The Gabi that Girma Wore
CCBC Review:
A text modeled on “The House That Jack Built” stands out for both its subject matter and skillful writing. “This is the cottonseed, oval and slight, / hugged by the soil and warmed with light … / to sprout the Gabi that Girma wore.” An Ethiopian Gabi is a traditional woven cotton garment worn both for warmth and special occasions. From seed to finished product, the text outlines the making of a Gabi. After the cotton is harvested, seeds are removed by hand and the cotton is spun into yarn. The garment, white with a colorful geometric border design, is woven on a large, manual loom before being pieced together. Once the fringe is completed, the Gabi is “ready for trade, / carefully folded and proudly displayed.” The Gabi is carefully selected by a woman, Genet, as a special gift for her husband, Girma. Girma wears his Gabi with pride and shares it with their children, “snuggling under a field of white, / gathering memories into the night…” With flawless rhythm and rhyme, the text includes Amharic words that, if unfamiliar to the reader, are easily discernible in context; there is also a glossary in the back matter. Boldly colored digital illustrations clearly depict the creative process behind these works of textile art. ©2025 Cooperative Children’s Book Center
Illustrated by Netsanet Tesfay
CCBC Age Recommendation: Ages 4-8
Age Range:
PreK-Early Elementary (Ages 4-7)
Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-10)
Format:
Picture book
Subjects:
Clothing
Cumulative Stories
Ethiopians and Ethiopian Americans
Families
How-To
Diversity subject:
Black/African
Publisher:
Little, Brown
Publish Year: 2024
Pages: 32
ISBN: 9780316470773
CCBC Location: Picture Book, Adefris