14 Cows for America

( 12 )
Pick Up In Store

Pick Up in Store

Reserve and pick up in 60 minutes at your local store

Hardcover
$12.92
BN.com price
$17.95 List Price (Save 28%)
Marketplace (New and Used)
from
$4.54
$17.95 List Price (Save 75%)
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
All (39)  
Used (22)  
New (17)  
Close
Sort by
Page 1 of 4
Showing 1 – 10 of 39 (4 pages)
$4.54
(Save 75%)
GeneralShopper
Seller since 2012

Feedback rating:

(0)

Condition:

New — never opened or used in original packaging.

Like New — packaging may have been opened. A "Like New" item is suitable to give as a gift.

Very Good — may have minor signs of wear on packaging but item works perfectly and has no damage.

Good — item is in good condition but packaging may have signs of shelf wear/aging or torn packaging. All specific defects should be noted in the Comments section associated with each item.

Acceptable — item is in working order but may show signs of wear such as scratches or torn packaging. All specific defects should be noted in the Comments section associated with each item.

Used — An item that has been opened and may show signs of wear. All specific defects should be noted in the Comments section associated with each item.

Refurbished — A used item that has been renewed or updated and verified to be in proper working condition. Not necessarily completed by the original manufacturer.

Good
Hardcover Good 1561454907 Used book with moderate shelf-wear to cover, edges, corners, and spine. Inside pages are free from underlining, note taking, and/or highlighting. Book ... is in stock and ready to ship same or next business day. Select Expedited shipping and receive your book within 3-5 business days. Buy with confidence! Please leave feedback after your purchase. It helps other buyers know we are a responsible and reliable seller. Thank you! Read more Show Less

Ships from: Litchfield Park, AZ

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$4.83
(Save 73%)
Penntext
Seller since 2012

Feedback rating:

(290)

Condition: Very Good
Ships within 24 hrs of your order. Open Mon - Fri. 95% clean. No wear/tear.

Ships from: Downingtown, PA

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$4.83
(Save 73%)
Penntext
Seller since 2012

Feedback rating:

(290)

Condition: Good
May have minimal notes/highlighting, minimal wear/tear. Ships same or next business day. Stay classy San Diego!

Ships from: Downingtown, PA

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$5.41
(Save 70%)
OwlsBooks-TRM
Seller since 2009

Feedback rating:

(22563)

Condition: Good
Giving great service since 2004: Buy from the Best! 4,000,000 items shipped to delighted customers. We have 1,000,000 unique items ready to ship! Find your Great Buy today!

Ships from: Lakewood, WA

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$6.00
(Save 67%)
New Chapter Recycling
Seller since 2010

Feedback rating:

(3285)

Condition: Good

Ships from: Lakewood, WA

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$6.00
(Save 67%)
Burnsy's Books CO
Seller since 2005

Feedback rating:

(278)

Condition: Good
8/1/2009 Hardcover Good in good dust jacket. GOOD condition. Library stamps and markings. Fast ship and satisfaction is always guaranteed.

Ships from: Larkspur, CO

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$7.20
(Save 60%)
New Chapter Recycling
Seller since 2010

Feedback rating:

(3285)

Condition: Very Good

Ships from: Lakewood, WA

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$8.63
(Save 52%)
Line in the Sand Books
Seller since 2009

Feedback rating:

(116)

Condition: Very Good
2009-08-01 Hardcover Very Good Clean text; very slight wear to DJ, especially at the edges.

Ships from: DUNELLEN, NJ

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$9.00
(Save 50%)
Sixth Chamber, Inc
Seller since 2005

Feedback rating:

(612)

Condition: Very Good
Hard Cover Peachtree Press. Unless Listed in this decription, VG or Better.

Ships from: St. Paul, MN

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$9.74
(Save 46%)
Extremely_Reliable
Seller since 2007

Feedback rating:

(3184)

Condition: Good
Buy with confidence. Excellent Customer Service & Return policy.

