Mayen and the Unexpected Gift showcases an unforgettable birthday and explores what it means to share and be part of a community.
Eight-year-old Mayen has her perfect birthday all planned out - pink balloons, a towering cake, presents galore, and every bit of the spotlight to herself. So when her parents announce there will be no grand party in Lagos this year, only a quiet trip to her family's ancestral village, Mayen is, in her dramatic new favorite word, distraught.
But Midim is nothing like the city. Here, the drums welcome her by name, cousins she has never met fold her into their games, and the whole village rolls up its sleeves to throw a celebration - not only for Mayen, but for every child who has never had a birthday party of their own. But Mayen does not want to share her special day. Not the cake and definitely not the attention.
Then she meets Friday - a boy with torn pockets and a guarded heart - and slowly begins to discover that the best gifts aren't the ones we unwrap, but the ones we give away. By the time the festival drums fall quiet, Mayen has traded "mine" for "ours" and carries home something far more precious than anything on her list.
Mayen and the Unexpected Gift is a warm, beautifully illustrated chapter book about family, generosity, and the quiet courage of a changing heart. Rooted in the author's own Annang heritage - its proverbs, food, names, and traditions - it gives diaspora children a mirror, and every young reader a window into a world of community and belonging.
Thoughtfully diverse and authentically Nigerian, it is an ideal choice for multicultural and own-voices collections, social-emotional learning, and any family raising children between two cultures or two worlds.
Perfect for readers ages 6-10, for cozy bedtime read-alouds and busy classroom shelves alike, the book also includes a Discussion and Teacher Guide with vocabulary, comprehension questions, and reflection activities exploring empathy, gratitude, generosity, and cultural pride.
A heartfelt celebration of culture, kindness, and the discovery that joy grows only when shared.
This book is part of the Mayen Creative Series, which includes a coloring book and a drawing book to deepen the cultural experience.
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