The Royal Drum: An Ashanti Tale [Hardcover]

Mary Dixon Lake (Author), Carol O'Malia (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1996

A read-aloud rebus treasure from the Ashanti in Ghana. Who is the laziest animal of all? All the animals gather together to help make a drum for the king of the jungle. Full color.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-10-These remarkable videos should be purchased by all schools, middle through high school, where ancient history or world cultures is part of the curriculum. Each video is narrated by Arizona Smith from his delightfully cluttered office/laboratory which is filled with all the treasures a working archeologist might collect throughout a lifetime of digging for artifacts. Students are treated to examples of art and pottery from the civilization; see videos of the sites today; and learn how the ancient peoples lived and died through reenactments that mimic old films. In "It's a Kid's Life," a pair of young teens talk about how their lives would be if they lived during that time. A "Did You Know" segment provides odd and interesting facts on the culture. The series excels in relating the ancient cultures to the present through their contributions to modern society and in bringing the ancient ruins to life. Many of the videos include examples of rural life today that point out some similarities with the ancient cultures such as foods consumed, or agricultural methods that have changed little over the centuries. The series assumes viewers have no prior knowledge about the subject, yet even adults with some grounding in ancient history will be entertained and learn something new. The series would be most useful in middle and high school introductory world history and civilization classes; while it would be appropriate for children in the third and fourth grade, most elementary schools don't include ancient history as part of the curriculum. Public libraries will want to add this wonderful series to their collections, especially if they serve home schooled children or parents who utilize library resources to enrich their children's regular schooling.
Linda R. Skeele, Western Elementary School, Georgetown, KY
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

From the Author

The Royal Drum was as much fun to write as it is to read. It easily lends itself to audience participation with its silly sound words. Bring out your own drum and enjoy the drummer in
you!

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Mondo Pub; Big Book edition (June 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1572551267
• ISBN-13: 978-1572551268
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #628,086 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #15 in Books > Children's Books > Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths > African

More About the Author

Mary Dixon Lake is a LITERACY teacher in the New York City public schools. She began a love affair with the written word in junior high school and started writing poems in her journal. Coming from a southern background but born and raised in the suburbs of New York, she learned to mix the flavors of both in her books. She confesses that writing literature for children was pure "happenstance" that turned into true passion. She loves to write picture books for the elementary school reader. Her books thus far include: I Love Bugs, My Circus Family, The Royal Drum (An Ashanti Tale), Miss Geneva's Lantern, Juicy Peach and Pop Pop and Grandpa. Besides writing, she loves reading, music, dancing and learning American Sign Language. Mary is a wife, mother of two and still continues to write. "I am a true New Yorker and love the city and all it has to offer. Besides my own life and family, what better place to find inspiration for stories. I just open my eyes and look around me."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful tale, January 28, 2010

By 

Bronxgal "BxG" (Bronx, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Royal Drum: An Ashanti Tale (Hardcover)

This a wonderful story and it is beautifully illutsrated. The story has a great lessson and the pictures are lush and rich. If you like Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters, then you'll probably like this.