The sky was once so close to the Earth that people cut parts of it to eat, but their waste and greed caused the sky to move far away.
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Book Description
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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
PW praised the "dazzling, boldly hued illustrations" in this tale of an idyllic period when the sky itself is a source of sustenance. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3-- This pourquoi tale, first told 500 years ago by the Bini tribe of Nigeria, has a topical message that is accessible to children without being heavy-handed. ``In the beginning,'' the sky was so close to the earth that anyone who was hungry could just reach up, take a piece, and eat it. The sky was delicious, tasting sometimes of meat stew, sometimes of roasted corn. But the people grew careless with the sky's gifts, taking more than they needed to satisfy their hunger. The sky grew angry, threatening to withhold its gifts if the people continued to waste them. True to its promise, the sky moved far away, and the Bini were forced to plow the fields and hunt the forest. Golembe's striking illustrations deepen and enrich this simple tale, adding immensely to the book's appeal. Using a strong, sure line and a palette of deep, vibrant colors, she evokes a timeless African landscape, resonating both the mythic and contemporary themes. The symbolic qualities of the story are strengthened by a deceptively simple composition and the weight of the flat, stylized figures, done in dense, pure black. An eye-catching choice for folklore or picture book collections, and especially useful in supplementing multicultural and ecological curricula. --Linda Boyles, Alachua County Library District, Gainesville, FL
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.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
good for kids without their realizing it,
By
This review is from: Why The Sky Is Far Away: A Nigerian Folktale (Paperback)
I find myself struggling to get my daughter to eat foods good for her body and read books good for her mind. This book accomplished what I wanted -- it teaches about a different culture, taking care of the environment, and how greed leads to punishment. It did this with an entertaining story and beautiful pictures, fully deserving it's prominent place on my daughter's bookshelf.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great folk tale for kids of all ages!!,
By A Customer
This review is from: Why The Sky Is Far Away: A Nigerian Folktale (Paperback)
Why the sky is far away is a great story that teaches important ecological and moral values in a fun way. The illustrations are amazing and the story is delightful.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another tale to answer "Why"?,
By Pilgrim on the road (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Why The Sky Is Far Away: A Nigerian Folktale (Paperback)
I used this story as part of a presentation on Nigeria to elementary school classes from K to 5th graders. The text and pictures pair up to tell this wonderful folk tale that has been handed down through the years but whose message remains important for our children to learn today: responsibility belongs to everyone when it comes to wisely using our resources.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
In that time, men and women did not have to sow crops and harvest them. Read the first page New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
In that time, men and women did not have to sow crops and harvest them. Read the first page New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
3
books
cite this book:
- Folktale Themes and Activities for Children, Volume 1: Pourquoi Tales by Anne Kraus on page 4, and page 95
- Moral of the Story: Folktales for Character Development by Bobby Norfolk in Back Matter
- Black Books Galore!: Guide to More Great African American Children's Books by Donna Rand on page 156
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