (role-play), space, countries of the world, water play, cooking, reading/telling stories, drawing stories
Age group (EYFS, KS1, KS2)	Reception/KS1
Curriculum links/topics (EYFS/NC)	EYFS: CAL UW EAD PSED  English (Y1) Reading comprehension – listening to and discussing a wide range of poems, stories and non-fiction at a level beyond that at which they can read independently; being encouraged to link what they read or hear to their own experiences; recognising and joining in with predictable phrases; drawing on what they already know or on background information and vocabulary provided by the teacher; discussing the significance of the title and event; making inferences on the basis of what is being said and done; participate in discussion about what is read to them, taking turns and listening to what others say; Geography: Locational knowledge – name and locate the world’s seven continents and five oceans; Human and physical geography: identify seasonal and daily weather patterns in the United Kingdom; PSHE – hobbies and interests; sharing preferences
Suitability	storytime, class/school library, home library
General features	first-person narration, rhyming couplets unfamiliar words (dhow, Zanzibar, jjajja, crested, mythical, monstrous, charcoal, croons)

All the Black children's books that I review are checked against my Jericho Benchmark.