Seven Candles for Kwanzaa

In this story, your child will enjoy learning the meaning of this ethnic holiday celebrating the African heritage. 

Sample Page Illustration	Book Cover	Sample Page Illustration

Price $18.95 Book # 516 Hard cover  6 3/4" x 8 1/4"   35 pages  For ages 3-8

A detailed story of this book is given below. 

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• Book number (Select 516)
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• Date of the book is given

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Seven Candles for Kwanzaa - Detailed Story

As you read the story below substitute the underlined information with yours. This is just a sample story, your book will be made using the information you submit (listed above).

• Page 1 – Book title and illustrations
• Page 2 – More picture illustrations (samples shown on top of this page)
• Page 3 – "Seven Candles of Kwanzaa" was created especially for Michael Jeremy Smith at the age of 8, with love from Mommy and Daddy, December 27, 2005.
• Page 4 –Hello, Mike.  My name is Zawadi.  My name means "Gifts" in Swahili.  I am a storyteller, and I'm here to tell you about a very special holiday.  It is called Kwanzaa.  Have you ever heard of Kwanzaa, Mike?  it means "First Fruits of the harvest".  It is time to celebrate our African-American heritage and culture.  We celebrate Kwanzaa from December 26th to January 1st.
• Page 5 – Picture illustrations
• Page 6 – More picture illustrations
• Page 7 – We celebrate many holidays such as Christmas and Thanksgiving, but Kwanzaa is special!  Yes, Mike gifts are given, but the true meaning of Kwanzaa can be found in the good feeling that comes from learning about our past.
• Page 8 – It is very important to remember our past, Mike.  Kwanzaa helps us to celebrate the ties that bind us to our African heritage.
• Page 9 – Picture illustrations
• Page 10 – More Picture illustrations
• Page 11 - Kwanzaa can be celebrated in may ways.  In keeping with the spirit of Kwanzaa we can wear African dress and decorate our home in the red, green and black colors that symbolize our holiday.  Red is for our struggle, green is for the hills of Africa, and black is for the color of our people.
• Page 12 – Many families enjoy celebrating the Kwanzaa holiday with relatives and friends.  They come together to tell traditional stories, to prepare special meals, to sing, to dance, and to play music.  Everyone has a wonderful time!  Why don't you invite Larry, Wayne and Bob to celebrate with you this year in Atlanta?

• Page 13 – Picture illustrations
• Page 14 – More picture illustrations
• Page 15 – Perhaps the most important part of the Kwanzaa celebration is the study of the seven principles.  These principles should be learned and practiced every day, Mike, not just during the Kwanzaa celebration.
• Page 16 – There are seven candles called Mishumaa Saba that symbolize the seven principles of Kwanzaa.  These candles are placed in a special candle holder called a Kinara.  We light one candle each day.
• Page 17 – Picture illustrations
• Page 18 – More picture illustrations
• Page 19 – With the light of the first candle, Mike, we begin to learn about the first principle called Umoja.  It means unity.  We must attempt to create unity within our families, our communities, and our nation.
• Page 20 – The second candle stands for Kujichagulia.  It means self-determination.  We should know who we are, stand up for ourselves, and do what is right.
• Page 21 – Picture illustrations
• Page 22 – More picture illustrations
• Page 23 - The third candle is lit for Ujima.  It stands for collective work and responsibility.  Each member of the family is given an ear of corn called vibunzi to symbolized the African harvest.  The harvest represents our hard work, and without hard work there is no reward.
• Page 24 – On the fourth day, Mike, we light the candle for Ujamaa.  Ujamaa means cooperative economics.  One way to practice the principle of Ujamaa is to do well in school, get a good education, and one day contribute your skills to your community.
• Page 25 – Picture illustrations
• Page 26 – More picture illustrations
• Page 27 – The fifth candle is lit for Nia.  Nia means purpose.  Our purpose, Mike, is to honor our ancestors and our parents.  We must work together to restore our communities and our families.  With purpose we can accomplish many wonderful things.
• Page 28 – The sixth principle of Kwanzaa is Kuumba. It means creativity.  We can express our creativity in many different ways. Whenever possible, we should use our creativity to help each other and to better our communities.
• Page 29 – Picture illustrations
• Page 30 – More picture illustrations
• Page 31 – The last candle to be lit on our Kwanzaa celebration is for Imani, which means faith.  We must always remember our continuing struggle, Mike, and believe in ourselves, our parents, and our future.  We must keep the faith of our ancestors.
• Page 32 – On the last day our our holiday, we gather together for the Kwanzaa Karamu or feast.  On the table is a straw mat called mkeka.  On the mkeka is placed a basket filled with mazao or fruits and vegetables.  This act symbolizes the product of our effort.  Gifts are given to one another.  Although the gifts are simple, usually a book or something made by hand, they are special because they are given with love on Kwanzaa.
• Page 33 – Picture illustrations
• Page 34 – More picture illustrations
• Page 35 – Gives a list of the seven principles of Kwanzaa.

The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa

"Umoja" - Unity

"Kujichagulia" - Self-determination

"Ujima" - Collective Work and Responsibility

"Ujamaa" - Cooperative Economics

"Nia" - Purpose

"Kuumba" - Creativity

"Imani" - Faith

THE END

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