by Moe Zilla

Created on: March 07, 2010

In 1991, Rachel Isadora wrote a remarkable book. It describes the joy of the children in a village as their fathers come home from work. But all their fathers been gone for a long time - for 10 months, working in the mines. The story is set in South Africa, where the law prohibits families from joining the men who work in the mines.

South Africa in 1991 is also segregated, of course, but Isadora focused her text on smaller story - and a joyous human moment. And she makes the story come alive with watercolor illustrations that show the faces of the expectant children. There's orange African sunsets and blue afternoon skies, as the children gather with hope for the reunion. And as the theme of excitement runs through the book, she describes all their individual preparations.

There's a boy naemd Zola who's going to play the guitar.  Siphon will beat on his drum, and Nomsa has a can ready to shake for rhythm. But they sing the same sentence, over and over again. "Our fathers are coming home."

The children travel the village to prepare their instruments.  (Zola needs string for his guitar, and Sipho is going to need a drum stick.) The children join together toso they're all ready to celebrate together. Even a neighborhood vendor named Mr. Sisulu joins them.  He closes his store, and then plays his drum for the dancing children.

The story does a wonderful job of capturing the very real thrill that is passing through the small village. The illustrations seem realistic, as they show the marketplace, distant mountains, some small shanties and the dancing crowd. But Isadora's text also manages to suggest that it's a moment that's being felt by everyone. "The sun begins to go down. Lights flicker on in distant windows... But we wait. We will not go home until our fathers come."

There’s a dramatic twist towards the end of the book, since the father’s don’t show up at sunset - or indeed, all through the night. The children, looking abandoned, wait sadly in the night. And Isadora describes this moment too, setting her book up for its dramatic conclusion.

"A rooster crows. Down the road we see two bright lights. We hear the rumble of a truck… It stops at the crossroads."

And the book ends with the children playing music, singing, and marching home together. And they’re all singing the exact same sentence, over and over again.

“Our fathers are home.
Our fathers are home!

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