Katie Smith Milway

When Deo and his family are forced to flee their farm in Burundi, the young boy becomes separated from the others, and lost in the forest. Eventually, emaciated and exhausted, he makes his way to the Lukole refugee camp in nearby Tanzania. Here he finds shelter of sorts, but also strife, as he becomes the target of a group of bullies, led by the obnoxious Remy. Then one day a stranger with a soccer ball shows up at the camp, and organizes a game. Soon Deo and Remy realize that they have more in common than they thought, leading to the beginning of a friendship, and of better things for the whole camp...

Inspired by the real-life story of Benjamin Nzobonankira, a Burundi man whose life experiences are very similar to Deo's, author Katie Smith Milway spins a story of the potentially healing power of sport in The Banana-Leaf Ball: How Play Can Change the World. The man who comes to the camp to organize the soccer game is meant to represent the Right to Play activists who visited Lukole while Nzobonankira was there, and the story as a whole explores the idea of sport and games as a way to teach children to resolve conflict, take care of themselves, and develop both self-respect and respect for others. Included at the rear of the book are notes about Nzobonankira, who became a Right to Play coach as an adult, and a list of organizations worldwide that use sport and games to promote children's welfare.

This is the sixth title I have read from publisher Kids Can Press' Citizen Kid collection, which presents books that educate children about the world around them, and encourage them to be good global citizens, and I hope it will not be the last. I found the story itself engaging, the back matter fascinating, and the artwork from illustrator Shane W. Evans expressive and appealing. Recommended to young soccer lovers, and to picture-book readers looking for stories about refugees and/or the role of sport in making the world a better place.… (more)