Born:
 1961
Kassaro
Mali

Current Home:
Portland, Oregon,
Bamako, Mali

Baba Wague Diakite Author Visit Kit

Author Visit Kit

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Originally from Mali in West Africa, artist Baba Wagué Diakité has been engaging people in the U.S. with his stories and internationally acclaimed painted pottery for over fifteen years.  He has written and illustrated three award-winning children's books The Hunterman and the Crocodile, The Hatseller and the Monkeys, and The Magic Gourd, all published by Scholastic Press.  He recently illustrated a book written by his daughter Penda Diakite, I Lost My Tooth in Africa, published by Scholastic Press in 2006.

His program, Everyone Has a Story, includes an introduction to his culture in West Africa with a slide show of different regions, ethnic groups, lifestyles, and arts.  Next, is a short introduction to his artwork and why he became an artist and a storyteller.  Baba Wagué uses traditional mudcloth patterns and symbols from Mali and relates them to Lifeskill Words such as cooperation, patience, and effort.  These words and symbols are then chosen by students to create their own personal stories.  Simple drawing techniques are taught to accompany stories, creating personal books.

Author's home:  Portland, Oregon
Suggested audience:  All ages
Honorarium: $750.00 per day plus expenses (Oregon and Washington states).  $1,000.00 per day  plus expenses (all other states)
Maximum number of presentations:  3

• Teacher Store
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  The Teacher Store

  The Hatseller and the Monkeys by Baba Wague Diakite Tickle your little one's funny bone with a West African retelling of a favorite folktale. When a peddler falls asleep under a tree, he awakens to find that mischievous monkeys have stolen his wares. With bold illustrations and sound-effect-filled text that invites kids' participation, the hatseller's dilemma will have your child chiming in with suggestions on how to outwit a monkey! $15.95 Hardcover Book | Grades Pre-K-1

  
  The Hatseller and the Monkeys
  Grades Pre-K-1 $15.95
  
• Teacher Store
• 

  The Teacher Store

  I Lost My Tooth in Africa by Penda Diakite and Wague Diakite More than anything, Amina wants to lose her loose tooth while visiting her family in Mali, West Africa. This way, she can put it under a gourd for the African tooth fairy, who will exchange it for two chickens! It all works out perfectly -- and the chickens even lay eggs. But will the eggs hatch before they have to return home to America? Page Turners Introduce new traditions and build an appreciation of other cultural traditions through a tale about a qu $16.99 Hardcover Book | Grades K-2

  
  I Lost My Tooth in Africa
  Grades K-2 $16.99