Abdul lives in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone. The seven-year-old sells oranges to earn money for his school fees, but when business is slow, he has a hard time being patient: he loves to learn and wants to be sure he'll be able to continue his education. The day that Momma marches in the big parade to celebrate the anniversary of Sierra Leone's independence, Abdul's worries come to an end, but not before he's learned to appreciate what patience can bring, and not before readers have learned a little about contemporary life for a child in this West African nation. A picture book featuring full-page, full-color acrylic illustrations and a text well-suited for emergent readers. (Ages 5-7)

Abdul, a small boy living in Sierra Leona, West Africa, longs to go back to school, but his family hasn't enough money to pay the fee. Each day, Abdul goes to the marketplace to try to sell oranges. But selling oranges isn't easy, especially when Abdul has to bring his five-year-old sister, Maryama, with him. In the end, it's Maryama who helps Abdul sell quite a lot of oranges, allowing Abdul's parents to pay his school fees. Full color.