14 Cows for America

It's difficult to think of a topic more widely canvassed, in recent years, than the events of September 11, 2001, and the causes, meanings, and ramifications thereof. Everyone - from the "pride goeth before a fall" lot, who blame U.S. foreign policy for the attacks, to the "clash of civilizations" crowd, who look to the inherent evil of the cultures and religion which produced the terrorists for a cause - has an opinion. It may sound odd, given the current omnipresence of this event in our public discourse, but I rarely hear anyone speaking - save in a bombastic way - about what actually happened that day: about the more than three thousand human beings who were brutally murdered in the span of a few short hours.

It may very well be show more that this is a necessity, if one is to engage in a rational political discussion of the matter, without being swallowed whole by emotional distress. I have this particularly vivid memory of a panel discussion held shortly after 9/11 at my college, in which hot debate about what would and should happen next was interrupted by a quiet young Indian student, who stood up and wondered aloud how the participants could already be haggling about who was to blame, reducing a terrible tragedy to little more than a talking point in their own ongoing political narratives. "Thousands of people have died!" he exclaimed, and the hall fell silent. No one knew what to say - partly I suspect, because they recognized the truth of his accusation. But also because, what could they say? What, save our fumbling attempt to make meaning, can be done in the face of such an atrocity?

Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah - a young Maasai man studying medicine in the United States, who found himself in New York City on that fateful day, and was haunted afterword by the terrible loss suffered by his host nation - discovered the answer to that question in the traditions of his people, and in his own "childhood heart." Returning to his village, it was Kimeli who brought the news of that day to the Maasai, who told them the terrible story, and who asked the elders' blessing for his symbolic gift of Enkarûs - his only cow - to America. Moved by his story, and mindful of the fact that "there is no nation so powerful it cannot be wounded, nor a people so small they cannot offer mighty comfort," the elders agreed. They, and the people, did something more: they added their own cows to Kimeli's gift. Fourteen cows for America, from a pastoral people for whom "the cow is life."

Written by Carmen Agra Deedy, in collaboration with Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah, whose story it is, 14 Cows for America is an immensely moving little book, a reminder that, while there is malice and cruelty in the world, there is also great generosity and compassion. It isn't a book to explain the events of 9/11, so much as a tale of how one person responded to those events: how he carried the story around with him, until it "burned a hole in his heart;" how he shared the burden of that story with his loved ones and community; and how he found, in the teachings of his childhood, in the idea that "To heal a sorrowing heart, give something that is dear to your own," a way to express his compassion, his fellow-feeling.

Thomas Gonzalez' illustrations - done in pastel and colored pencil - are beautiful, subtly capturing both the light-filled land of the Maasai, and (in the storytelling scenes) the smoky terror of 9/11. But the true strength here is the narrative, which, in its very simplicity, paints the best picture I have yet seen of that terrible day in New York: "Buildings so tall they can touch the sky... Fires so hot they can melt iron... Smoke and dust so thick they can block out the sun... More than three thousand souls are lost." I wept. Isn't that what one does, in the face of such terrible wrong? Isn't that what one does, in the face of such love? show less

On September 11, 2001, Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah, a college student from the Massai tribe in Kenya, was in New York City, studying to become a doctor. The following spring, he returned to his small village,

“He has brought with him one story. It has burned a hole in his heart,”

This is his story. It is not a story of the terroristic attacks upon the United States, but rather, a story of the compassion of the Massai people for the victims. The Massai, former warriors, now proud and peaceful cattle herders, believe that “the cow is life.” “Without the herd, the tribe might starve.”

After the tribal members and elders contemplate fires that can melt iron, buildings that can touch the sky, and three thousand lost souls, they respond show more with a gift for the U.S. Ambassador - the gift of life, fourteen cows for America.

The endpapers list Thomas Gonzalez’s medium as “pastel, colored pencil, and airbrush on 100% rag archival paper.” Its effect is stunning. The majesty of Kenya and the pride of the Massai people are evident in the rich, colorful illustrations.

