KIWI Magazine Review:
James Earl Jones has teamed up with Scholastic Video, which is a combination that turns a fascinating book into a mesmerizing video. This collection of African Tales is great for a classroom or home library, especially in celebration of Black History Month.
Background:
WHY MOSQUITOES BUZZ IN PEOPLE’S EARS (Written by Verna Aardema, illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon, narrated by James Earl Jones) A tall tale sets off a chain of mishaps through the jungle grapevine – from Mosquito to Iguana to Python to Owl.
HOT HIPPO (Written by Bruce Hobson, illustrated by Adrienne Kennaway) Hippo promises not to eat Ngai’s little fishes in exchange for being allowed to live in the cool water instead of on dry land.
NOT SO FAST SONGOLOLO (Written and illustrated by Niki Daly) In this warm and tender story, Malusi, a South African boy, spends a delightful day shopping in the city with his grandmother, Gogo.
THE VILLAGE OF ROUND AND SQUARE HOUSES (Written and illustrated by Ann Grifalconi) A young girl from the West African village of Tos movingly tells how the men came to live in square houses and the women in round ones.
WHO’S IN RABBIT’S HOUSE? (Written by Verna Aardema, illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon, narrated by James Earl Jones) Adapted from a Masai folktale, a rabbit can’t get into her house because a creature is hiding inside.
DVD Features – : 5 Stories Plus: Read Along
Supports: Cooperation; Friendship, Problem Solving
Awards:
CHILD Magzine’s Top 10 “Don’t Miss” DVDs (2004)
