A gift for baby Jojo
English-language edition | October 2026 | bernard.ink
A gift for baby Jojo
Read Kente for Jojo together. The narrator is Jojo's older sibling; Jojo is the new baby.
- Who wants to choose a special cloth for Jojo?
- Who helps the family find or make it?
- What does the rainbow help the family notice or choose?
Draw a moment that shows care for the baby.
This picture shows care because ...
Teacher notes
Purpose and preparation
20 minutes. Explain character relationships and give evidence from pictures.
Read the book aloud first. Have one copy available to revisit words and pictures. Pupil pages are suitable for black-and-white printing.
Suggested responses
Jojo's older sibling narrates. The family visits a skilled weaver to choose a special Kente cloth. A rainbow inspires their choice. Revisit the final spread where the sibling compares Jojo to Nyankonton. Accept observations about colour and care without assigning a universal meaning to every colour.
Support and stretch
Support: Point to characters and use an adult to scribe one idea.
Stretch: Compare the desire for a perfect gift with the care shown while making it.
Teaching links
England KS1 English: discuss stories and infer from actions. US Grade 1 RL.1.3: describe characters and events; SL.1.2: answer questions about a read-aloud.
These are suggested links, not an accredited lesson or a complete curriculum. Grade 1 links do not apply automatically to younger children.
Do not describe the plot as baby Jojo travelling alone or choosing the cloth. Invite children to point to the page that supports an answer.