Overview

Tata loves going to school, but the only way he can get there is through Pellken Pasture, which is fiercely guarded by the Big Bad Bull. Can Tata figure out how to get past the angry bull and make it to school on time? Told in rhyme, Tata and the Big Bad Bull is fun story about determination and overcoming fear with compassion.

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9780999237243

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Reviews

In Tata and the Big Bad Bull, the exhuberant, rocking rhythms of Juleus Ghunta's rhyming story and the appealing and adventurous human and animal-filled illustrations by Ann-Cathrine Loo draw the reader into the world of Tata and his grandmother.... In a higly entertaining story, readers see how Tata learns to capably work through his problem by asking the right questions, not prejudging a person based on first impressions and reputation, apologizing when he is at fault, seeking advice from others, respecting people, and serving as a mediator in his community. Children and adults will enjoy and relate to this book immensely, but it also addresses in positive terms how to deal with bullying on individual and community levels. Loretta Collins Klobah, PhD Full Professor Universtiy of Puerto Rico Juleus Ghunta boldly steps over the fences of genre, ignoring gatekeepers much like Tata, his relentless protagonist. Of course, children will easily relate to a Caribbean boy living with his Grandmother in an idyllic setting populated with people and fantastic animals with names like Owl Eugene and Nanny Dean. But upon close inspection one might find, tucked between the lines of Tata and the Big Bad Bull, some timely commentary on the challenges our children face on a daily basis and solutions that often go unmentioned. However Ghunta's commentary on a modern-day playground issue is skillfully interwoven into the tale and does not overtake the fact that Tata and the Big Bad Bull is fun ride from start to finish with constant repetition to rev up a child's urge to read out loud. The Caribbean is where the story takes place. However, this is a classic, universal tale even though one wishes there were more quirky Caribbean characters of feather and fur, speaking even short lines of dialect. Not to worry. Ann Cathrine Loo's bold, brilliantly rendered pictures vividly creates a well-loved local setting which will immerse young readers in Tata's experience. Welcome to the watercolour West Indian world of Pellken. - Roland Watson Grant Young readers form the Caribbean will not only learn about prepositions and other language skills, they will be introduced to a young hero who resembles them. In this delightful tale, they will also learn that any obstacle may be overcome by using their minds and that perseverance is a gift in itself. Geoffrey Philp, author of Garvey's Ghost

Midwest Book Review: Lorraine's Bookshelf Written in musical verse, Tata and the Big Bad Bull is a West Indies morality tale, with more than one kernel of wisdom about human and animal relationships and interaction... The colorful illustrations present animals as large, almost human creatures, and contain clues and context to the secrets of the story. All the musical verse is full of cheer and specific images of common island life, as in the following: The blue bus goes, in sun or rain, from Pellken Square across peppers' Plain, under Beehive Tunnel, over Crocodile Pool, up Zigzag Hill to Pellken School. Tata and the Big Bad Bull is an island wisdom tale with messages of compassion for all. The Old Schoolhouse Magazine: Overall, this is an excellent story for toddlers up through upper elementary aged children. It presents good character qualities through the challenges that Tata faces and overcomes. It focuses on the differences and similarities of people (as represented by the different animals) and how we can use words and understanding to bridge them. There are so many huge life lessons tucked into this small children's book that it is definitely one you'll want to read multiple times, if for no other reason than to choose a different discussion topic each time. In Tata and the Big Bad Bull, the exuberant, rocking rhythms of Juleus Ghunta's rhyming story and the appealing and adventurous human and animal-filled illustrations by Ann-Cathrine Loo draw the reader into the world of Tata and his grandmother.... In a highly entertaining story, readers see how Tata learns to capably work through his problem by asking the right questions, not prejudging a person based on first impressions and reputation, apologizing when he is at fault, seeking advice from others, respecting people, and serving as a mediator in his community. Children and adults will enjoy and relate to this book immensely, but it also addresses in positive terms how to deal with bullying on individual and community levels. Loretta Collins Klobah, PhD Full Professor University of Puerto Rico Juleus Ghunta boldly steps over the fences of genre, ignoring gatekeepers much like Tata, his relentless protagonist. ...children will easily relate to a Caribbean boy living with his Grandmother in an idyllic setting populated with people and fantastic animals with names like Owl Eugene and Nanny Dean. But upon close inspection one might find...some timely commentary on the challenges our children face on a daily basis and solutions that often go unmentioned. However Ghunta's commentary on a modern-day playground issue is skillfully interwoven into the tale and does not overtake the fact that Tata and the Big Bad Bull is fun ride from start to finish with constant repetition to rev up a child's urge to read out loud. Ann Cathrine Loo's bold, brilliantly rendered pictures vividly creates a well-loved local setting which will immerse young readers in Tata's experience. Welcome to the watercolour West Indian world of Pellken. - Roland Watson Grant Young readers form the Caribbean will not only learn about prepositions and other language skills, they will be introduced to a young hero who resembles them. In this delightful tale, they will also learn that any obstacle may be overcome by using their minds and that perseverance is a gift in itself. Geoffrey Philp, author of Garvey's Ghost

