In an African village live seven brothers who make family life miserable with their constant fighting. When their father dies, he leaves an unsual will: by sundown, the brothers must make gold out of seven spools of thread. If they fail, they will be turned out as beggars.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
Ages 5-8. In The Seven Days of Kwanzaa: How to Celebrate Them (1994), the author offered ideas, including crafts and recipes, for celebrating the cultural holiday. This latest title is an original folktale that will help introduce children to the holiday's seven principles, while also suggesting how Kente cloth was first created. In a Ghanian village, a father's will commands that his seven argumentative sons must make gold from silk thread "by the time the moon rises," without fighting. Working together, the brothers create a tapestry of Kente cloth, the first multicolored cloth the village has seen, which they sell to the king's treasurer for gold, before returning to their village to farm and live harmoniously. Well-paced, the story incorporates the Kwanzaa values without spelling them out too much. Minter's attractively composed, dramatic painted linocuts, with strong community images and lively, silhouetted figures, root the story in a sun-drenched, magical landscape that will draw children even after repeated readings. An introductory section, with glossary and pronunciation guide explaining the principles, and an appended craft activity round out the volume. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Review
"An attractive addition." -- School Library Journal, October 2000
"Striking woodcuts and a resonant original folktale are the warp and weft of this understated, effective approach to Kwanzaa." -- Publishers Weekly, September 25, 2000
"Striking woodcuts and a resonant original folktale are the warp and weft of this understated, effective approach to Kwanzaa." -- Publishers Weekly, September 25, 2000
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Unity at Kwanzaa Time,
A Kid's Review
This review is from: Seven Spools of Thread: A Kwanzaa Story (School & Library Binding)
A great book to share and explain Kwanzaa values. I am participating in a library program and this tales of selfishness and unity from an African folklore is a wonderful way to explain the principle of Umoja. The illustrations are beautiful with rich and bold color. This is a story I will never forget.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Morality and Kente Cloth,
By Ilene Carpenter (La Mesa, CA United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Seven Spools of Thread: A Kwanzaa Story (School & Library Binding)
A friend shared this book with me when we were in a discussion of Africa's Kente cloth, woven with bright colors in narrow strips and then sewed into wider fabric. Seven Spools... is a delightful tale well told and beautifully illustrated. The moral lesson of cooperation is clearly shown. I have ordered it to be a great addition to my group of African books for children and adults.
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Great Kwanzaa Story,
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Seven Spools of Thread: A Kwanzaa Story (Paperback)
I absolutely love this story! I have shared it with many of my students who also love the story.It demonstrates a very valuable lesson that children and adults can relate to and understand. I highly recommend this book!
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
WAS WRITTEN ESPECIALLY for Kwanzaa. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
middle son Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Nguzo Saba New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
WAS WRITTEN ESPECIALLY for Kwanzaa. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
middle son Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Nguzo Saba New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
4
books
cite this book:
- Teaching About Winter Holidays With Favorite Picture Books by Immacula A. Rhodes on page 42
- Literature for Lively Lessons by Sheila Edwards on page 192
- Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, 2005: The Best Toys, Books, Videos, Music & Software for Kids by Joanne Oppenheim on page 192
- Character Education: A Book Guide for Teachers, Librarians, and Parents by Sharron L. McElmeel on page 202
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