"Hello Stranger-friend. I am Thandi, a Ndebele girl in South Africa. I am eight years old, and my best friend is a chicken." So beings an engaging introduction to daily life in a South African village. Enthusiastic Thandi describes her mother and aunts, who paint their houses with elaborate desins, sew intricate beadwork, and tell stories. She shows us the other children, including her mischievous brother. And of course, she tells us all about her best friend the chicken. Angelou's text is enchanting and photojournalist Courtney-Clarke's photograph's are stunning.