Beautiful book teaches kids about Haitian custom

My Day with the Panye

Written by Tami Charles and illustrated by Sara Palacios

Candlewick Press, 2021

Fallon lives in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, a beautiful, colorful island. She is excited when her mom, Manman, invites her to go to the market with her.

Manman balances a panye, a basket, on her head. She will carry their purchases home in the panye. This is a tradition dating back to ancient times and practiced in many parts of the world, the author Tami Charles explains in an author’s note at the back of the book.

More than anything, Fallon wants to carry the basket on her head like her mother does. She asks if she can try. Her mother lets her try, but the basket falls onto the floor.

Manman tells her to be patient. “Pitit, pitit, zwazo fen ich li. Little by little the bird builds its nest.”

As they continue on their trip, they notice the tap-tap bus carrying laughing people and the colorful walls of shops that survived an earthquake. But all Fallon can think about is carrying the panye. She keeps begging her mother to let her try again.

Manman tell her again and again to be patient: “Pitit, pitit. Almost there.”

When they get to the market, people are selling all kinds of vegetables and fruits on tables and stands. Manman pulls out gourdes she exchanges for food she piles into the panye.

Fallon notices many mothers and daughters carrying panyes full of food. They walk gracefully keeping their panyes still in spite of a light wind.

Charles’ language is lyrical, “The sun dances across the sky. The tap-tap chug-a-lugs by. Women pack their goods, close their shops, and we begin our walk home.”

Again, Fallon begs to try to carry the panye. Finally, her mother helps her balance it on her head. It’s heavy and it wobbles, bobbles, and crashes to the ground. Fallon is upset and is ready to give up.

Manman encourages her to try again. This time Fallon stands very straight and carefully walks. She feels like a queen as she walks all the way home.

Her mother asks her what the panye means to her. She says, “The panye means we are graceful when the load is heavy. We are strong, even when the earth is not. We are family, fed from love.”

The story ends as Fallon’s little sister Naima begs for a turn. This time Fallon tells her sister to be patient. She’ll show her. Soon Naima will have her chance.

Illustrator Sara Palacios brings the book to life with her beautiful, vibrant images that were created with guache and a digital program.

About the Author

Tami Charles loves the beautiful island nation of Haiti, her husband’s homeland. She is the author of “Freedom Soup,” illustrated by Jacqueline Alcantara, and “All Because You Matter,” illustrated by Bryan Collier, and many other picture books and novels for children and young adults. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and son.  

About the Illustrator

Sara Palacios has illustrated many picture books, including “Between Us and Abuela: A Family Story from the Border” by Mitali Perkins. “My Day with the Panye” is her first book with Candlewick Press. She lives in San Francisco with her husband.