• Age: 4 to 8
• Grade: k to 3

When an aid worker brings a life-changing gift to Kato's Ugandan village, he finds something beautiful to give her in return

In a small Ugandan village, Kato wakes early to start the long, barefoot trek beyond his village and along fields dotted with cattle and guarded by soldiers. His destination is the village well, where he will pump a day's supply of water into two jerry cans. Like every day, Kato lets the water splash over his hot tired feet before carrying his heavy load back home, where his chores await him. But this is no ordinary day. The aid worker's truck has come to the village square, and in the back is a gift so special, the little boy rushes home to look for something to repay the aid worker.

Alma Fullerton's spare, lilting prose tells a deceptively simple story of one day in a little boy’s life. But in a place ravaged by a generation of civil war and drought, a village well brings life, a gift of shoes is a cause for celebration, and a simple flower becomes an eloquent symbol of peace and gratitude.

Alma Fullerton is an award winning author- author/illustrator. She lives in NorthLake PEI with her husband, and dog. Born in Ontario Canada, she grew up in a large military family and has lived in in Ontario, British Columbia, Nova Scotia and Germany. Alma struggled with reading and memorized most things until the age of nine when, with the help of her grade four teacher, she realized she had dyslexia. By grade nine Alma loved reading. Besides writing and illustrating Alma now works in schools as an educational assistant who helps children with learning disabilities figure out the best way for them to learn.

Her books have been nominated and/or have won awards including the Governor General Finalist 2008, TD Canadian Children's Literature Award finalist 2009 & 2011 Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Award winner 2009, CLA Children's Book of the Year Honor Book 2009, 2011 Golden Oak Award winner 2009, Once Upon a World Children's Book Award Winner - 2009, Manitoba Young Readers' Choice Award shortlist - 2010, SilverBirch Award shortlist -2010, 2014, Silver Birch Express 2023, Blue Spruce Award 2014 & 2016, 2022, Kentucky BlueGrass Award 2015 and the 2016 Marilyn Baillie picture book award.

Alma Fullerton's profile page

KAREN PATKAU has been writing and illustrating picture books, with a focus on nature and non-fiction, for more than thirty years. She won the Ezra Jack Keats Memorial Medal for her first book, Don’t Eat Spiders by Robert Heidbreder, and since then her titles have appeared on lists including Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Books, Children’s Literature Roundtables of Canada Information Book Award finalists, Green Book Festival Award finalists, Ontario Library Association Best Bets and White Ravens selections. Karen has also illustrated Forest: A See to Learn Book. She lives in Toronto.

 

Karen Patkau's profile page

• Short-listed, Kentucky Blue Grass Awards
• Short-listed, White Raven Selection
• Short-listed, Blue Spruce Award, Ontario Library Association
• Short-listed, Bank Street Best Books of the Year for Children and Young Adults
• Short-listed, Canadian Children's Book Centre Best Books for Kids & Teens
• Short-listed, Ontario Library Association Best Bets Selection
• Short-listed, Children's Literature Roundtables of Canada Information Book Award

About A Good Trade

2014 OLA Blue Spruce Award finalist

2014 White Ravens selection

2015 Kentucky Blue Grass Awards shortlist

2013 Children's Literature Roundtables of Canada Information Book Award finalist

2014 Bank Street Best Books of the Year for Children and Young Adults selection

2013 OLA Best Bets selection

2013 Canadian Children's Book Centre Best Books for Kids & Teens selection

STARRED REVIEW "A pleasure to read aloud...Expertly crafted, Fullerton's first picture book reminds readers of the pleasure of small things."—Kirkus Reviews Starred Review

"The double gesture of kindness - the good trade - projects a strong spirit of generosity and gratitude, traits as universal as the appeal of a gift of cool new sneakers."—Publishers Weekly

"The large images are full of subtle details...The text is spare and poetic...Young readers will enjoy this sweet day-in-the-life snapshot."—School Library Journal

"In this deceptively simple and positive story of a little boy's daily life in an African village, readers will discover subtle hints and overt references to the effects of civil war both in the quiet text and the brightly coloured digital illustrations. Thus the book will serve as a wonderful incentive to discuss this serious topic with younger and older children alike."—The White Ravens 2013 Catalogue

"The images and text of A Good Trade complement one another to the point of poetic consistency. The text and the images are both complex and simple: concept easy, content load heavy. The prose is lyrical, playful and inviting to young listeners or readers...Highly Recommended."—CM Magazine

"A Good Trade is an eloquently told, beautifully illustrated, and heartfelt story."—Resource Links Magazine

"There is much more to this gentle story than its obvious message about the hardships faced by others. The juxtaposition of happy children in a war-torn village, and the beautiful exchange between Kato and the aid worker, portray the endurance of childhood innocence, suggesting small joys can be found in imperfect places."—Quill & Quire

"The artwork is a perfect match for Fullerton's understated text. Together they provide an enriching insight into one boy's life in a distant country, and the preciousness of peace and goodwill. 'We Recommend'"—Canadian Children's Book News

"A good story to use when discussing life in rural Africa."—The International Educator

"The message here is clear, but delivered with a soft touch, reminding young readers that not everyone is as fortunate as they are."—CBC Here and Now Recommendations for Children's Books

"The beautiful pictures and the one-sentence-per-page provide great starting points for discussing life in Uganda, world help organizations, and inequity in general."—49th Shelf

"Overall, I liked A Good Trade, and believe that it can be used to launch a discussion about gratitude and what it's like to live in a third world country."—Musings of a YA Reader

"Alma Fullerton's text is rich, spare and beautifully crafted. Her narrative is strong and lyrical as she shares Kato's daily trip to get drinking water for his family....It addresses tough issues in a hopeful and age-appropriate manner and is an excellent read-aloud for the classroom....Karen Patkau's digitally rendered illustrations are colorful and lush. They work beautifully with the text and illuminate the message in the story."—Children's Books Heal

 

A Good Trade

Every day Kato trudges barefoot past fields and soldiers on the long, hot road to his Ugandan village well. When an aid worker brings a life-changing gift of shoes for all the village children, Kato finds something to give her in return: one small piece of beauty in a war-torn land.

Though sparse in text, this is a strong read aloud picture book for students of different ages. A Good Trade is noteworthy for its poetic language, its unique vocabulary, and for its heartwarming story about kindness and gratitude. This book is excellent for helping students make inferences. What may seem a simple story that depicts a day in the life of a boy in a country ravaged by civil war and drought, works on another level by exploring the themes of perseverance, responsibility and integrity.

Author available for class visits @AlmaFullerton