How Stories Came into the World: A Folk Tale from West Africa (Folk Tales of the World) [Library Binding]

Joanna Troughton (Author)

Book Description

Series: Folk Tales of the World

Once only Mouse knew, and kept to himself, the stories of how the world came to be until angry Lightning broke down Mouse's door and the stories escaped into the world.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Part of the Folk Tales of the World series, this intriguing picture book incorporates six West African creation myths into a single narrative. Included among the fanciful fables are the two Ekoi tales of how all the animals came to reside on Earth and the Mouse and her story children--the collection's unifying element. Three stories are rooted in the Efik Ibibio tribe: why the Sun and Moon live in the sky (when Water came to visit, it "overflowed the top of the roof"), why Hippo lives in the water and the origin of thunder and lightning. Rounding out the anthology is the Yoruba tale of the rubber girl--commonly told in America as the Tar Baby. Troughton builds on the strong plot lines in each of the brief retellings and weaves them into a single, almost seamless, episodic tale. Her arresting, primitive paintings vividly evoke African styles and images, and distinctive border designs differentiate cleverly each linked tale. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-4--Tikkatoo's Journey is an Eskimo folktale that will be unfamiliar to most readers (no sources are given). An ice spirit enters the heart of Tikkatoo's grandfather, making him ill; without his guidance the entire village suffers. Only Tikkatoo, the youngest and smallest, volunteers to get a flame of fire from the Sun to help his grandfather's frozen heart. The text lacks the economy of the best retellings, but the fascinating images may inspire children to dream up their own fantastic journeys. The plot is simple and not particularly compelling, but there is a sense of triumph in a small boy's showing up the disdainful but cowardly adult hunters. The art carries the book. Fanciful watercolor paintings feature decorative borders, and the locations and creatures Tikkatoo encounters are exotic and stir the imagination. The Moon-spotted dog, however, looks as though he has a skin disease. Delicate greens, blues, and beige pervade, with touches of brilliant oranges and yellows. In How Stories Came Into the World , Troughton combines five stories from West Africa under the mantle of the myth of Mouse, who weaves story pictures of all that she sees. Each story is approximately three spreads long; all deal with banishment or relocation. Although brief, all of the retellings but one are satisfying. The collection ends nicely, when Mouse's stories escape to wander the Earth. The lively cartoon-style art appears to be done in watercolor, ink, and perhaps wax crayons. Troughton's book is better for reading aloud, and it will appeal to older children with limited skills. --Marilyn Iarusso, New York Public Library
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Library Binding: 32 pages
• Publisher: Peter Bedrick Books (March 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0872264114
• ISBN-13: 978-0872264113
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,235,052 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I was born in London, and have lived there ever since. When I was 17 years old I went to Hornsey College of Art for five years, leaving with a first class degree. I then became a freelance illustrator, and had my first picture book published in 1971 when I was 22 - THE LITTLE MOHEE, an American folk song. I love traditional stories of all kinds and from any country throughout the world. Ideas for my picture books have come from myths, legends, folk tales, fairy stories, folk songs and oral poetry.
Over the past 40 years I have worked on my own series of picture books - FOLK TALES OF THE WORLD, which I wrote and illustrated. The BBC and Channel 4 have made three of these books into short animated films for Children's TV- WHAT MADE TIDDALIK LAUGH, TORTOISES' DREAM and THE TIGER CHILD. I have illustrated books for many other authors: Kevin Crossley-Holland, Geoffrey Trease, James Reeves, Adel Geras, Jamila Gavin, and Robert Nye. I also worked for BBC TV, illustrating for JACKANORY and. JACKANORY PLAYHOUSE.

I taught illustration at Harrow, Barnet, West Herts and Croydon Colleges of Art. I have visited schools and libraries all over Britain, to give talks about my work, as well as being a writer in residence for a few of those schools. For the last three years I worked as a part time teaching assistant, helping children who are new to English.
www.joannatroughton.blogspot.com