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Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears: A West African Tale [Paperback]

Verna Aardema , Leo Dillon , Diane Dillon
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)

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Book Description

August 15, 1992 5 and up Picture Puffin Books
"In this Caldecott Medal winner, Mosquito tells a story that causes a jungle disaster. "Elegance has become the Dillons' hallmark. . . . Matching the art is Aardema's uniquely onomatopoeic text . . . An impressive showpiece."
-Booklist, starred review.

Frequently Bought Together

Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears: A West African Tale + Anansi the Spider: A Tale from the Ashanti
Price for both: $14.38

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Product Details

  • Age Range: 5 and up
  • Paperback: 32 pages
  • Publisher: Puffin/Dial (August 15, 1992)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0140549056
  • ISBN-13: 978-0140549058
  • Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.1 x 10.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 0.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,574 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

What makes a good picture book in my opinion? Lee Edward Fodi  |  7 reviewers made a similar statement
Now, 20+ years later, I still love this book! Sheema J.  |  8 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
40 of 41 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears June 1, 2000
Format:Paperback
Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears by Verna Aardema, Pictures by Leo and Diane Dillion. New York: Scholastic, Inc., 1975.

Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears is an African folktale which offers a great lesson to be learned by children. The story is about a mosquito who tells a lie to an iguana and annoys the iguana. This sets off a series of events that affects everyone who lives in the forest and the initiation of daylight.

It is an excellent story for a young reader to learn the consquence of telling lies and the detrimental affect it can have on individuals and/or communities. After reading this story to a child parents should ascertain whether the child understood the lesson of this folktale and emphasize how important it is to always tell the truth.

The illustrations in this book are spectacular. Each page is filled with brigthly-colored pictures that will capture the interest of a young child and keep them reading until the very end. The illustrations also correspond directly to the storyline which will give the young reader the ability to glance at the pictures and help them read the printed words.

This is not only a good story for children, but for adults too. The end offers a humorous reason for why mosquitoes buzz in people's ears, and why people shoo them away. This is definitely a good book to keep in every home and school library.

Nancy Paretti

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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
From Aesop's fables to Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears, Africans explain natural phenomenon in the form of a story. This story also has a moral at the end. Ask your reader what it is. This question will tell you if the reader understood the sequence of the story and the main idea.

The illustrations are fabulous. The story is great-especially when all the animals go before the council to explain what the problem is. They actually talk it out which is a concept we need to reinforce with our children.

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20 of 23 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Them pesky skeeters get a tale of their own February 22, 2004
Format:Paperback
I don't recommend this book to the mosquito lovers of the world. If you've a soft place in your heart for those buzzing swarming little blood-sucking fiends, you probably shouldn't peruse this particular book. HOWEVER. If you happen to enjoy a good "why" story from Africa, you could hardly do better than the lushly illustrated "Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears".

In a kind of Chicken Little series of events, a lying mosquito sets off a chain reaction ending, ultimately, in the sun no longer rising. When the animals of the forest slowly track down the reasons behind the sun's disappearance, they eventually reach the conclusion that mosquito is the one to blame. Ever since, mosquitoes will sometimes ask people whether or not "everyone" is still angry at them. The answer is a satisfying (I love this descriptive sound) KPAO!

The illustrations are splendid. During the day they are set against a white background. By the time the sun disappears, they pop out of a black setting. Kids will like finding the small smiling pink bird that cleverly pops up in every scene. It's a fine fine text that bears more than a passing resemblance at times to the classic nursery rhyme "The House the Jack Built". And who knew that the sound lions make when they laugh is "Nge nge nge"? Not I, said the fly. A lovely read.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars Good Story
This is a great book. Just a bit difficult for some of my students. Recommend this book for others to enjoy.
Published 11 days ago by Di Everett
5.0 out of 5 stars Listed for ages 5-11, with a lexile score of 770
My 10 year old brought this home from the school library--the kid who has been reading Shel Silverstein, Sherlock Holmes and JRR Tolkien of late so I was a bit surprised when I... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Jackie-the-Greyhound
5.0 out of 5 stars Goodwill!
Came all the way from CA at light speed! Quality is excellent! Plus the fact that a Goodwill would even have an item like this in their possession makes me think I need to move... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Sterling Clark
4.0 out of 5 stars With One Reservation
With one reservation, I will say that I enjoyed this book. Because the tale is for ages five and up, I am not as concerned as I would have been if the book were designed for... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Nancy
5.0 out of 5 stars Love, Love, Love!
This has got to be one of the most intresting books I have ever had the pleasure of reading aloud to my students. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Martinis :-)
5.0 out of 5 stars A favorite in our house
This book is loved by both my 4 1/2 YO and 2 1/2 YO. The story is suspenseful and engaging and it allows the reader (me) to don different voices which keeps their interest. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Kelly Taylor
3.0 out of 5 stars Good message, unexpected death
My 3 yr old son picked this book out from the library for his free book after completing his summer reading program. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Danielle
5.0 out of 5 stars "...And then,..."
This is a suspenseful tale that starts off very innocently and then gains energy and purpose. I have used it as a teaching tool for 'Cause and Effect' among other literary styles. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Winston Moore
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully Illustrated with a Satisfying Story
I loved this book when I was a girl and have enjoyed reading it to children as an adult. The story is gratifying and though the animal noises are a bit challenging to make (as... Read more
Published 20 months ago by J. Cooper
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Book!
My Dad bought my sister and I this book when we were children. Now, 20+ years later, I still love this book!
Published 22 months ago by Sheema J.
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