Book Review of “Dumb” Orphans: The Bundu Bunch Trilogy
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The Children’s Book Review
“Dumb” Orphans: The Bundu Bunch Trilogy
Written by Allan Low
Illustrated by Elizabeth Sparg
Ages: 9-16 | 280 Pages
Publisher: York Publishing Services Ltd. | ISBN-13: 9781739081300
What to Expect: AIDS, Family, Education, Southern Africa, Friendship, Loyalty
What would you do if you lost your parents and found yourself orphaned in a community with no support and no compassion for orphans? Would you fight for access to education and a future? Would you opt to become an illegal immigrant? Would you reach out to international aid programs for help? Would you devote your time and energy to helping other orphans just like you? This trilogy of three stories follows the inspirational story of Aiyasha, an orphan who loses her parents in the HIV AIDS pandemic in Southern Africa, escapes poverty and instability, and eventually returns to her home country to give a home to the orphans who were not as fortunate as her.
Told in the endearing first-person voice of Sipho, a seven-year-old orphan, this trilogy of tales introduces difficult and challenging topics, such as disease, death, poverty, and child neglect, through gentle storytelling. Hope and positivity are introduced through beautiful and reverent descriptions of the African landscape and the caring relationships of the children for one another.
The stories are also exciting, drawing readers along on the orphans’ adventures as they fight for survival in a world that it both beautiful and harsh. Soft paint and pencil sketched illustrations frame each chapter, inviting readers to experience the orphans’ world for themselves. As a final note, each sale of the book contributes a donation to the SHAMBA trust, so that readers can know they, like Aiyasha, are doing their bit to make the world a better place.
“Dumb” Orphans: The Bundu Bunch Trilogy is thought-provoking, moving, and instructive—a great read for the classroom or for home.
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About the Author
Allan Low has worked with rural communities in Eastern and Southern Africa over a span of forty-five years. He first worked with families on improving their agricultural production. He wrote a book on how semi-subsistence farm-households in the region respond to new farming technology. Eleven years ago, Allan set up the charity SHAMBA with his late wife, Anne. SHAMBA works with communities to enable their most disadvantaged children from AIDS-affected households to gain access to high-quality early childhood care and education through their ‘Bright Future’ preschools. Allan now lives in Wetherby, UK, and continues to visit the charity and manage its work.
To see more about Allan’s motivation for writing this children’s book visit his author website www.alow.magix.net/allanlow.
About the Illustrator
Elizabeth Sparg uses gouache and coloured pencil to create her playful and painterly illustrations. She lives in Durban, South Africa, and was selected as one of the winners in the 2021 Picture This! award for, then unpublished, illustrators. Her illustration projects include children’s books and surface pattern design. Elizabeth loves drawing expressive animal characters, and bold and textured environments. Her first picture book which she illustrated, was published in 2022. Elizabeth is an animal lover and nature enthusiast and her hobbies include surfing, reading, online courses, and relaxing at home with her dog.
Dedicated Reviews allow authors and illustrators to gain prompt visibility for their work. This is a sponsored, non-biased review of “Dumb” Orphans: The Bundu Bunch Trilogy. Learn more about getting a book review …
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