Hungry Hyena (African Animal Tales) [Paperback]

Mwenye Hadithi (Author), Adrienne Kennaway (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up | Series: African Animal Tales

This story explains why the eagle soars through the air and the hyena creeps along the ground.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2-Hungry Hyena watches from the papyrus reeds as Fish Eagle swoops down to snatch a fish from the lake. He tricks the unsuspecting bird into abandoning his catch and promptly eats it. The eagle screeches in anger and, in frustration, devises a plan with his friend Pangolin to teach Hyena a lesson about stealing. Hyena suitably receives his comeuppance and, to this day, he slinks across the great African Plain and can never again "run like the wind." The watercolor illustrations of this tale sweep across double pages in dramatic fashion, and range from bright jungle colors to foreboding hues of deep pinks, blues, and purples, strengthening the story's development. The animals' eyes are noteworthy in their emotional depiction of cunning, anger, and fright. In particular, Hyena's eyes turn from avaricious golden to bright orange as he is punished. This porquoi tale will be as useful on the picture-book shelves for younger readers as in the folklore section for those older students needing something to enhance social-studies or English assignments.
Mary Lou Budd, Milford South Elementary School, OH
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Ages 5-7. In their seventh animal story, this author/illustrator team explains why the hyena creeps instead of runs and the eagle soars and screeches. After Hyena tricks Fish Eagle out of his dinner, Fish Eagle and Pangolin team up to even the score. Hyena's greed forces him to gulp down a honeycomb, which he has overheard Fish Eagle describe as the "sweetest meat in all the world." Knowing that Hyena wants more, Fish Eagle encourages him and all his friends and family to meet at the lake that night. Later, pointing to the full moon, Fish Eagle tells the hyenas to climb atop one another until they reach the sweet delicacy. Greed and gravity work together as the hyenas fall into the lake, alive with crocodiles. The hyenas learn their lesson as Fish Eagle soars overhead screeching in delight at the spectacle. Bright watercolors capture the African setting and the alluring animal characters. Like the others in the series, this story shares a message in a convincing and entertaining manner. Deborah Abbott --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton (February 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0340626852
• ISBN-13: 978-0340626856
• Product Dimensions: 3.7 x 5.1 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #456,134 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #43 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Animals > Lions, Tigers & Leopards > Fiction

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars a hansome hyena story, November 24, 2009

By 

R. McCulley "Silverback" (Powhatan, VA United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Hungry Hyena (African Animal Tales) (Paperback)

This is another great presentation of African folklore to a wider world... Hadithi scores again! I laughed till I cried as I read it and look forward to sharing it with my Grand Children. Far better than Fairy tales!!

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Find!, February 20, 2007

By 

Lori Laporte "Louloulilac" (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Hungry Hyena (African Animal Tales) (Paperback)

I heard about this book while traveling in Kenya but didn't want to purchase it there and have to carry it home. I was so happy to find it on Amazon. It's a lovely book with wonderful illustrations.