Be Patient, Abdul

Be Patient, Abdul

Written and illustrated by Dolores Sandoval

Grade Level: K-4

Genre: Multicultural

            Have you ever had to be patient for something that wasn’t easy? Be Patient, Abdul by Dolores Sandoval helps readers make personal connections with learning patience. Sandoval describes the journey of patience in Sierra Leone, Africa by vividly describing the culture.

            The main character is a young boy named Abdul who lives in Freetown, which is the capital of Sierra Leone. He needs to sell oranges every day because going to school costs money. He goes to the marketplace everyday with a big tray of oranges but usually doesn’t sell a lot. His family tells him that he must be patient and that he will one day raise enough money. His sister Maryama helps him sell oranges but Abdul does not want her help because she is annoying. Abdul’s mother is in a parade because it is the anniversary of the day Freetown won independence. Abdul did not sell oranges because he watched his mother in the parade but his father worked by driving a taxi. Abdul’s father gave him the money he made that day to reward him for his patience. He had enough money to go back to school and was grateful for his family and his newfound patience.

            This book is a multi-cultural text. It is a book for readers to learn about the culture of Sierra Leone, Africa. The text describes vivid details about the type of food sold at the marketplace. Sandoval also describes how children have to pay to go to school. The colorful illustrations depict the types of clothes that are worn and the beautiful costumes in the parade. Sandoval shows how younger children are carried on the backs of their mothers. She also explains that they pray to Allah and the illustrations show how they do this. The characters are authentic and balanced.  The setting is consistent with a historical timeline. There is an author’s note in the beginning that describes a short history of Sierra Leone. The story line allows children to make personal connections to the text. Many children can relate to having to be patient for something in their life. They can probably also relate to having an annoying sibling. These personal connections to the text can help them understand the story better and make them realize that they have something in common with the children in Sierra Leone, Africa. They can also critically think about what it would be like to pay for their own schooling. This is an idea that can spark a discussion in the classroom.

            I could use this book in the classroom in a majority of ways. It could be used to delve into researching the history of Sierra Leone. They could learn the natural resources, physical features and climate. I could show the students where it is on the map along with photographs of people who live there. The students could make Venn diagrams comparing and contrasting Abdul’s life with theirs. The students could continue writing the story after Abdul gets into school. The students could draw their favorite scene in the book with an accompanying paragraph about why it was their favorite. This book could also be used to teach secondary characters. The students could make a character web. This book could also introduce problem- solution story line.

MA FRAMEWORKS:

K.10 Actively engage in group reading activities with purpose and understanding.

3.3 Describe characters in a story (e.g., their traits, motivations, or feelings) and explain how their actions contribute to the sequence of events.

3.6 Distinguish their own point of view from that of the narrator or those of the characters.

2.1 Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or book they are writing about, state an opinion, supply reasons that support the opinion, use linking words (e.g., because, and, also) to connect opinion and reasons, and provide a concluding statement or section.