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Ayanda Cover.indd 1 2010/10/11 3:32 PM

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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13

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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