When Saruni’s mother gives him five 10-cent coins for helping her at the market, the boy’s imagination runs wild with all that he might buy. A shiny red and blue bicycle catches his eye, and he dreams of riding his own bike on errands. Throughout the market and the rainy season, Saruni practises riding his father’s two-wheeler, and carefully counts his rows and piles of coins. But when he finally presents the bicycle vendor with his savings, his 30 shillings and 50 cents aren’t nearly enough. His parents gracefully save the situation, leaving Saruni scheming for his next purchase – a cart to attach to the bicycle.

Set in 1960s Tanzania, My Rows and Piles of Coins is a delightful story, full of images and episodes worth savouring. The helpful Saruni is not so good that he is unlikeable or unrealistic, and children will relate to his anticipation and disappointment, and his pride in his accomplishments. Prolific Edmonton writer Tololwa Mollel makes this story accessible to all readers without sacrificing its authentic feel; he provides a glossary and a helpful author’s note to explain the foreign currency, and peppers his text with Tanzanian phrases without compromising its readability. Mollel’s engaging plot and effective use of a refrain will help younger readers enjoy this longer, sophisticated story, which will be a hit with children aged five and older. New Jersey artist E.B. Lewis, who last worked with Mollel on Big Boy, has a knack for bringing vignettes out of the text to life and for creating remarkably detailed scenes that remain evocative without being overwhelming. His warm, expressive watercolours complete this outstanding book.