Ships from: Richmond, TX

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
Page 1 of 4
Showing 1 – 10 of 39 (4 pages)
Close
Sort by

Overview

In June of 2002, a very unusual ceremony begins in a far-flung village in western Kenya. An American diplomat is surrounded by hundreds of Maasai people. A gift is about to be bestowed on the American men, women, and children, and he is there to accept it. The gift is as unsought and unexpected as it is extraordinary. A mere nine months have passed since the September 11 attacks, and hearts are raw. Tears flow freely from American and Maasai as these legendary warriors offer their gift to a grieving people half a world away. Word of the gift will travel news wires around the globe. Many will be profoundly touched, but for Americans, this selfless gesture will have deeper meaning still. ...

See more details below
Sending request ...

More About This Book

Overview

In June of 2002, a very unusual ceremony begins in a far-flung village in western Kenya. An American diplomat is surrounded by hundreds of Maasai people. A gift is about to be bestowed on the American men, women, and children, and he is there to accept it. The gift is as unsought and unexpected as it is extraordinary. A mere nine months have passed since the September 11 attacks, and hearts are raw. Tears flow freely from American and Maasai as these legendary warriors offer their gift to a grieving people half a world away. Word of the gift will travel news wires around the globe. Many will be profoundly touched, but for Americans, this selfless gesture will have deeper meaning still. For a heartsick nation, the gift of fourteen cows emerges from the choking dust and darkness as a soft light of hope—and friendship. Master storyteller Carmen Agra Deedy hits all the right notes in this elegant story of generosity that crosses boundaries, nations, and cultures. An afterword by Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah—the Maasai warrior at the center of the story—provides additional information about his tribe and their generous actions. Thomas Gonzalez's stunning paintings are saturated with rich hues of oranges and browns and blues and greens, which capture the nobility of the Maasai people and the distinctive landscape of the African plain.

