Kana Kala Lila

About this book

Kana Kala Lila by Maliya Mzyece Sililo is a local-language children's title built around a crying child and the responses that such a familiar situation can invite. Young children understand emotions before they have the vocabulary to explain them fully, so stories of this kind can help adults introduce words for feelings, comfort, needs and relationships. Sililo draws on extensive teaching experience and African oral storytelling in her work for children, with a strong interest in making stories accessible in both English and Zambian languages. The book is suitable for early readers, families, schools and libraries. It can support reading practice and vocabulary while creating a natural opportunity for children to talk about sadness, care and how people help one another. Kana Kala Lila also contributes to the preservation of local-language literacy by giving children published material that reflects their linguistic environment.