Waiting to Welcome, Samantha Cleaver
Waiting to Welcome, Samantha Cleaver
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Waiting to Welcome
A New Baby Story from West Africa

Author: Samantha Cleaver, Reuben Nantogmah

Narrator: Soneela Nankani

Unabridged: 14 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 07/16/2024

Synopsis

Waiting to Welcome: A New Baby Story from West Africa features music and special effects. Listen along and enjoy the fun!

Listeners are invited to a joyous cultural celebration full of delicious food, laughter, and love in Samantha Cleaver and Reuben Nantogmah’s charming audiobook.

In Ghana and some other west African countries, when a baby is born, the extended family prepares for a whole week to welcome the little one at a celebration called an outdooring. Andani can't wait to meet her new baby cousin, but a week is so long!

As her aunties and uncles prepare cassava, tuo zaafi, fufu, and other delicious foods for the outdooring, Andani will have to patiently (well, okay, sometimes not so patiently) wait to perform the most important job of all: being the first to greet the little one by name.

A Macmillan Audio production from Feiwel & Friends.

About Samantha Cleaver

Samantha Cleaver and Reuben Nantogmah have been partners of one kind or another for more than 10 years. Their picture book collaboration started in 2020, when Samantha asked Reuben for input on a picture book idea about a west African outdooring ceremony. Reuben shared his knowledge and insights, and their book Waiting to Welcome was born. Now, Samantha and Reuben write stories that help them share and celebrate their kids’ bicultural Ghanaian-American family, traditions, and community. Outside of writing, Samantha and Reuben have four kids, and enjoy exploring local greenways, cooking, and watching Japanese TV with their kids.

About Reuben Nantogmah

Samantha Cleaver and Reuben Nantogmah have been partners of one kind or another for more than 10 years. Their picture book collaboration started in 2020, when Samantha asked Reuben for input on a picture book idea about a west African outdooring ceremony. Reuben shared his knowledge and insights, and their book Waiting to Welcome was born. Now, Samantha and Reuben write stories that help them share and celebrate their kids’ bicultural Ghanaian-American family, traditions, and community. Outside of writing, Samantha and Reuben have four kids, and enjoy exploring local greenways, cooking, and watching Japanese TV with their kids.

About Bri Marie McNish

Bri Marie McNish is a self-taught illustrator based in New England. At a young age, she was instilled with a love of fairy tales and fables, and now she aims to create art that features inclusive characters and cozy settings she wished she saw in the media she loved as a child. When not illustrating, she has a deep love for black tea, romantic comedies, and especially her loud lasagna-loving cat, Garfield. Waiting to Welcome is her first picture book.

About Soneela Nankani

Soneela is a classically trained actress with over 500 titles in many genres including her specialties: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, and Sci-Fi. She has garnered 26 Earphone awards, an Audie; and was awarded AudioFile magazine’s Golden Voice Lifetime Achievement Honor. Her audiobooks have been featured in AudioFile Magazine, The Washington Post, Audible and The New York Times.She is known for her facility with languages and accents and her flexibility to handle a range of genres and styles. She loves to inspire hope, swooning and laughter in her listeners.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Tonja on July 13, 2024

A different view on the greeting of a baby to the world not only brings excitement but opens up a door to understanding the wide variety cultures hold. Andani is so excited. A baby is born, and she can't wait to greet her new cousin. But she needs to stay patient for seven days to see if it'll choose......more

Goodreads review by Estrela on May 27, 2024

As an expectant mom of my second daughter (in a few weeks!), I loved this story! I learnt something so sweet about Ghana's and other west African countries about a baby being called a "stranger" or "visitor" during their first 7 days on Earth (as they are in-between the spirit and the human world).......more

Goodreads review by Kelly Rice on May 20, 2024

Told through the eyes of a young girl older cousin, Waiting to Welcome brings readers along during the week of waiting for a Ghanaian new baby’s naming ceremony. What a wonderful peek into this West African tradition! Scrumptious food is prepared, bright clothes are chosen with meaning in their colo......more

Goodreads review by Marie on August 20, 2024

Waiting to Welcome: A New Baby Story from West Africa takes readers to Ghana where a family is beginning to prepare a welcoming ceremony for a new baby. Learn about this fascinating West African tradition where family wait seven days to meet the "stranger". During the wait eager young cousin Andani......more

Goodreads review by Ashley on December 05, 2024

This story opens up a whole new world into the culture of welcoming new babies. The story follows a family in Ghana as they welcome the newest member of the family. It was so neat to learn about the special activities surrounding a new baby's birth. The back matter is also fantastic! It provides a g......more

Quotes

"Capturing the characters’ delight, energy, and movement, the story brings to life a loving West African community. In the warm digital illustrations, each family member’s brown skin is depicted with richness and depth. A joyful tale, steeped in cultural meaning." —Kirkus Reviews

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