Papa & My Tender Heart

Papa Do You Love Me?

Author Barbara Joose writes this in response to the question, why did you place this story with the Masaai people of Kenya?

"Why did I write a story that takes place in Kenya? Why are the father and son Maasai?

Partly because Kenya is a bright and beautiful place. Partly because the Maasai culture is interesting. Also, life on the mara can be very hard. There are lions and hyenas and dryness. Messing up, on the mara, can be very dangerous.

When I was in Kenya, I could see the ways Maasai families are different from my own. But when I watched papas with their children, I could see the same tenderness and pride and big Papa-smiles I could see on my own Papa's face. And then, I could see the parts that were the same." - Barbara Joose

This is a phenomenal book that i picked up a year ago. I read it to era often... so often now that i quote bits of it to him when we are chatting. I only think to post this right now because very good friends of ours are expecting their first child this spring, and i think this book could be as grand a gift for them as it has been for era and i.

Thanks to the Google book project, you can read this childrens book online, you'll love it, and want to own a copy for sure!