Mrs. Feelings, who has lived and taught in East Africa, has written a simple but informative text. Selecting twenty-four words, one for each letter of the Swahili alphabet, she gives children a simple lesson in the Swahili language while familiarizing them with some important aspects of traditional East African life.

Award-winning illustrator Tom Feelings has provided a beautifully detailed doublespread painting for each letter, ranging from a traditional greeting between friends to a wedding scene.

A map of Africa showing the countries where Swahili is spoken is also included.