Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales (Aesop Accolades (Awards)) (Hardcover)

~ (Editor) "ONE DAY, A STRANGE BIRD arrived in a small village that nestled among low hills..." (more)
Key Phrases: motlopi tree, oldest crow, finest creature, Sannie Langtand, Van Hunks, King Lion (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Nobel Peace laureate Mandela understandably gets top billing here, but this collection of short fables compiles writings and translations by numerous authors and features illustrations by a diverse collection of artists. Together, the tales and their accompanying artwork create a patchwork of legends drawn from all over the African continent, from Morocco to Kenya to Swaziland. Snakes with seven heads and Zulu tricksters are found here, as well as various creation myths and a Kenyan lion (with the familiar name of Simba) who teaches a cunning hyena a lesson. The colorful birds, giant elephants and mischievous children populating the volume teach sometimes cryptic lessons about obedience, perseverance, cooperation and the simple strangeness of life. In one story, the children of an East African village must destroy a beautiful and enchanting bird that has brought bad luck to the surrounding countryside. In another, a courageous girl frees a prince from the spell that made him a python. In tales such as these, the dream-like, unpredictable symbology and sometimes cruel morality of myths resonate, and, in Mandela's words, the "gritty essence of Africa" shines through in stories with universal themes.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-5-Mandela states in the foreword, "It is my wish that the voice of the storyteller will never die in Africa-.," and he has chosen 32 traditional tales for this handsome oversized volume. While nearly half the selections have their origins in South Africa, the rest represent some of the continent's most cherished tales and come from Botswana, Swaziland, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and other sub-Saharan countries as well as a single selection from Morocco. Each story is introduced with a short provenance or source note, and a frontispiece map matches each tale with its geographical area. Told by a variety of storytellers and folklorists, or gleaned from previously published sources, the tellings vary from literary to contemporary. The book also provides a showcase for 18 illustrators, mostly from South Africa, who contributed one full-page illustration per story. This is a rich collection that would provide depth and breadth to any classroom study alongside the many single-tale picture-book editions readily found on library shelves.
Susan Hepler, Burgundy Farm Country Day School, Alexandria, VA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: W.W. Norton & Co. (November 18, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393052125
• ISBN-13: 978-0393052121
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 10.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #335,683 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #15 in	Books > Children's Books > History & Historical Fiction > Fiction > Africa
  #27 in	Books > Children's Books > Literature > Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths > African
  #57 in	Books > Literature & Fiction > History & Criticism > African

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars fabulous...., February 17, 2006

By	Jenni "Purrydaze" (Douglas, AZ) - See all my reviews

These stories are delightful, the illustrations are superb...I bought a copy for my grand-daughter, and was so enthralled that I ordered a second copy for me!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Lovely, August 5, 2003

By A Customer

The stories are rich and full of life. Storytelling lives on...thank you!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Grammy-nominated audiobook is truly amazing, June 30, 2009

By	S. R. Gelman (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales (Audio CD)

This audiobook is nominated for a Grammy and has won awards.

The story readings on this audiobook are phenomenal and your purchase supports children in South Africa in Africa orphaned by AIDS.

The readings are done by numerous remarkable actors including Gillian Anderson, Benjamin Bratt, Don Cheadle, Matt Damon, Whoopi Goldberg, Sean Hayes, Samuel L. Jackson, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Debra Messing, Helen Mirren, Parminder Nagra, Sophie Okonedo, CCH Pounder, Alan Rickman, Jurnee Smollett, Charlize Theron, Blair Underwood, Forest Whitaker, and Alfre Woodard with a message from Desmond Tutu and music by Johnny Clegg and Vusi Mahlasela.