Táwà, an adorable and perfectly sweet little girl can’t talk quite yet, but not to worry! She communicates with a scream heard round the world, letting out a wail anytime things don’t go the way she envisions. A day in Táwà’s life tells a familiar story, not wanting to share, being upset she can’t come along to the market, being upset she has to now come along to the market, all which she meets with vocal defiance 10 times the size of herself. After each tiny tantrum, her family rushes to soothe her & to decipher and meet her needs, before being led back down the warpath once more.  

After a full day facing Táwà’s wrath, her family finally reach the end of their rope that night and wail in a chorus of WAAA WAAAAS in return as bedtime tensions rise. Being faced with a taste of her own medicine, Táwà rushes to soothe her family with kind words & a hug, the same way they had comforted her – the perfect cure!

Sprinkled with onomatopoeias and fun, jaunty words set against the beautifully illustrated backdrop of Táwà’s village in Nigeria, we’re lead in a singsongy dance between Táwà’s “waaa waaa waaas” and Mama’s “no no nos” all the way to a quiet resolution …. zzzzzz. Ònájìn hit the nail on the head for his debut picture book – with a silly & endearing ending, Waaa Waaa Goes Táwà answers the cries heard far & wide for the perfect bedtime read-aloud! 

For ages 4-8, though younger kiddos would appreciate it as a read-aloud.

Reviewed by Paiten Price – Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth, ME