2009 Parents' Choice Gold Award winner

Editorial Reviews

Nicholas D. Kristof
This is a lovely picture book about foreign aid involving the United States and a remote village in Kenya, but it's not what you think…The illustrations by Thomas Gonzalez are beautifully evocative. They show Kimeli in his Stanford windbreaker and running shoes, surrounded by villagers and, of course, innumerable cows. Over and over in the scenes, two spears or two sticks or even two giraffe necks appear in the background, a subtle echo of the twin towers.
—The New York Times
Publishers Weekly
A native of Kenya, Naiyomah was in New York City on September 11, 2001. In his and Deedy's (Martina the Beautiful Cockroach) lyrical account, he returns to his homeland and tells the members of his Maasai tribe a story that had “burned a hole in his heart.” The narrative avoids specifics and refers to the events of 9/11 obliquely as the villagers listen to him with “growing disbelief”: “Buildings so tall they can touch the sky? Fires so hot they can melt iron? Smoke and dust so thick they can block out the sun?” Until they read Naiyomah's concluding note, children may not fully comprehend either his story or the villagers' subsequent actions: the tribe elders bless 14 cows, revered in Maasai culture, and symbolically offer them to the American people to help them heal. Featuring luminous images of the Maasai in vivid native dress and sweeping African landscapes, Gonzalez's pastel, colored pencil and airbrush paintings appear almost three-dimensional in their realism. A moving tale of compassion and generosity. Ages 6–10. (Aug.)
More Reviews (3) Fewer Reviews
Children's Literature
Kimeli returns to his small Maasai village for a visit. He has been studying medicine in the United States and he was there during the attacks of September 11. He tells the story to his people and they try to imagine the tall buildings, the deadly fires and the air dark with smoke and ashes. They want to do something for the American people who suffered in the attacks and when an elder voices that sentiment, Kimeli points out the importance cows have to the Maasai. Kimali asks the elder's blessing on offering his only cow but the elders do more than give a blessing. An American diplomat is invited to visit and a splendid ceremony is held as the Maasai offer 14 cows to America. The story is beautifully told and wonderfully pictured. The illustrator captured the African landscape as well as the sense and the feeling of those months after September 11, when the people of the USA were wounded and sad, without ever showing a scene from that day. Kimeli Naiyomah tells his interesting and heartwarming story in detail in a note at the back of the book. Reviewer: Carolyn Mott Ford
School Library Journal
Gr 2–5—Kimeli Naiyomah returned home to his Maasai village from New York City with news of 9/11 terrorist attacks. His story prompted the villagers to give a heartfelt gift to help America heal. Deedy and Gonzalez bring Naiyomah's story to life with pithy prose and vibrant illustrations. Each block of text consists of a few short, elegant sentences: "A child asks if he has brought any stories. Kimeli nods. He has brought with him one story. It has burned a hole in his heart." The suspenseful pace is especially striking when surrounded by Gonzalez's exquisite colored pencil and pastel illustrations. The colors of Kenya explode off the page: rich blues, flaming oranges, fire-engine reds, and chocolate browns. Full-page spreads depict the Maasai people and their land so realistically as to be nearly lifelike. Gonzalez manages to break the fourth wall and draw readers in as real-time observers. The book's only flaw is the less-than-concrete ending: "…there is no nation so powerful it cannot be wounded, nor a people so small they cannot offer mighty comfort" is an important message, but not a particularly satisfying one for children. Fortunately, their questions will be answered by Naiyomah's endnote, and it provides a fitting conclusion to this breathtaking chronicle.—Rebecca Dash, New York Public Library
Kirkus Reviews
Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah is about to return home, to a small village in Kenya. He has been studying to become a doctor in the United States. Amid a joyous homecoming, the children in the village ask if he has brought any stories. He has only one; one that has "burned a hole in his heart." Naiyomah was in New York City on September 11. In gentle yet piercing present-tense prose, storyteller Deedy introduces readers to a young Maasai scholar who wants nothing more than to help a nation heal. In Maasai tradition, cows are sacred, and Naiyomah asks the elders to bless his cow so he can offer it to grieving Americans. In an incredible show of compassion and strength, other villagers join him. Fourteen cows in all, from one tiny Kenyan village, prove that hope and friendship can cross all boundaries. Gonzalez's saturated paintings, glowing with oranges, reds and browns, radiate a warmth that is matched only by the Maasai's generosity. A stirring, heartwarming tale that made headlines when it happened-and is now, thankfully, preserved on the page for children. (afterword) (Informational picture book. 4-8)

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781561454907
  • Publisher: Peachtree Publishers, Ltd.
  • Publication date: 8/28/2009
  • Pages: 32
  • Sales rank: 49,803
  • Age range: 7 - 10 Years
  • Lexile: AD540L (what's this?)
  • Product dimensions: 11.90 (w) x 10.10 (h) x 0.40 (d)

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 12 )

Rating Distribution

5 Star

(8)

4 Star

(2)

3 Star

(0)

2 Star

(2)

1 Star

(0)

Your Rating:

Review Guidelines
Add Recommendations
Your Name: Create a Pen Name or Leave Anonymously

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

  • - HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
  • - Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
  • - Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
  • - Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
  • - Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
  • - Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
  • - Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

  • - By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
  • - Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
  • - See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.
Search for Products You'd Like to Recommend

Recommend other products that relate to your review. Just search for them below and share!

Create a Pen Name

Your Pen Name is your unique identiy on BN.com. It will appear on the reviews you write and other website activities. Your Pen Name cannot be edited, changed or deleted once submitted.

Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously

We're sorry, but penname is already taken.

Please select one of the following:
Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously

penname is available!

By visiting the BN.com website or marking a purchase on BN.com, a User is deemed to have accepted the Terms of Use.

Continue Anonymously

Welcome, penname

You have successfully created your Pen Name. Start enjoying the benefits of the BN.com Community today.

