Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters (Reading Rainbow Books) [Hardcover]

John Steptoe (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: March 31, 1987 | Age Range: 4 - 8 years | Series: Reading Rainbow Books | Lexile Measure: 720L (What's this?)

Mufaro was a happy man. Everyone agreed that his two daughters were very beautiful. Nyasha was kind and considerate as well as beautiful, but everyone -- except Mufaro -- knew that Manyara was selfish, badtempered, and spoiled.

When the king decided to take a wife and invited "The Most Worthy and Beautiful Daughters in the Land" to appear before him, Mufaro declared proudly that only the king could choose between Nyasha and Manyara. Manyara, of course, didn't agree, and set out to make certain that she would be chosen.

John Steptoe has created a memorable modem fable of pride going before a fall, in keeping with the moral of the folktale that was his inspiration. He has illustrated it with stunning paintings that glow with the beauty, warmth, and internal vision of the land and people of his ancestors.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3 An African villager named Mufaro had two daughters whom everyone agreed were beautiful. However, their dispositions were not alike: Manyara had a bad temper and was selfish (although not in front of Mufaro); Nyasha was always kind and considerate both to people and to animals. When Mufaro receives word that the Great King is inviting all of the most worthy and beautiful women to appear before him so that he might choose a wife, Mufaro decides that both of his daughters should go. Manyara, believing herself more worthy and beautiful than her sister, sets out alone so that she can be presented to the king before her sister. What happens to each girl along the way depends on her response to the strange people whom she encounters. This folktale shows the traditional qualities, characterizations, and predictability. It is distinguished, however, by its colorful ink and watercolor illustrations of the costumes, artifacts, flora, and fauna of the Zimbabwe region. The expressive drawings of people and events enhance the story and serve to strengthen readers' familiarity with traditional African culture. A magnificently illustrated book, filled with rich textures and vibrant color, and a story that will satisfy young romantics as well as those with a strong sense of justice. Helen E. Williams, University of Maryland, College Park
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

John Steptoe was born in Brooklyn. From early childhood, he drew pictures and told stories with them. He started work on Stevie, his first picture book, when he was sixteen, and Stevie was published three years later to outstanding critical acclaim. Since then, he has written and illustrated many successful books for children.

John Lewis Steptoe, creator of award-winning picture books for children, was born in Brooklyn on September 14, 1950 and was raised in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of that borough. He began drawing as a young child and received his formal art training at the High School of Art and Design in Manhattan. He was a student in the HARYOU-ACT Art Program and instructed by the highly recognized African American oil painter, Norman Lewis. He also studied at the Vermont Academy, where he was instructed by the sculptor, John Torres, and William Majors, a painter acclaimed by the Museum of Modem Art for his etchings and print-making.

His work first came to national attention in 1969 when his first book, Stevie, appeared in its entirety in Life magazine, hailed as "a new kind of book for black children." Mr. Steptoe, who had begun work on Stevie at the age of 16, was then 18 years old.

In his 20-year career, Mr. Steptoe illustrated 15 more picture books, ten of which he also wrote. The American Library Association named two of his books Caldecott Honor Books, a prestigious award for children's book illustration: The Story of Jumping Mouse in 1985 and Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters in 1988. Mr. Steptoe twice received the Coretta Scott King Award for Illustration, for Mother Crocodile (text by Rosa Guy) in 1982, and for Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters.

While all of Mr. Steptoe's work deals with aspects of the African American experience, Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters was acknowledged by reviewers and critics as a breakthrough. Based on an African tale recorded in the 19th century, it required Mr. Steptoe for the first time to research African history and culture, awakening his pride in his African ancestry. Mr. Steptoe hoped that his books would lead children, especially African American children, to feel pride in their origins and in who they are. "I am not an exception to the rule among my race of people," he said, accepting the Boston Globe/Horn Book Award for Illustration, "I am the rule. By that I mean there are a great many others like me where I come from."

Mr. Steptoe frequently spoke to audiences of children and adults about his work. He was the 1989 winner of the Milner Award, voted by Atlanta schoolchildren for their favorite author.

John Steptoe died on August 28, 1989 at Saint Luke's Hospital in Manhattan, following a long illness. He was 38 years old and lived in Brooklyn. Mr. Steptoe was among the small handful of African American artists who have made a career in children's books.

Product Details

• Age Range: 4 - 8 years
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Lothrop Lee & Shepard; 1st edition (March 31, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688040454
• ISBN-13: 978-0688040451
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 9.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (54 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #201,519 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #83 in Books > Children's Books > Travel & Cultures > Explore the World > Africa

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

61 of 61 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An African Cinderella story deeper than the European version August 5, 2001

By slomamma

Format:Hardcover

This book is usually described as an African variation on Cinderella and it has a similar story - when a king invites the women of his kingdom to come to his palace so that he can choose the most worthy to be his wife, two sisters appear before him and he chooses the kinder of the two. But this version of Cinderella is infinitely superior to the tale most Americans grow up on. The European Cinderella is a beloved story, but it contains a lot of odd messages. Cinderella is both good and beautiful, her stepsisters are ugly inside and out. Is the implication that only attractive people can be good? Cinderella's "goodness" doesn't seem to consist of anything but being a doormat. And when the prince falls in love with her, he doesn't seem to know anything about her except that she is beautiful.

