the little girl who didn't want to grow up
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PROUDLY PROMOTING
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The little girl who didn’t want to grow up
Retold by Véronique TadjoIllustrations by Catherine Groenewald
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Catherine GroenewaldFor Nick and Louisa – I value and love you very much
Véronique TadjoFor all the children who had to grow up too quickly
First published by Jacana Media (Pty) ltd in 2010
A rewriting of Gianni Rodari’s Tinarina
10 Orange Street SunnysideAuckland ParkSouth Africa(+27 11) 628 3200www.jacana.co.za
© Véronique Tadjo, 2010© Images: Catherine Groenewald, 2010Series editor: Carole Bloch
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-77009-819-0
Set in ITC Stone Informal Std 14/22ptPrinted and bound by ultra litho (Pty) limited, JohannesburgJob no. 001246
See a complete list of Jacana titles at www.jacana.co.za
Printed on Sappi Triple Green Print Matt 250g/m² and 170g/m² donated by Sappi.
Triple Green paper is produced from sustainable resources (bagasse - post agricultural sugar cane waste and renewable forestry fibre) and is recyclable and biodegradable.
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3
Ayanda was a little girl who lived with
her parents, her grandmother and her
younger brother. She was a happy child who
was always smiling.
She adored her father.
One day, a terrible war broke out. Her father
was forced to go and fight in the army.
Ayanda’s family heard nothing from him –
not a word.
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Then victory was declared. The soldiers came home
proudly. There was great celebration.
Ayanda waited anxiously for her father. She imagined
all the wonderful things that they would do together.
But he never came back.
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5
Ayanda’s heart was broken. Nobody could console her.
It seemed that her pain would never go away.
Her sadness turned to anger.
‘Why has my daddy been killed
in the war? It is so unfair!’
She decided to stop
growing up.
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People would ask, ‘Ayanda, why are you still so tiny?’
She would simply reply, ‘Because grown-ups are
cruel. They go to war. I don’t want to be
like them.’
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7
As the years went by, the girls in the
village started to grow up. But Ayanda
remained tiny.
‘If you stay so small, you will never
get married!’ her friends mocked.
‘I don’t care!’ replied Ayanda.
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One evening, Ayanda’s mother became very ill.
She was taken to the hospital in a small
town far away from the village. The
doctors decided to keep her there
until she was well again.
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9
Ayanda’s grandmother had to do all the household
chores. She was weak and had a bad back, which
made everything difficult. Ayanda was sad to see
her work so hard.
‘If only I were a little bit bigger, I could help
Grandma take care of the house,’ thought Ayanda.
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So, she let herself grow just enough to feel
stronger. Full of energy, she was soon able
to do everything for her grandmother.
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11
After that, each time Ayanda needed to
be bigger to do one thing or the other, she
would let herself grow a little bit more.
But, while Ayanda’s mother was still in
hospital, her grandmother also fell sick.
Now Ayanda had to do all the
household chores, take care of her
younger brother and look after
her grandmother, all on her own.
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In the evenings she felt totally exhausted.
‘I think I need to grow a little bit more,’
she said to herself. ‘At least until Mother
comes back.’
And that’s exactly what she did.
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When, at last, Ayanda’s mother came home,
she was happy to see her house in order and
Grandma recovering well.
Ayanda had grown so much that her mother
almost didn’t recognise her.
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Ayanda was now one of the most beautiful
girls in the village. But when people saw
her they said, ‘You should stop growing
so tall, Ayanda. Otherwise,
you will never find a
husband your own size!’
‘I don’t care!’
replied Ayanda.
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15
Since her mother’s return, Ayanda had more free
time. But instead of playing with the girls of her
own age, she preferred to help the neighbours or
the old market lady who was always struggling
to carry her heavy fruit baskets.
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