Off to the Sweet Shores of Africa: And Other Talking Drum Rhymes [Hardcover]

Uzo Unobagha (Author), Julia Cairns (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2000 | Grade Level: P and up

In the spirit of Mother Goose, Off to the Sweet Shores of Africa and Other Talking Drum Rhymes is a colorful collection of original, African inspired rhymes. Fun to read aloud, these playful rhymes conjure West African village life. As in classic nursery rhymes, the verses are inhabited by charming characters who impart simple wisdom or evoke pure silliness, making this collection not only distinctively African, but wonderfully universal. Exquisitely detailed illustrations by Julia Cairns, an engaging author's note and glossary make this an enchanting collection from Africa's sweet shores to ours.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In the introduction to this collection, inspired by traditional Mother Goose rhymes, Nigerian-born Unobagha says that she hopes these verses about Africa will deliver "important cultural messages to readers" about her homeland. Unobagha is at her best with onomatopoetic sounds that conjure the rhythms of village life, as in a spread of music rhymes ("Ifidom the village drum/ Rolled around on his tummy-tum") or nature sounds ("'Rush!' says the tradewind,/ 'Rush! Rush! Rush!'/ As it races through the leaves"). Less successful verses rely heavily on devices and forms used in the original Mother Goose rhymes ("Here we go round the mulberry bush" becomes "Here we go dancing the rumba dance") or awkwardly strain for effect: "Round and round/ My wrapper wraps,/ Round and round/ My tiny waist,/ Round and round/ She flaps and laps,/ When I'm in a mighty haste." The playful, joyful rhymes brim with African words and shed light on culture and customs, and a helpful glossary at the end of the book explains unfamiliar terms. Cairns's watercolors burst with energy as silhouetted characters walk the shores of the Limpopo River and dance to the market. Varied, artful designs feature not only full-color paintings of animals, plants, baskets and village scenes, but plenty of spot art and bright borders that resemble African fabrics. All ages. (Sept.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-4-From the vibrant patterned endpapers to the rich, warm watercolor paintings in which dark-skinned villagers appear throughout, this is a beautifully designed volume. In an introductory note, Unobagha explains her desire to create a series of simple rhymes to portray West African culture in a way similar to the Mother Goose rhymes' presentation of European tradition. Although the author successfully incorporates numerous children and adults, animals, objects, and customs into her verses, the poems do not always scan or rhyme and are not always easy to read or recite. The selections in Virginia Kroll's Jaha and Jamil Went Down the Hill: An African Mother Goose (Charlesbridge, 1994) deliberately imitate specific Mother Goose rhymes, while Unobagha's are more original and strive to capture the spirit of the nursery verses rather than their exact style. Unfortunately, many of her poems begin with vivid imagery but fail to maintain their imagistic quality to the end and sometimes fizzle out inconclusively. A few terms, such as "ging-gong," are not included in the glossary and may leave readers wondering if they are African terms or just nonsense words created to carry out the rhymes. This book will be useful for libraries building large collections of materials on African heritage, but not for those looking for a storyhour resource.
Ginny Gustin, Sonoma County Library System, Santa Rosa, CA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 56 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (August 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811823784
• ISBN-13: 978-0811823784
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 9.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,547,081 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Treat for the eyes, August 22, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Off to the Sweet Shores of Africa: And Other Talking Drum Rhymes (Hardcover)

This is one of the most beautifully illustrated books that I have ever seen! Every page is filled with bright colors and cheerful prose and images. It is a perfect book for the age group intended, but it is also a wonderful treat for an adult. The images are so delightful that I can look at them over and over again. I especially like the colorful borders found on many of the pages. This is the kind of book that you will want to keep forever - even when the children "outgrow" it. I highly recommend this book.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "When the lions come to play, little boys stay away.", July 4, 2006

By 

Luan Gaines "luansos" (Dana Point, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Off to the Sweet Shores of Africa: And Other Talking Drum Rhymes (Hardcover)

This marvelous, colorful collection of children's rhymes celebrates "talking drums" of West Africa, of great significance in that culture, as "criers" beat messages from village to village, the rhythmic beats speaking to the villagers along the way. Influenced by a rich heritage and the clever humor of Mother Goose rhymes, the rhymes blend storytelling with a distinct cultural identity, creating a "simple rhythmic language" for young children and beginning readers, a learning process of language and rhythm:

"Off to the sweet shores of Africa,

Off, with my harp and harmonica,

I'll follow the walking, talking drum

To the land, where sunbirds hum."

The language of these rhymes is African: cowrie shells, akara balls, palm, papaya, coral and mango trees and African places from the Sahara to Zambezi. Reinforced by the theme of African mores and traditions, the rhymes inform and entertain, exploring the culture, rich ancestral history and pride in African descent:

"Race the striped zebra across the plains,

Race the striped zebra over the lanes,

Hip! For the zebra!

Hip! For me!

Hurray! For the happy and free!"

The stunning illustrations that complement the rhymes are arresting, images of the African countryside, the indigenous people, animals, fauna and flora, the scorching ball of yellow sun, straw-hatted huts, the colorful garments of children at play, velvet deep nights, myriad stars twinkling above the sleeping village:

"What is the pale moon made of?

What is the pale moon made of?

Of cowrie shells and ivory

Dipped in the shimmering, silvery sea

And tossed up like a rubber ball

To be gazed upon by all."

Family, tradition, the nurturing of children; the author has written beautiful phrases of place and childhood, accompanied by truly inspirational illustrations. Luan Gaines/ 2006.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A cultural anthology of Africa for children of all races, December 26, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Off to the Sweet Shores of Africa: And Other Talking Drum Rhymes (Hardcover)

This book is a cultural anthology of the African world for children as young as two years old. But the book really is set for older children and young adults. Besides the normal introduction to numbers and animal recognition, this is actually a work on music, poetry, and life interwoven with man, animals and their natural environment. Therefore, a good read for peoples of all races. The illustrations and colors beautifully project the imagery as it challenges the young mind to seek deeper meaning to what is presented. African adults reading this book will see it as a memory down their own childhood. I doubt though if it is different for other cultures. As a parent, a peek in this book was a trill, and I continue to enjoy reading it with my little girl. If you are looking for an illustrated book to teach your children the interdependencies of life, this will be one of it.