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Novel 5

A little more sophisticated story than Anna Hibiscus -- less clear chapters, but still strong in lessons and story. Funny, and great illustrations. ( )

Oluwalase Babatunde Benson, known in his tiny village as the "No 1 Car Spotter" because he can spot and identify approaching vehicles before anyone else, introduces us to his world in this first of a series of chapter-books devoted to his doings. In the four stories/chapters found here, we follow along as No 1 finds a solution to a broken market cart, buys the wrong thing when one of his aunties sends him to purchase lipstick at the market, almost loses his name when he begins to help his friend Coca Cola, and inadvertently helps his father to provide a solution, when his grandmother becomes ill and her medical treatment is too expensive...

Having greatly enjoyed expatriate Nigerian author Atinuke's stories about Anna Hibiscus, a little girl living with her extended family in "Amazing Africa," I was curious to see how I would like this new series about a new protagonist. Although not quite equal (at least, not yet) in my estimation to the Anna Hibiscus books - somehow, it just wasn't as amusing - I did find The No. 1 Car Spotter engaging. Anna is a middle-class city girl, whereas No. 1 is a poor village boy, and their experiences are in some ways quite different. On the other hand, the idea of close-knit family groups all working together, the importance of respect for elders, and the warmhearted friendship between young people, were similar in both story-lines. I appreciated the fact that the challenges No. 1 and his village faced, due to poverty, were realistically depicted, but that this wasn't the focus of the story. All in all, a promising beginning to a new series, and more than enough to convince me to carry on to the next title, The No. 1 Car Spotter and the Firebird. ( )

A really good story, you can feel similarities to the Anna Hibiscus series. Great writing with interesting stories. ( )

This book came to me as an e-book. I think I might have enjoyed it more in print. However, it was a fun-loving book about a young African boy who is his village's No 1 car spotter. It's a fun look at the life of a young village boy in Africa who is dealing with the men of the village leaving to work in a city that seems unimaginable. He is an unlikely little hero. As a teacher, I think this would be a fantastic book to use in tandem with a unit on African culture and life. ( )