Set in a Tanzanian village in the early 1960s, this compelling story is based on a memory from the author’s own childhood. Young Saruni has always helped his parents in the marketplace and they have frequently rewarded him with a ten-cent piece. What his parents don’t know is that Saruni is secretly saving all his coins so that he may one day buy a bicycle to be even more hepl to his parents. Cultural details come through both in E.B. Lewis’s sun-dappled watercolor illustrations and in the story itself, as we see the busy marketplace and realize that Saruni proudly contributes to his family’s economic well-being. His strong desire to earn his own money to save up for something special, however, will certainly strike a chord of recognition with children in the United States today. (Ages 4-8)

"I emptied my secret money box, arranged the coins in piles and the piles in rows . . ." The market is full of wonderful things, but Saruni is saving his precious coins for a red and blue bicycle. How happy he will be when he can help his mother carry heavy loads to market on his very own bicycle--and how disappointed he is to discover that he hasn't saved nearly enough! Determination and generosity are at the heart of this satisfying tale, set in Tanzania and illustrated with glowing watercolors that capture the warmth of Saruni's family and the excitement of market day.