Book Review

Title: Day of the pets.

Author: Karomo Ndirangu

Publisher: EAEP

By Allan Olingo

For siblings: Mambo, Maria and Lucia, closing day in their school is like no other. It is fun. It is the day of the pets. All pupils are to bring their various pets to the school and their parents would judge which pet was the most beautiful.

Mambo and his two sisters had been preparing their pets for a month before the competition. Mambo has a dog named Simba, Maria has a rabbit named malaika and Lucia has a cat named Pepe. Even Juma the bully was going to bring his shaggy dog called Kali.vHowever, Juma nearly spoils the day.

 Mambo immediately reports the bully to Mrs Sagala their teacher and.Juma is sent home to call his parents but before he goes home. He runs to the classroom then leaves without anybody seeing him. When Mambo goes to pick his bag later in the afternoon, it is missing. Who has stolen it and why? That is when trouble begins for Mambo and his sisters.

On their way home, the children meet uncle Luka who is their neighbour and has an orchard where he grows oranges, mangoes and avocados. Uncle Luka always had a big smile on his face. The children loved him but this day he is not smiling. He is angry. He accuses Mambo of stealing his oranges and shows the children Mambo’s schoolbag which had been left in the farm. Mambo is shocked. How did uncle Luka get his bag?

On reaching home, they find all their pets missing! At the side gate to their home, there are boot prints similar to the ones on uncle Luka’s stone fence.

Will the children find their pets in time for the contest?