Sort by: Showing all of 12 Customer Reviews

  • Posted December 11, 2009

    good story and illustrations

    Nicholas Kristoff reviewed this in the New York Times and I ordered the book sight unseen. It more than lived up to my expectations. All ages will enjoy it. Beautifully illustrated. Simply and eloquently told.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted April 19, 2010

    A Memorable Story

    In this nonfiction story, Kimeli journeys back to his childhood Maasai village in Kenya to visit family and friends. Kimeli begins by describing his people and their history of being fierce warriors. He also describes cows as being vital to the Maasai tribe because they feed them and eventually sell them. They care for their cows as they do their children because without the cows the tribe would starve. The villagers welcome Kimeli back to the village with open arms after he has been away at school in New York. Kimeli becomes saddened, however, because he realizes that he cannot stay with his tribe, but has to return to America for school. This leads him to remember New York and a particular September. Kimeli goes to speak with the elders then tells the story of what happened on September 11, 2001 in New York City. His people immediately want to know what they can do to help the people in America, and because the cow is life for the Maasai, Kimeli offers to give his only cow to America. A diplomat from the embassy is contacted and asked to come meet with the tribe do receive Kimeli's cow. After the tribe meets with the diplomat from the U.S. Embassy, the villagers all want to contribute to the gift of 14 cows will be given to America. The story ends by stating that no nation is so powerful that it cannot be wounded, and no group of people is too small to offer comfort. This message is something that children can relate to easily because they can feel quite small at times, but this story shows that even a small group of people can make a difference. The illustrations throughout the text are rich with color and emotion that parallel the story. Most American children will not have been to Kenya, and the illustrator makes the scenes of the country realistic to the reader.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted April 10, 2010

    14 Cows For America- Great For Perspective Taking

    14 Cows For America is a great picture book (or as I like to call them, everyone book) for perspective taking. It portrays an African tribe's response to the 9-11 terrorist attacks when one of their young tribe members returns from a educational study program in New York. Seeing the passionate response that the tribe has, and their selfless offering of 14 sacred cows hits deep at the emotional core surrounding 9-11. This book provides a unique way for parents and teachers alike to introduce the subject of 9-11 to children, and also talk about looking at the attacks from a different perspective and recognizing the support we received in this terrible time. Beautiful illustrations are powerful- particularly the last one- in which you see a reflection of the twin towers in a tribesman's eye. Simply chilling.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted December 27, 2009

    more from this reviewer

    Heart warming book that all must read (children and adults)

    This book could be used in any classroom at any grade and have an immense impact on the students and teachers alike. The true story of this boy from a village in Africa and the gift that they give to Americans after 9/11 is nothing short of a tear maker. For those who were impacted by 9/11 it would be hard not to shed at tear at the end of this book. And for those who were not here when it happened, this story is a great tool to use in demonstrating the impact that day had on the entire world. The illustrations in and of itself is enough to take your breath away.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted March 2, 2012

    more from this reviewer

    Every human being on the planet should read this book. As much a

    Every human being on the planet should read this book. As much as Shackelton's Endurance survival story, as much as the effort to return the crew of Apollo 13 to earth successfully, this is the story of humanity at its absolute best. You will weep by the time you have finished reading this.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted May 8, 2010

    Must Read For Adults and Children

    This book, while found in the Children's Section, should be read by all readers, young and old. It shows what an impact 9/11 had on the whole world, not just our little part of it. The compassion and sympathy shown by these East Africans for our country's loss is truly amazing. I highly recommend this book.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 21, 2010

    excellent kid's book

    This a beautifully illustrated and well written children's book that I hope will become a classic.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted September 18, 2011

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted June 22, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 15, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 5, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 16, 2011

    No text was provided for this review.

Sort by: Showing all of 12 Customer Reviews
If you find inappropriate content, please report it to Barnes & Noble
Why is this product inappropriate?
Comments (optional)
500 character limit