Jaha and Jamil Went Down the Hill: An African Mother Goose [School & Library Binding]

Virginia L. Kroll (Author), Katherine Roundtree (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1995 | Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

A delightful treasury of rhyme fashioned after Mother Goose favorites that give readers a fresh new perspective of beloved classics.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Following their Wood-Hoopoe Willie, Kroll and Roundtree team up again for an African take on Mother Goose. The concept is terrific: by altering the lyrics of 48 familiar rhymes, Kroll provides a virtual syllabus for study of African culture and wildlife. "Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum" becomes "Fee, fi, fo, foo./ I smell the juice of vegetable stew./ With a scarf around my head,/ I'll grind the manioc to make our bread." But despite the sound concept and Kroll's graceful reshaping of the rhymes, the book is blemished by troublesome misjudgments. Roundtree's bright but literal interpretations of the rhymes serve the educational agenda at the expense of real emotional appeal. Ironically, that very agenda is hampered by the book's overambitious inclusion of data from 28 countries and its failure to explain foreign words. Ages 3-8.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2?A unique offering. Kroll creatively captures the visual essence and diversity of the African continent and the poetic gaiety of Mother Goose. She includes 49 original verses that take on the rhythmic patterns of their traditional counterparts, e.g., "Little Child" corresponds to "Pussy Cat, Pussy Cat." The illustration of two young children eating and drinking from a bowl serves to complement the text: "Little Child, little child/Where are you from?/Far off in Africa, under the sun./Little Child, little child,/What do you eat?/Cassava and fishes, oh what a treat!" Twenty-eight countries are represented; full-color illustrations depict topography, urban centers, forest, jungle, desert, plain, and marketplace. Colors are rich and vibrant, reflecting the warmth of the African continent. A welcome, interesting addition.?Barbara Osborne Williams, Queens Borough Public Library, Jamaica, NY
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• School & Library Binding: 32 pages
• Publisher: Charlesbridge Pub Inc (February 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881068667
• ISBN-13: 978-0881068665
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,911,126 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Virginia Kroll is the author of over fifty books for children and winner of a 2004 Children's choice award. A former elementary school teacher, she lives in New York with her husband and has raised six children of her own.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely fabulous!, December 5, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Jaha and Jamil Went Down the Hill: An African Mother Goose (School & Library Binding)

This book was wonderful. I read it for a group of students and they were spell-bound to say the least. It is good to know that quality, authentic multicultural literature is being published.

4.0 out of 5 stars When you're tired of Mother Goose..., February 2, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Jaha and Jamil Went Down the Hill: An African Mother Goose (Paperback)

Here are some lovely, creative and fun rhymes on an African theme based on Mother Goose rhymes. My 15-month old daughter enjoys the rhymes and the drawings--each page representing a different country. There are a few minor cultural inaccuracies, but overall, it nicely represents the diversity of Africa. I gave the book a rating of four stars instead of five primarily b/c the drawings are not especially striking or engaging. However, the pictures are colorful and depict many animals, plants as well as traditional dress of African people. A nice book to add to your child's library, and great poems to add to your repertoire!

5.0 out of 5 stars Much nicer rhymes than Mother Goose!!!, September 16, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Jaha and Jamil Went Down the Hill: An African Mother Goose (School & Library Binding)

I think this is a wonderful book. I use the rhymes in this book to replace Mother Goose rhymes with my 3-year old son. We read the book together, and he enjoys the pictures as well as the rhymes. Most of the rhymes in this book are gentle, kind, and educational. Some of my favorites are Rock-a-bye-baby, Ring Around the Sand Dune, Jaha and Jamil Went Down the Hill, and Bend a Wire. Since we've been learning things together about Africa in videos and other books, it's been fun to see some of them also represented here. I've given this book to several of my friends for their children. It would be fun to have more books like this with rhymes about other places in the world as well.