Mayen and the Unexpected Gift: A story about sharing culture, and unexpected joy

By Ama Danesi

A birthday. A village. A gift no one saw coming. Mayen is a Lagos city girl who loves her birthday above all else - and has no intention of sharing it. But when her family travels to her grandmother's village to celebrate, Mayen meets children whose lives look nothing like her own. What follows surprises her most of all: she discovers that joy doesn't shrink when you give it away - it grows. Warm and rooted in Nigerian village life, Mayen and the Unexpected Gift carries one gentle truth at its heart: we don't give because there's enough - there's enough because we give. A story of generosity and belonging for readers ages 6-10, and a wonderful read-aloud for younger siblings.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1969448040
• ISBN13: 9781969448041
• Release Date: July 2026
• Publisher: Dormanes
• Length: 88 Pages
• Weight: 0.73 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.0" x 9.0"
• Age Range: 6 to 10 years
• Grade Range: Grades 1 to 5