In Tata and the Big Bad Bull, the exuberant, rocking rhythms of Juleus Ghunta's rhyming story and the appealing and adventurous human and animal-filled illustrations by Ann-Cathrine Loo draw the reader into the world of Tata and his grandmother.... In a highly entertaining story, readers see how Tata learns to capably work through his problem by asking the right questions, not prejudging a person based on first impressions and reputation, apologizing when he is at fault, seeking advice from others, respecting people, and serving as a mediator in his community. Children and adults will enjoy and relate to this book immensely, but it also addresses in positive terms how to deal with bullying on individual and community levels. Loretta Collins Klobah, PhD Full Professor University of Puerto Rico Juleus Ghunta boldly steps over the fences of genre, ignoring gatekeepers much like Tata, his relentless protagonist. Of course, children will easily relate to a Caribbean boy living with his Grandmother in an idyllic setting populated with people and fantastic animals with names like Owl Eugene and Nanny Dean. But upon close inspection one might find, tucked between the lines of Tata and the Big Bad Bull, some timely commentary on the challenges our children face on a daily basis and solutions that often go unmentioned. However Ghunta's commentary on a modern-day playground issue is skillfully interwoven into the tale and does not overtake the fact that Tata and the Big Bad Bull is fun ride from start to finish with constant repetition to rev up a child's urge to read out loud. The Caribbean is where the story takes place. However, this is a classic, universal tale even though one wishes there were more quirky Caribbean characters of feather and fur, speaking even short lines of dialect. Not to worry. Ann Cathrine Loo's bold, brilliantly rendered pictures vividly creates a well-loved local setting which will immerse young readers in Tata's experience. Welcome to the watercolour West Indian world of Pellken. - Roland Watson Grant Young readers form the Caribbean will not only learn about prepositions and other language skills, they will be introduced to a young hero who resembles them. In this delightful tale, they will also learn that any obstacle may be overcome by using their minds and that perseverance is a gift in itself. Geoffrey Philp, author of Garvey's Ghost

Author Information

Juleus Ghunta is a Jamaican poet, motivational speaker and recipient of a Chevening Scholarship. He is pursuing MA Peace Studies at the University of Bradford, UK. In 2010, he earned a BA in Media from the University of the West Indies, Mona. Ghunta's poetry has appeared in several journals including The Missing Slate, Moko, Spillway, Easy Street, Chiron Review, Pittsburgh Poetry Review, and has been anthologised in Cordite 81: New Caribbean Writing and In This Breadfruit Kingdom. He was awarded the Catherine James Poetry Prize by Interviewing the Caribbean in 2017. In 2015 and 2016 he was shortlisted for the Small Axe Poetry Prize. Tata and the Big Bad Bull is his first picture book. Ann-Cathrine Loo lives in Cambridge, England. She grew up in Sweden where she studied art for six years. In 1998, she earned a BA in Ethnology and Art History from Mid Sweden University. In Cambridge, she takes care of her family, paints, illustrates picture books, takes part in history re-enactments, and visits castles.

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