Mimi's Village, written by Katie Smith Milway and illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes. Kids Can Press, 2012. $19.95 ages 6 and up

"Everyone knows about malaria. It is a disease that can cause sickness and even death. It is carried by mosquitoes, and mosquitoes are everywhere in this part of the country. This little boy is lucky. His mother has brought him to the clinic in time. He will get medicine to make him better."

Many children in Kenya where Mimi lives will not get the medicine needed to prevent death. If they are lucky enough to live where there is access to health care in clinics that are set up to provide it, their chances of living a longer life improve.

The story begins in sadness, when Mimi's mother goes off to sit with other women who are grieving the loss of one of the village children. Only luck has kept Mimi's family safe from such grief. The following day, while fetching water for the family, Mimi allows her sister to sip a few handfuls of unclean water because she is so thirsty. When Nakkissi becomes ill, Mimi tells her parents what she has done. There is no medical help in their small village.

The family braves darkness and nighttime animals to make a trip to the next village. They want to be sure they are there when the clinic opens in the morning. Nurse Tela explains that the cure for Nakkissi is a simple one...sugar and salt mixed with clean water, every five minutes for a few hours. If the family stays overnight, their three children can be vaccinated to help prevent further illness. That done, the family is ready to return to their home village. Talk of malaria sounds alarms with Mimi's father for his own family and for their village. Mimi awakens the next morning with an idea. She shares it with her father.

The village soon has a clinic and and are happy to welcome Nurse Tela for her first visit. Every time she comes, she offers simple, practical advice about clean water, better nutrition, and mosquito netting to protect families from malaria. After a year, Nurse Tela still makes regular visits; she is training the villagers to protect themselves and some of the women to deliver babies and give medication when she is not present.

This is the tenth book in the CitizenKid series and is successful at conveying the message about good health and disease prevention. It also brings an awareness of the plight of so many in countries where simple preventative health care can make a huge difference; and yet, it is often not available.

Backmatter tells the story of a real nurse working in Zambia to provide basic health care and to teach about nutrition, better hygiene to prevent the spread of disease, and showing how a mosquito net will protect a whole family. There is a section on the importance of health care, ways in which people around the world can help, new ideas for making change happen, and a glossary that defines new and unknown words.

 Eugenie Fernandes give a face to Mimi, her family and the other villagers and visitors. She also allows readers a glimpse at the African countryside, using a warm and sunny palette of yellows, greens and sand, while showing the beautiful bright tones of the villagers' clothing.