Tani's New Home

Tani is a boy who moves from Nigeria to New York because of harassment from Boko Haram. The book deals with his experience of a new country that’s very different from his place of origin. It also explains in a child friendly way who Boko Haram are. I feel that the insight into the story of a refugee is very valuable. The other overwhelming thing that I take from this book is the sense of gratitude emanating from Tani and his family. They are generous to others to a fault and exemplary people. Children will get a kick out of seeing that Tani is a real person and that will hopefully encourage them to think about others who may have faced similar situations leading to emigration.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for a honest review. 


This book is a painful experience of a family in Nigeria who had to migrate to America after witnessing the same .

The protagonist's love for chess begins with this experience. 

This book also teaches us about compassion, love and empathy for others

"E kaaro. Good morning."

I love how this story introduces us to new culture and new language. A glimpse of how refugees find home and the family dynamics shown so well in this beautiful presentation of vibrant sequence of illustrations.

I find the writing quite beautiful and fun. The story is sad telling how refugees struggle in a foreign land when there's pressure to take sides.

I would say this storybook is a little heavy for kids with some pages in between which will need an adult's help for some explanation. 

Otherwise the story ended well with lots of love and positivity. I miss chess!

A genuine storybook. Good to have.

Thank you, author and publisher for the book.

I love when I can bring picture books with real life stories to the classroom. Adewumi's book, Tani's New Home, is exactly the type of story that captures the mind and heart of young readers. It tells the story of six year old Tani and his experiences in New York  as a refugee from Nigeria; his determination, hard work, and hope. What sets this story apart of others is the pivotal  role that chess plays in Tani finding a new home.

With its gorgeous illustrations, Tani's New Home is perfect for elementary classrooms as a read aloud or independent reader and provides teachers the opportunity for great discussions about other countries, immigration, and what it means to be a refugee.  

I highly recommend this book!

I thought that this book was lovely and the illustrations really bring the story to life.

Tani has a rough start in life and with his family they flee their home, and then their home land becoming refugees.

I loved the sense of helping and caring in this book and how happy everyone is to contribute to help Tani and his family get them set up and settled in their new home, one he was gifted, following his win in the New York Chess Tournament which brought attention to their plight.

It is lovely that this is a true story that showcases the power of compassion and hope and it is a real feel good story too.

It is 5 stars from me for this one - very highly recommended!

“Tani’s New Home” is based on a true story about Tani who came to the U.S. as a refugee from Nigeria. Only after a year of playing chess, Tani becomes the 2019 K-3 New York State chess champ. I love, love this story. It is an inspiration and the reason our country has always been a worldwide beacon of hope. The message of applying oneself towards a goal and learning chess, a game that teaches analytical and creative thinking, is priceless. 5 out of 5 stars!

An incredible story about a boy whose family became refugees in America.

I voluntarily received and reviewed a complimentary e/copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Tani’s New Home is a beautiful text that can act as a window into another person’s experiences. The images and text are beautiful, and highly recommended for sharing with young readers.

In the story, the family fled Nigeria after being forced by the Boko Haram to create hateful propaganda posters. The family settles in New York City, living in small rooms in a high rise shelter. The story shifts once Tani joins the chess club at school and learns how to play and compete. He learns that the people who do the best in chess are the ones who work the hardest, and he practices constantly to prove himself. 

This book was not quite what I expected. I was expecting more of an immigrant story that focused on the changes and situations Tani's family went through. Instead, this focused primarily on chess as a vehicle of hope. 

I enjoyed the message, but there was a bit of a disconnection between the two themes. I loved the "real life" explanation at the very end of the story. This would still be a great book to read with children.

"Tani's New Home" is the perfect children's book for home and school.  It delicately and directly addresses how his family had to face the Boko Haram and leave their home country, Nigeria.  Its illustrations emphasize the settings and feelings of Tani as his whole life changes.   This story needs to be well heard and this book does it 110%!  So glad to have. a resource to tell this story.  Great book for discussing inclusion and perseverance as well.

This uplifting picture book biography shares the story of Tani and his family immigrating to America, where learning to play chess helps him find a new home. For the young and the young-at-heart, any adult will enjoy sharing this with their young children - at home, in the library, or in a classroom. The illustrations are bold and colorful, with just enough detail to visually help explain the story more fully. A perfect book to read on World Refugee Day, or any time when discussing experiences refugees and immigrants have when arriving in the United States.