In John Steptoe's version, inspired by an African folktale, the two sisters are both beautiful, but the beauty of one, Manyara, is only external. Her sister, Nyasha, the "Cinderella" character is beautiful inside and out. And her goodness doesn't consist just of doing what she's told to do. She's kind to all creatures, even Manyara. Furthermore, the king chooses her to be his queen not because of her beauty, but because he has secretly seen her her kindness and generosity (and her sister's meaness) in action. He chooses a good soul, not just a beautiful face. This version has all the elements that make Cinderella a classic, but ethically it's far, far better.

And as if that weren't enough, the illustrations in this book are sheer magic. More than any book we've read, this one has inspired in my daughter a fascination with Africa. The details of Steptoe's paintings, drawn from the plants, animals and architecture of Zimbabwe, are glorious. Everytime we read the book, my daughter and I talk about new things we notice about the pictures. I can't think of a single children's book I like better than this one.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Sibling Rivalry Unmasked-SJC Engl340 March 26, 2001

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

In Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters, John Steptoe combines stunning illustrations to create almost mystical surroundings for his characters, surroundings which serve to distinguish between the baser human characteristics, greed and pride, and those which we as humans must emulate, such as mercy and compassion. Steptoe creates the story's setting using the flora and fauna of an ancient ruin in Zimbabwe; the story itself is an English adaptation of a local African tale from today's indigenous inhabitants of the area. By encompassing a spiritual tale in realistic settings, Steptoe forces the reader to blur the line between reality and magic; however, this "magic" galvanizes to action by drawing distinctions between compassion and greed with which young readers can easily identify. This is the story of two sisters, Manyara and Nyasha, the beautiful daughters of Mufaro, two believably human girls who embody the characteristics of pride and humility. Children will quickly see that Manyara is selfish and ill tempered and that her promise to make her sister a servant in her house is based on jealousy. On the other hand, Nyasha is calm and kind; an aura of peace surrounds every action. Her singing, the villagers think, causes her garden to produce more bountifully than the others'. Even the animals find her friendly. She names and befriends a garden snake named Nyoka. The plot itself serves as a didactic tale with which children will identify. Themes of sibling rivalry and false appearances dominate the text. Steptoe mentions that the only person fooled into believing that Manyara is as kind as her sister is Mufaro, a theme that might resonate with children who endure the trials of living with siblings. The true test of character, however, comes when the King announces his search for a bride. In characteristic form, Manyara leaves in the middle of the night to unfairly secure the king's favor. In a form similar to many Anglo-Saxon fairy tales, she encounters three tests on the way to the king and fails miserably. A young boy begs for food; she brusquely pushes him aside. An old woman gives her invaluable advice about upcoming obstacles; she rejects the advice deliberately and proceeds in her journey. This obstinate behavior is rewarded when a five-headed monster greets her at the end of her journey. However, Steptoe also allows this character to partially redeem herself. While fleeing from the monster, Manyara encounters Mufaro and Nyasha. Showing consideration for another person for the first time in this narrative, Manyara begs her father and sister to avoid the palace. The monster knew her faults, she tells them, and the outcome of the story suggests that this was enough to cause her to change her ways. Steptoe toys with the fine line dividing the spiritual world from the material world, as well as building a suspenseful plot. It is this unconcern for the shape of the living being, be it male or female, young or old, animal or human, supernatural or common, that Steptoe stresses. Children will enjoy the reality of his illustrations, while adults will realize the deeper underlying message about the common threads that bind all human life: respect and admiration bring great reward.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating twist to a familiar Cinderella tale November 5, 1998

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

What happens when you mix two beautiful daughters, one handsome prince, and a marriage proposal? Well, if one is selfish, self-centered, and spoiled, and the other is kind, loving, and sweet, then you get the heartwarming fairytale by John Steptoe, Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters. He credits an Afrcan folktale with inspiring htis original version of a Cinderella-esque story. Steptoe's illustrations compliment the tale at every turn, defining setting, expanding characteriaztion, and adding depth to the text; they are indeed worthy of the Caldecott Honor Book Medal which graces the cover. Pages of stunning paintings capture the very essence of the story's Zimbabwean ancestors and the landscape they inhabited. In this typical fast-paced fairytale where evil is punished and good is rewarded, readers meet Manyara and Nyasha, two sisters of unsurpassable beauty, who are summonded to the city in order to appear before the unmarried prince. Little girls everywhere will identify with the kind and patient Nyasha and delight at the fate that the "evil" sister, Manyara, eventually meets. Children of all ages will thoroughly enjoy a read-aloud of this fairytale. The vivid use of language and exquisite illustrations, such as the scene in which Nyasha meets the king, are sure to entertain even the most discriminating audience, from the youngest listener to the transitional reader. Complete with a surprise ending, a touch of magic, and a moral message, Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters is a wonderful story and makes and excellent comparison to more traditional versions of Cinderella.