From School Library Journal
Grade 1-4-Best friends Ade and Tayo live in a village in the African rain forest. When their mothers leave for the day, they tell the boys to finish their chores and stay out of the jungle. Ignoring these commands, the friends venture to Odo Ere, or Lake of the Big Snake, and cross to the other side to feast on berries. Unfortunately, a huge water snake prevents their return. Various attempts to outwit the wily creature fail before the two boys finally come up with a solution and manage to return home to face their unhappy mothers. Based on the author's memories of a lake near his childhood home in Nigeria and on various tales he heard about a monstrous snake that lived there, this story has the tone of a traditional tale. Shepard's watercolor illustrations work well with the text to depict the jungle encounter between boys and reptile.
Kathy Piehl, Mankato State University, MNCopyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Ages 5^-8. The lure of the forbidden leads two young boys to an adventure greater than they've bargained for in this African rain forest story. Best friends Ade and Tayo know they're not supposed to leave home while their mothers are out, but they can't resist the mysterious allure of Lake of the Big Snake. They're delighted to find tasty berries, but not so happy when they encounter a huge snake that blocks their way back across the lake. Looming just as large is the prospect of facing their mothers when they return home so late. This well-told tale, based on Olaleye's childhood memories, provides engaging drama and introduces young ones to the sights and culture of a small African village. The beautiful watercolor paintings are lush and layered, contrasting the mystique of the pale, misty lake with the bright colors and patterns of the boys' African cloth shirts. Young ones will also enjoy the great read-aloud rhythm, with lots of sound effects included in the simple, yet dramatic text.
Shelle Rosenfeld
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