A collection of twelve ancient tales that touch on feelings common to people of every culture. Children will find out why the sun and moon live in the sky and why monkeys live in trees. But, no one ever finds out how many spots the leopard has. Illustrated.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Lester ( To Be a Slave ), himself of African and Jewish ancestry, here recounts 12 folktales from African and Jewish traditions, which he has freely adapted to fit his "mouth and tongue." The combination of the two cultures works well; each story in this eclectic collection begs to be read aloud: "Long before time wound its watch and started ticking and chasing after tomorrow, which it can never catch up to, well, that was the time when Dog and Cat were friends." Lester's retellings are beguiling and graceful, his language attuned to each story's nuances. Shannon's striking paintings, in rich browns and greens, are as full of depth as the stories themselves. Particularly interesting are "The Wonderful Healing Leaves," a stirring tale of bravery handsomely rewarded, and "What Is the Most Important Part of the Body?," an African/Jewish tale in which a Queen and King learn what all storytellers must know: that they must use "their tongues for good. May we do the same." Ages 7-11.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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More About the Author
Born in 1939, Julius Lester spent his youth in the Midwest and the South and received a B.A. in English from Fisk University in 1960.Since 1968 he has published 25 books of fiction, nonfiction, children's books, and poetry. Among the awards these books have received are the Newbery Honor Medal, American Library Association Notable Book, National Jewish Book Award Finalist, The New York Times Outstanding Book, National Book Critics Circle Award Finalist, Caldecott Honor Book, the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, and a National Book Award Finalist. His books have been translated into eight languages.He has published more than one hundred essays and reviews in such publications The New York Times Book Review, The New York Times Op-Ed Page, The Boston Globe, The Village Voice, The New Republic, Katallagete, Moment, Forward, and Dissent.He has recorded two albums of original songs, hosted and produced a radio show on WBAI-FM in New York City for eight years, and hosted a live television show on WNET in New York for two years. A veteran of the Civil Rights Movement, his photographs of that movement are included in an exhibition at the Smithsonian Institution and are part of the permanent photographic collection at Howard University.After teaching at the New School for Social Research for two years, Mr. Lester joined the faculty of the University of Massachusetts/Amherst in 1971 where he is presently a full professor in the Judaic and Near Eastern Studies Department, and adjunct professor in the English and History departments. He also serves as lay religious leader of Beth El Synagogue in St. Johnsbury, Vermont.He has been awarded all four of the university's most prestigious faculty awards: The Distinguished Teacher's Award; the Faculty Fellowship Award for Distinguished Research and Scholarship; Distinguished Faculty Lecturer; and recipient of the Chancellor's Medal, the University's highest honor. In 1986 the Council for Advancement and Support of Education selected him as the Massachusetts State Professor of the Year.Mr. Lester's biography has appeared in Who's Who In America since 1970. He has given lectures and papers at more than 100 colleges and universities.His most recent books are John Henry, And All Our Wounds Forgiven, a novel about the civil rights movement, and Othello, a novel based on the Shakespeare play.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By heather
Format:Library Binding
This is a book I will never forget. I have searched high and low for it, as it is my favorite book from my childhood. I couldn't remember the title for the longest time, and it just came to me out of the blue tonight. The artwork is equally stunning as the tales. This is a collection of stories meant to be shared, and not forgotten !
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