A “Note from Kimeli Nayiyomah” follows, offering the story in greater detail for older readers. He notes that, in the gift of the Massai to America, “a connection between the two cultures had been made. We felt we had taken some of America’s pain into our Massai hearts.”

14 Cows for America is a touching story of compassion. The combination of Carmen Agra Deedy’s simple yet powerful words, the vibrant illustrations of Thomas Gonzalez, and the moving story of Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah, is a book that defies superlatives.

View more info and a book trailer at www.14cowsforamerica.com
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Gorgeous, richly colored art accompanies this amazing story of human connections, and I kind of want to separate the pages and hang them on my wall or something. Melissa warned me that it was one of those happy tears stories, and she wasn't wrong. I just cried at work. But it's so good! A really great story about compassion and a wonderful reminder that people are pretty awesome.

Is it okay to say that this story made me cry? I do not believe I can read this again without getting choked up. The story is so human and so divine. It shows that, in the words of Dr. Suess, "A person is a person no matter how small" and that those who might not appear to have much can still give so much. And, those who seem to have it all can also lose a lot. It also illustrates what is important in different cultures and what other cultures believe is valuable. The humanity in this story leaps off the pages.

As Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah is studying medicine in America, he finds himself in New York City on September 11, 2001, far from his native Kenyan village of Massai. He returns home to tell a story, one that has “burned a hole in his heart.” The light of his mother’s smile shines off the page as she welcomes home her son, a son who will tell the story of those who will never again see such a mother’s smile or welcome home a son. The close-ups of the dark gazes of his people show both the legendary warrior and the wounded as they listen in silence. In the tradition of his tribe, the cow is the symbol of life and Kimeli has returned to ask the elders for their blessing as he prepares to offer it to the broken hearts of America. But show more can one sacred cow heal the hearts of thousands? Instead, the elders bless 14 cows in all, presenting them to the U.S. Ambassador with a ceremony of scared ritual. The response is overwhelming. Warm Kenyan tones of sunset reds, cobalt blues and fiery oranges in colored pencil and airbrush blow from one end of the pages to the other. Carmen Agra Deedy’s lyrical prose present this powerful story of compassion in a way that will reach students both young and older. The only challenge will be holding back the tears as you read it aloud. Inspired by New York Times’ reporter Marc Lacey’s article in June 2002 documenting this charitable event that helped to heal a nation. Great for social and cultural awareness studies or as an alternative perspective on recognizing September 11. Informative afterword, highly recommended. Grades 2-6. show less

September 11, 2001 was a defining moment in U.S. history. I'll never forget where I was and what I was doing when I heard of the attacks in New York and Washington, D.C. I'll also never forget the outpouring of compassion from all over the world in the days that followed. This children's book tells of the generosity of a small Maasai village in Kenya when they heard the account of one of their own, a young man studying in the U.S. who was in New York on that fateful day in September. He was moved to offer his only cow, the most valued possession in Maasai culture, to the people of America as an act of healing. Others followed his example and offered their own precious cows, fourteen in all.

This is a children's picture book so the story show more is simply told, but it evokes strong emotions. Not too long ago, another American city was attacked, and the aftermath still fills our daily news. It's important to hear stories like 14 Cows for America to remind us that people of good will far outnumber those with evil intent. show less

14 Cows for America is a beautiful story of people coming together for something good. Kimeli is home visiting his family in a remote village in Kenya. He has been studying in New York City. He tells his family and the people of his village about what happened on September 11th. They are all heartbroken by the story, but want to do something for the people. "To the Maasai, the cow is life." They decide to gift America with cows. They tell the US Embassy in Nairobi about this and they send a diplomat. The diplomat arrives to a ceremony. The Maasi are in full tribal gear and they dance, sing, and make speeches. The most important part of the ceremony is when they present the diplomat with fourteen cows for America. This is a great story show more of a small tribe providing comfort for a big nation. show less