Sélavi, That is Life

A Haitian Story of Hope
By Youme Nguyen Ly
Paperback: $12.95

On the streets of Haiti, a homeless child learns the meaning of family, solidarity, and hope.

Description

A homeless boy wanders the streets of Haiti, until he finds other children like him. His new friends help the boy pick a name for himself–Sélavi, Kreyol for that is life. All these children had faced tragedy like Sélavi and had no one to care for them. But they share the little food they each manage to scavenge, and they watch out for one another.

Together they find the voice to express the needs of Timoun Lari, the children who live in the streets. With a caring community they are able to build a shelter, and from there they create Radyo Timoun, Children’s Radio. A station run by and for children–their stories, questions, and suggestions were broadcast for all to hear. Though more obstacles come their way, they’ve learned that when people band together and form a community, everyone is lifted. “We may be a single drop of water, but together we can be a mighty river.”

About the Creators

Youme Nguyen Ly

Youme grew up loving stories. She has lived and worked as a community artist in New York, New Haven, Miami, Woods Hole, San Francisco, Kenya, Japan, Lao P.D.R., Vietnam, St. John, U.S.V.I., Haiti, and Cuba. Youme's books include Selavi (That Is Life): A Haitian Story of Hope, Mali Under the Night Sky: A Lao Story of Home, and Pitch Black with Anthony Horton. She is drawn to stories of survival and champions for social justice. Youme lives in an ever-changing location with her partner and their two children.

Awards

  • Texas Bluebonnet Award Shortlist

    Texas Library Association (TLA)

  • ALSC Notable Children's Books

    American Library Association (ALA)

  • Jane Addams Children's Book Award Winner

    Jane Addams Peace Association

Reviews

  • "Beautiful illustrations using watercolor, photographs, collage, and techniques like batik make vivid Sélavi's life. . . A strong message of caring for the children and for each other rings through the kinds of sorrows too many children face in the world."

    - Kirkus Reviews
  • "Youme, an artist and activist, makes a powerful debut with this true story of Port-au-Prince's street children. . . . Youme's experience as a community muralist informs every picture--her work emits a streetwise sense of lyricism and urgency. The palette darkens with acts of violence, and lightens to reflect images of hope."

    - Publishers Weekly
  • "Selavi offers a realistic view of children whose lives are sometimes disconcerting and sometimes hopeful. It will be useful in communities that serve Haitian-Americans, and libraries in which children are exploring issues of social justice."

    - School Library Journal
  • "In a moving afterword accompanied by her own documentary photos, Youme, as she's identified on the jacket, tells more of the story, which is based on the experience of homeless kids in Port-au-Prince. For older readers, adult writer Edwidge Danticat contributes a powerful essay about her own Haitian childhood, her country's proud history, and its desperate upheaval."

    - Booklist

Paperback

  • ISBN 9780938317951
  • Price $12.95
  • Publication Date Sep 01, 2005
  • Trim Size 10 × 8 × 0.1 in
  • Weight 0.3125 lbs
  • Page Count 40
  • Interests

  • Imprint Cinco Puntos Press
  • Audience Children
  • BISAC Category 1 JNF / Social Topics / Homelessness & Poverty
  • BISAC Category 2 JNF / People & Places / Caribbean & Latin America
  • BISAC Category 3 JNF / Social Topics / Violence
  • Themes African / African American / Black, Diversity, Dreams & Aspirations, Empathy / Compassion, Families, Friendship, Informational / Expository Nonfiction, Kindness / Caring, Nonfiction, Overcoming Obstacles, Persistence / Grit, Poverty
  • Reading Levels

  • Age Range Ages 8 - 10
  • Grade Range Grades 3 - 5
  • Guided Reading T
  • ATOS Book Level 3.5
  • DRA 44
  • Interest Level Grades K - 6
  • Lexile Code AD
  • Lexile Level 590
  • Reading Level Grades 3 - 4
  • Bebop Reading Fluent
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