Book Info
Format
Paperback96 pages
Author's Website
www.voiceinthedesert.org.uk/Publisher
Andersen Press LtdPublication date
7th August 2008ISBN
9781842707951Children's Author 'Like-for-Like' recommendations
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Sophie And The Pancake Plot
Stephen Davies
Part of the 'Sophie Books' Series
In Stock (Delivery time 1-2 weeks)
Lovereading4kids Price: £3.74
RRP: £4.99 Saving £1.25 (25%)The Lovereading comment:
An exciting new story about a dodgy election in the African desert setting up a new chase for Sophie, the tough and spirited little girl and her erstwhile friend, the albino camel. Terrific adventure, almost Kiplingesque in its humour and writing style, children from 6+ will love the wonderful story and the surprising ending. Sophie’s previous exploits include Sophie and the Locust Curse.
Synopsis
Sophie And The Pancake Plot by Stephen DaviesGidaado the Fourth and his albino camel are working for a famous General in his campaign to win the state elections. General Crepe-Sombo is everyone's hero, but Sophie reckons there is something fishy about him. She must do some dangerous spying to find out the truth.
About The Author
Stephen Davies is a missionary who lives amongst Fulani herders in West Africa, one of the poorest regions of the world. He speaks Fulfulde, eats millet, accompanies cattle-drives and preaches the gospel in culturally relevant ways and lives a life just like those others who live there. He writes for the Guardian Weekly (letters from Bukina Faso) and occasionally for the Sunday Times.
VOICE IN THE DESERT - A Day in the Life of Stephen Davies:
I live in Djibo, a small town on the edge of the Sahara desert. Most of the year it is simply too hot to sleep inside the house, so my wife Charlie hangs a mosquito net from a tree in our back yard. We wake up to the usual early-morning soundtrack of donkeys, cockerels and cows. Lie-ins are rare because we have animals of our own to feed: three French hens, two black and white kittens and a hungry stallion called Silalé. Greeting is important in African societies, so I first go round saying hello to our neighbours: Jam waali (Did you pass the night in peace?), Noy koreeji maa (How is your family?), we sing the long greeting sequence back and forth. The answer to these questions is invariably Jam tan (Peace only). When they answer ‘Jam tan’, my neighbours are putting a brave face on things: in reality this region is one of the poorest in the world.
My work here as a missionary includes humanitarian relief: grain handouts, yes, but also working with individuals to find creative ways out of poverty. A donkey and cart for Bukari, a sheep for Mariama, school fees for Adama – the slow, intangible work of development.
A missionary is also a storyteller, and I love sharing stories with people – ancient stories which still have incredible power to inspire and transform the human heart.
In the afternoon, I write. I bash away on my laptop with sweat dripping off my elbows. I’m so grateful to my friends and neighbours here for sharing their lives with me – it’s their truth which inspires my fiction.
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