The King and the Tortoise [Hardcover]

Tololwa M. Mollel (Author), Kathy Blankley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 22, 1993 | Age Level: 4 and up

In a traditional folktale from Cameroon, the patient and wise tortoise wins over the clever fox, the speedy hare, and the strong elephant when the king asks his subjects for a robe of smoke.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In the same laid-back style as his Rhinos for Lunch and Elephants for Supper! , storyteller Mollel unfolds this carefully cadenced retelling of a Cameroon folktale in a manner that practically begs to be read aloud. A king puts forth "a challenge to all the creatures who lived in his kingdom"--whoever can fashion a robe of smoke for him will win their ruler's recognition as "the cleverest creature in the world." One by one several animals dance in the smoke of the fire, twisting and groping for a solution, but all retire in humiliated defeat. A wily tortoise, after securing the king's promise to provide whatever he might need to complete the task, asks for time to consider the problem. Finally the creature beats the king at his own game; the monarch is so amused that he declares the tortoise to be his equal in cleverness. Warm earth tones and intricate vertical borders, taken from traditional Cameroon designs, enliven Blankley's somewhat staid illustrations. Ages 5-8.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"The full-color artwork illustrates the tale effectively . . . (an) entertaining picture book for folklore collections." (Booklist, ALA )

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 30 pages
• Publisher: Clarion Books; First Edition edition (March 22, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395644801
• ISBN-13: 978-0395644805
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,215,156 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars an authentic Cameroonian tale, well told and illustrated, October 10, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The King and the Tortoise (Hardcover)

This is a nicely illustrated and well-written retelling of a Cameroonian folktale. Young children will enjoy it and learn a little of Cameroon storytelling in the process. It is a nice window on the whole genre of west African stories about Tortoise, the eternal trickster. The ending may seem a little unusual to Americans and Europeans, but that is part of its charm and educational value. Highly recommended to anyone who wants their children to appreciate the spirit of west African stories.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great!, August 30, 2011

By 

Sydney L. Gray (Reno, NV USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The King and the Tortoise (Hardcover)

I received this order in a timely manner, and it was in great shape for a used book. This book will be use in a kindergarten room when we are studying Africa.