This National Award Winning Book is beautifully illustrated with sixteen full-page color paintings by the prominent African-American artist Kathleen Atkins Wilson. It depicts Dr. David Anderson's colorful and historically rich retelling of an age-old African creation myth. the volume provides a rare and wonderful educational and cultural experience by preserving important mythology originating in the lands recognized as the cradle of civilization. Dr. Anderson furnishes a bridge to the past and a spiritual connection in which today's youth especially minorities can take pride and find self esteem. Selected in 1996 by the Elementary School Library Collection Winner of the 1993 Multicultural Publishers Exchange Book Award of Excellence Winner of the 1992 African Studies Association Outstanding Book Award 1993 Benjamin Franklin Silver Medal Finalist --This text refers to the hardcover edition of this title
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Grade 2-6-- This Yeruba creation myth begins in the heavenly court of the all-powerful and his agents, male and female orishas. All the orishas are content, save one named Obtala, whose wondering impels him to employ his power in some meaningful way. He prepares thoughtfully for this work, aided by his fellow orishas, and descends from heaven on a golden chain. He takes soil that has been sown with the personality of the orishas and forms humans in his own image,``carefully and lovingly,'' so that the resulting creatures (even the imperfect ones) are ``beautiful to behold.'' The all-powerful then brings them to life and sets the earth spinning, completing this noble, reverent, and positive tale. In the colorful illustrations, glowing with hot yellow and sapphire, ebony silhouettes are effectively set off by elegant, vibrantly patterned clothing and gold ornaments. The bright backgrounds recall batiked African textiles. This story's themes of determination, effort, generosity, and the sacredness of life, as well as the attractive art, extend its appeal beyond myth, religion, or ethic collections. --Patricia Dooley, Univ . of Washington, Seattle
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
1993 Coretta Scott King Award for Illustration 1992 African Studies Association Award for Outstanding Children1s Book about African Culture 1993 Benjamin Franklin Award finalist 1993 Multicultural Publishers Exchange winner Selected in 1996 by the Elementary School Lthis story ibrary Collection
this story's themes of deterrmination, effort, generosity, and the sacredness of life, as well as the attractive art, extend its Appeal beyond myth, religion, or ethnic collections2-School library Journal -- school libary journal
The Yoruba tell,m the spark of life snatched from the heavens mights have dried the new clay people into brick had not Olorum's sweet breathsoftened the air---Los Angeles Times BOOK Review -- Los Angeles Times BOOK Review
This book is an orginal, and worth reading and considering...a challenging lovely myth-Vinian Pierson Ramsey -- -- Vinian Pierson Ramsey
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1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I was expecting something different.,
By "anna_in_limbo" (Ames, IA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Origin of Life on Earth: An African Creation Myth (Paperback)
When I opened my package of hundreds of dollars of book I bought from Amazon the other day, I noticed that this book looked liked a children's book. I was a little disapointed because I wanted it to be a book for ME! I got over it. The story and the art were beautiful. I will save it for my little kids and give it to them when they are older so they can appreciate an African creation myth when they can understand it.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
NOW the Yoruba say that long before there were people, all life was in the sky. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
palm kernels New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
NOW the Yoruba say that long before there were people, all life was in the sky. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
palm kernels New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
8
books
cite this book:
See all 8 books citing this book
- Myths and Hero Tales: A Cross-Cultural Guide to Literature for Children and Young Adults by Agnes Regan Perkins in Front Matter, and page 53
- The Reading Connection: Bringing Parents, Teachers, and Librarians Together by Liz Knowles on page 94
- Great Books for African-American Children by Pamela A. Toussaint on page 253
- Black Books Galore!: Guide to More Great African American Children's Books by Donna Rand on page 130
- Raising Black Children Who Love Reading and Writing:: A Guide from Birth Through Grade Six by Dierdre Paul in Back Matter
See all 8 books citing this book
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