The Trickster in the Vase

Gr 1-4–Nosa and Eddie, two boys of Nigerian descent, like to have fun and play tricks. In this first book in the new “Osagie Twins” series, their desire for mischief launches quite an adventure. On the day of their grandfather’s birthday party, the boys just want to go outside and play soccer. Unfortunately, their ball is in their father’s home office and the rules of the house are very clear: “Stay out of Baba’s office.” Their father works with African antiquities and there are many ancient (and breakable) artifacts in there. While retrieving the soccer ball, the boys knock over a vase and release an orisha, a trickster god named Eshu. Colorful and energetic illustrations capture the chase as Eshu wreaks havoc in a grocery store and around town. The boys eventually get Eshu back into the vase just as their Baba comes home. The two boys are highly engaging and the cultural details are presented in a manner that will also engage young readers without any knowledge of Nigerian culture and mythology. Short chapters with vibrant writing and illustrations that support the text will have chapter book readers eagerly looking for the next adventures/misadventures of these fun-loving twins.