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The Makeda Makes series brings relatable stories about a girl with plenty of creative inspiration to newly independent readers.
Makeda Makes Series (I Can Read! books) written by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich, pictures by Lydia Mba. Harper.
- Reading Level: Early Readers/Chapter Books, ages 4-8
- Recommended For: Ages 4-8
Makeda made marvelous things.
Like bun and cheese sandwiches and every-color patchwork pants.
She made books about butterflies and even made indoor mud pies.
All I know is she’s been gone a long, long, LONG time.
~from Makeda Makes a Mountain
Makeda Makes a Birthday Treat
When Makeda decides to bring her favorite coconut drops to class instead of cupcakes for a birthday treat, she worries that her classmates won’t like them. It takes a little encouragement, but eventually one after another tries Makeda’s treat, hears the family “back home story,” and tells about their own favorite treats and the stories that make them special.
Makeda Makes a Mountain
Momma wants to clean up messes and make a pile of old things they can get rid of, but her children are not enthused. Every time someone suggests an item they don’t need, someone else thinks of a new purpose for it. Then friends and classmates arrive, adding their unused things to the pile that has been dubbed “treasure mountain.”
Makeda Makes a Home for Subway
Makeda and her friend Glory look for ways to cheer up Subway, the class pet guinea pig. Why is he sad? Does he need to have more fun in his cage? What will make him happy so he will play like the guinea pig in another class? After several unsuccessful attempts, Makeda realizes that Subway, like Glory, prefers less exciting activities and is not sad, just quieter. Thankfully, the girls find another use for their creative projects.
Makeda Makes Series thus far
Makeda is sweetly relatable and childlike, a girl who loves to make marvelous things. Her family is patient through her foibles, though the reader’s parents will understand Makeda’s parents’ surprise when she doesn’t ask permission to bring the class guinea pig home as well as Momma’s frown when Makeda makes messes or can’t part with anything that might prove useful. Momma’s love is genuine, however, as when she tells her other children that “Makeda is not nobody…and she is not everybody” and helps her daughter make her birthday treat with Nana. The family relationships are warm around a little girl who love to create.
Bottom Line: The Makeda Makes series brings relatable stories about a girl with plenty of creative inspiration to newly independent readers.
Recommended Reading at Redeemed Reader
- Book Review: Readers may also enjoy the King and Kayla series
- Book Review: The Inventions of God (and Eva) is a picture book about another little girl who loves to make things.
- Resource: Need ideas and instruction for making things? How about Sewing School or Craft Hope?
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