Too Small Tola Gets Tough
Tola may be small, but she's very determined!
Too Small Tola lives in a flat in Lagos with her sister, Moji, who is very clever, her brother, Dapo, who is very fast, and Grandmummy, who is very bossy. One day Tola discovers the secret of multiplication and division. She is so happy!
But then there is news of a deadly virus, and news of lockdown too. Moji goes away to live and study with her teacher and Dapo goes off to live and work with his boss. Grandmummy cannot go out to work so Tola does instead.
Tola goes to live with a wealthy couple, the Diamonds. She cleans and washes and scrubs, scrubs, scrubs. She befriends the other workers too. But she soon learns that even the wealthy Dimonds have problems of their own. And when it comes to solving them, Tola proves once again how kind and clever, mighty and resourceful she truly is.
Creators
Atinuke is a traditional oral storyteller, and the author of over 30 books for children. Most of Atinuke’s books are set on the amazing African continent where she spent her childhood in the country of Nigeria. Atinuke is the author of the best selling fiction series Anna Hibiscus, as well theThe No.1 Car Spotter and Too Small Tola series. Atinuke also writes picture books - including the bestselling Baby Goes to Market illustrated by Angela Brooksbank. Her non-fiction book Africa, Amazing Africa is illustrated by Mouni Fedeg, and Brilliant Black British History is illustrated by Kingsley Nebechi. Atinuke currently lives in wonderful Wales, where one of her latest books is set - Beti and the Little Round House illustrated by Emily Hughes. Find her online at atinuke.co.uk.
Onyinye Iwu is Nigerian. She was born in Italy, where she spent most of her childhood, then moved to the UK when she was a teenager. A teacher by day and an illustrator by night, Onyinye enjoys reading books, especially ones that make her laugh.
Reviews
Featured in The Bookseller’s April 2022 Previews.
The Bookseller
I really liked this book because I liked learning about Nigeria and how they felt when the corona virus came. […] I would like to read other stories about Tola and learn more about her life in Nigeria
Kids Book Review, Books Up North
Featured in Pen & Inc Autumn/Winter 2022 listings, highlighting the best in diversity and inclusion in children’s books.
Pen & Inc
This latest book in the series of Too Small Tola is just as engaging as the first two […] These down to earth, warming stories will bring pleasure to individual 7 to 9 year old readers and to adults who share them with a class.
English 4-11
