I Want to Ride the Tap Tap

by Danielle Joseph, Olivier Ganthier (Illustrator)

Overview

Writer Danielle Joseph and illustrator Olivier Ganthier's I Want to Ride the Tap Tap is a day-of-the-week picture book about a Black family who ride the taxi-bus service—called a tap tap—in Haiti, and the fascinating people they meet along the way, illustrated by a Haitian artist known for his vibrant street art.

Monday through Saturday, Claude and Manman walk Papa to the tap tap stop, where Claude meets all sorts of interesting people waiting for the tap tap. Claude wants to join Papa, but Claude has classes at school and chores at home...

On Sunday, Manman and Papa have a surprise for Claude—a ride on the tap tap! They go to the beach, where they meet a lady selling mangoes, a fisherman, a straw-hat maker, a steel drummer, and an artist. They show Claude how to fish, make hats, play the drums, and paint.

With Haitian Creole words sprinkled throughout and a glossary at the end, I Want to Ride the Tap Tap is a warm and lively portrayal of everyday life in Haiti.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250849694
Publisher:	Square Fish
Publication date:	12/06/2022
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	401,239
Product dimensions:	10.00(w) x 7.80(h) x 0.20(d)
Lexile:	AD470L (what's this?)
Age Range:	2 - 6 Years

About the Author

Danielle Joseph is the author of the young adult novels Shrinking Violet, Indigo Blues and Pure Red. When she's not writing, you can find Danielle relaxing with her family, traveling, or chasing after her dog, Ringo. Danielle was born in Cape Town, South Africa and currently lives in Maryland with her husband, who is from Haiti, and their three kids.

Olivier Ganthier was born in Pétion-ville, Haiti. He got his degree in fine arts from the National School of Arts (ENARTS) and is inspired by tropical urban life, Afro and Haitian culture. Olivier is art director at Les Ateliers Ganthier and the illustrator of Danille Joseph's I Want to Ride the Tap Tap. He lives in Petionville, Haiti.

Editorial Reviews

"This bright book about a Haitian child’s special outing will have everyone wanting to ride the tap tap ... Every young reader will resonate with Claude’s happy day. Bon bagay!" — Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2020-09-29
This bright book about a Haitian child’s special outing will have everyone wanting to ride the tap tap.

Claude has always wanted to ride the tap tap, the privately owned, brightly colored bus Papa rides every day, but he always seems to have schoolwork or chores to do instead. All week long, Lendi through Vandredi, Claude and Manman accompany Papa to the bus stop, where Claude meets all the interesting passengers, and every day the tap tap drives away without him. He feels like he is missing all the fun. On Samdi, they don’t even go to the stop. Then, on Dimanch after church, Claude’s parents surprise him with a ride on the tap tap! The family heads to the beach, where Claude has a chance to see and learn from all the tap tap passengers he met during the week, fishing, making a straw hat, playing the steel drums, and painting a picture—of the tap tap! Luminous, textured illustrations invite children to imagine themselves sliding around on the seat of the tap tap bus with Claude, looking out its heart-shaped windows, and bouncing down the street. The characters’ brown skin shines with dancing color, and the endpapers evoke the tropical urban landscape in all its warmth. Haitian Creole turns of phrase pepper the text, a glossary in the back supplementing contextual clues. (This book was reviewed digitally with 8-by-20-inch double-page spreads viewed at 33.7% of actual size.)

Every young reader will resonate with Claude’s happy day. Bon bagay! (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews