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3rd out of 63 books
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Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale
by
John Steptoe
Mufaro was a happy man. Everyone agreed that his two daughters were very beautiful. Nyasha was kind and considerate as well as beautiful, but everyone -- except Mufaro -- knew that Manyara was selfish, badtempered, and spoiled.
When the king decided to take a wife and invited "The Most Worthy and Beautiful Daughters in the Land" to appear before him, Mufaro declar
...moreHardcover, 32 pages
Published
March 31st 1987
by Amistad Press
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Ronyell
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“Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters” is a Caldecott Honor Book by John Steptoe and it is about how Mufaro’s two beautiful daughters are invited to the king’s palace so that the king will choose a worthy bride, but Manyara, the greedy sister, tries to go off to the king’s palace by herself and meets some disastrous results. “Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters” is a magnificent tale that children will definitely read for many years!
John Steptoe has done a magnificent job at both illustrating and...more
John Steptoe has done a magnificent job at both illustrating and...more
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I should say this is a gorgeous, gorgeous book and Steptoe deserved all the awards and acclaim for it as a work of art. What it is NOT is a book to introduce children to either Cinderella or Zimbabwe. He was inspired by a visit to Zimbabwe to do the story and beautiful it is, but it is absolutely not the way to introduce children to the continent of Africa or Zimbabwe, for that matter. And since the story is one made-up by Steptoe I question using it as an intro into Cinderella stories.
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This was a really interesting version of the traditional "Cinderella" story. I don't know what exactly to call it, because it didn't quite feel like a standard Cinderella tale, but it was definitely a spin of a classic fairy tale. I liked the African influence of this book, and the moral. I am not sure how I feel that the man holding his head only appeared for one of the sisters, but not the other. I sincerely enjoyed the artwork of this book too. I think it was a great twist being in ...more
I absolutely loved this book. As a child i was obsessed with the Cinderella stories as well as all the other stories involving princesses. I especially liked this version of Cinderella because it is different and it's a great way to give kids a new look on culture. It also has different twists to the story that isn't seen in the original Cinderella but that doesn't mean that the kids wouldn't be too far off if they tried to foreshadow the story and figure out eventually what will happen next.
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Katelynn Callahan
added it
The first thing that catches your attention about this book are the beautiful illustrations that the cover depict. The story is about Mufaro and his two gorgeous daughters that he adores so much. He wants them to be presented to the kings so that one of them may potentially become his queen. Both daughters are very gorgeous however Manyara seems to have a bit of selfishness in her, while Nyasha is not only beautiful on the outside but the inside as well. The story is very similar to the cinderel...more
The first thing I noticed about this book was the cultural implications on the cover. It had an African cultural theme to it. The cover drawing was absolutely beautiful and delicate. It is a wrap-around image, showing animals, forest, and a girl on the cover. The drawings both inside the book and on the cover seem to be done in color pencil. The images are very saturated, with natural tones. The occasional flower or bird stands out beautifully against the dark green forest and jungle and the bro...more
The book “Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters” is about two girls galled Nyasha and Manyara. Everyone agreed that Mufaro’s daughters were beautiful. Manyara was a selfish girl and her sister Nyasha was a pretty good girl. Then the kind decided to invited the most beautiful daughter in the land, that’s why Mufaro declared that the King had to choose between one of his daughters. Manyara wants to be the chose one, so she went to see the king without say any word to her sister and her father. In the way ...more
Mufaro's Beeautiful Daughters is a very-nicely illsutrated picture book that teaches a very importmant moral. From the beginning of the story, the one sister, Manyara, is very rude and selfish, and ignores others. On the other hand, her sister, Nyasha, is a sweet, compassionate, and caring girl. When their Father, Mufaro, tells the girl they will soon depart on a journey to see which girl the King would choose to marry, Manyara becomes cocky and gives attitude towards Nyasha when she see says, "...more
Inspired by a story in George McCall Theal's 1895 collection, Kaffir Folk Tales (apologies everyone, I did not name the book), John Steptoe's 1987 picture-book, Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters, was awarded a Caldecott Honor (as well as being chosen as a Reading Rainbow selection), and it is not difficult to see why! The gorgeous illustrations capture the beauty of Mufaro's village, and the surrounding countryside, the majesty of the King's great city, and the very different dispositions of Mufaro'...more
Steptoe, John. Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters (1987)
This book is based on an African folk tale first published in 1895. Mufaro, an African villager, has two daughters, Manyara and Nyasha. They are both beautiful on the outside, but that is where the similarity ends. Manyara is always in a bad temper and teasing her sister. Nyasha is kind and hardworking. She is a friend to everyone, even the small snake that lives in her garden. When it is announced that the king is looking for a wife...more
This book is based on an African folk tale first published in 1895. Mufaro, an African villager, has two daughters, Manyara and Nyasha. They are both beautiful on the outside, but that is where the similarity ends. Manyara is always in a bad temper and teasing her sister. Nyasha is kind and hardworking. She is a friend to everyone, even the small snake that lives in her garden. When it is announced that the king is looking for a wife...more
Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters, John Steptoe, is an African Cinderella story. Mufaro was a happy man and a very proud father. Mufaro had two very beautiful daughters who lived with him. Nyasha was kind, considerate, and very beautiful. Manyara, Mufuaro’s other daughter was very cruel, mean, and rude. Everyone knew this about Manyara; everyone except for Mufaro. Manyara spent all of her time teasing her sister. On day, the king decided he wanted to get married and invited "The Most Wor...more
Q_Barb
rated it
This Caldecott Honor picture Book of an African folk tale is illustrated and shared with us by John Steptoe. It is the story of a man, Mufaro, in an African village whose king is seeking a bride and how the man's two daughters, Nyasha and Manyara, persue that dream. It's premise is of pride going before a fall, but for me it was more than anything a story of kindness rewarded for its own sake.
This is one of the most beautifully illustrated books I have read, with lush, deep shades o...more
This is one of the most beautifully illustrated books I have read, with lush, deep shades o...more
Awards Won:
Boston Globe–Horn Book Award
ALA Notable Children’s Book
Horn Book Fanfare
Parents' Choice Silver Honor
Coretta Scott King Award (Illustrator)
Reading Rainbow Book
Boston Globe–Horn Book Award
ALA Notable Children’s Book
Horn Book Fanfare
Parents' Choice Silver Honor
ISBN: 9780688040451; ISBN10: 0688040454; Imprint: Amistad ; On Sale: 3/31/1987; Format: Hardcover; Trimsize: 8 3/4 x 11; Pages: 32; Ages: 3 to 8
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Boston Globe–Horn Book Award
ALA Notable Children’s Book
Horn Book Fanfare
Parents' Choice Silver Honor
Coretta Scott King Award (Illustrator)
Reading Rainbow Book
Boston Globe–Horn Book Award
ALA Notable Children’s Book
Horn Book Fanfare
Parents' Choice Silver Honor
ISBN: 9780688040451; ISBN10: 0688040454; Imprint: Amistad ; On Sale: 3/31/1987; Format: Hardcover; Trimsize: 8 3/4 x 11; Pages: 32; Ages: 3 to 8
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To me, this story reminded me a lot of the classic turtle and the hare scheme. Manyara was the "hare" in that she wanted to get ahead of her sister Nyasha, the turtle, in seeing the king to gain title as queen. Manyara was mean, rude, gaudy, and uncompassionate. Nyasha was kind, loving, and helpful. The many characters she met along her path to meeting the king recognized her positive attributes, and in the end, the turtle beat out the hare. Throughout the story, Manyara was being self...more
This book is filled with a wonderful tale. This book was inspired by an African Folktale that told the story about two daughters of a man named Mufaro, Manyara and Nyasha. In a city not too close to their village, a king anounced that he was looking for his queen. The two sisters were both very beautiful but Manayra had a bad temper and always teased her sister about becoming queen. When they found out the king was looking for one Mufaro ensured that one of his two beautiful daughters was the ri...more
Traditional Book
This is the traditional African story of a man named Mufaro and his two beautiful daughters, Nyasha and Manyara. Nyasha is nice to everyone and is always considerate, but Manyara is selfish and mean. When word comes that the king is looking for a wife, Mufaro decides both of his daughters should go, but greed gets the best of Manyara, and she decides to go in the night before her sister Nyasha. On the way, she is inconsiderate to a little boy, and old woman, and an ol...more
This is the traditional African story of a man named Mufaro and his two beautiful daughters, Nyasha and Manyara. Nyasha is nice to everyone and is always considerate, but Manyara is selfish and mean. When word comes that the king is looking for a wife, Mufaro decides both of his daughters should go, but greed gets the best of Manyara, and she decides to go in the night before her sister Nyasha. On the way, she is inconsiderate to a little boy, and old woman, and an ol...more
Heather
rated it
1988 Coretta Scott King Award (illustrator winner)
1988 Caldecott Honor
Very interesting illustrations--they seem to combine ink and watercolor with wood block printing.
The story is about Nyasha and Manyara, Mufaro's two beautiful daughters. Manyara hates Nyasha because she's envious of her goodness. When the King is looking for a wife, they all set out to see him. Manyara is selfish, and dashes off in the night to get a head start. She ignores a boy asking for food, a...more
1988 Caldecott Honor
Very interesting illustrations--they seem to combine ink and watercolor with wood block printing.
The story is about Nyasha and Manyara, Mufaro's two beautiful daughters. Manyara hates Nyasha because she's envious of her goodness. When the King is looking for a wife, they all set out to see him. Manyara is selfish, and dashes off in the night to get a head start. She ignores a boy asking for food, a...more
Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters: An African Tales was an African tale reminiscent of Cinderella. The illustrations were lovely. I can see how it was a Caldecott Honor Book.
All the woman of the land are invited to the king's palace so he can choose his worthy bride. Both Mufaro's daughters are beautiful, but only one is beautiful both inside and out. Nyasha was so compassionate that she didn't even tell her father the way Manyara treated her because she was too considerate of her father'...more
All the woman of the land are invited to the king's palace so he can choose his worthy bride. Both Mufaro's daughters are beautiful, but only one is beautiful both inside and out. Nyasha was so compassionate that she didn't even tell her father the way Manyara treated her because she was too considerate of her father'...more
I liked that this was a twist on the original "Cinderella" that we all love. I grew up reading and watching the disney version of "Cinderella" so when I read this book it reminded me of my childhood and I loved it but got to see it in a different way. I liked that it didn't try and be just like the original but it was a spin of the classic. I thought the African influence of this book gave a great aspect as well as the moral to the story was great! I really enjoyed the beauti...more
This book is rich with meaning and lessons for young children to learn. It tell the story about two daughters who, while they both look alike, have strikingly different personalities. One is mean and selfish, the other is kind and caring. The king would like to chose between both of them of who he wants to be queen. Each one sets out on her journey to the palace and find many people in need. They don't know this, but the kind actually put these people there to test the sisters, which explains wh...more
The first thing that I noticed when I picked up this book was the cover. It has a beautiful wrap around illustration which really stood out to me. Even though there were not bright colors throughout the book, which usually draws me towards a book, I thought that the pictures were beautiful. They were very detailed and it made the book different. I thought that they also brought out the culture that the author was trying to address and it really worked together.
I like how this book pu...more
I like how this book pu...more
Summary: Mufaro has two beautiful daughters named Manyara and Nyahsa. Manyara is selfish, bad tempered, and cruel. Nyasha is kind and considerate and she often sings to her friend Nyoko, the snake. The king is looking for a wife and asks for the most beautiful and worthy daughters. Manyara leaves for the city early and on her journey is cruel to an old woman, a boy, a man, and the trees. When she sees the king he is a big monster. Nyasha is kind to the old woman and boy on her journey and ...more
Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters is an African fairy tale. Mufaro has two daughters: Nyasha and Manyara. Nyasha is nice and beautiful, but Manyara is selfish and mean. Nyasha takes care of a garden and is friends with a snake she names Nyoka. The king decides to have a party to find his wife. Manyara sneaks out of the village in the middle of the night to make sure she reaches the kind first, and on the way she ignores a hungry little boy and an old woman. Nyasha, on the other hand, gives the ...more
Inspired by an African folktale, this story relays the virtue of kindness to its readers. Two sisters who have little in common outside of their shared beauty live with their father in a small village. One sister is bad tempered while the other is kind, a fact they both hide from their adoring father. An invitation from the king to bring forth "The Most Worthy and Beautiful Daughters in the Land" brings these differences to light. The story takes place against a beautiful Zimbabwean ba...more
Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters by John Steptoe was a good African tale about two beautiful daughters named Manyara and Nyasha. Although these two women were both very beautiful on the outside Manyara wasn't too beautiful on the inside. Unlike Nyasha, Manyara was very selfish, greedy and mean to her sister. She wanted to be queen and wanted her sister Nyasha to be her servant. The two girl's father decided to let the king decide which daughter he would make his wife however Manyara had another plan...more
I really enjoyed Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters. I think that this story serves as a good book to read to students if they are needing guidance regarding morals. I think that this book should be read to children in second grade or higher because of the higher vocabulary and the moral in the story. Although it is not necessarily the teacher's job to teach morals in a classroom, I think that it is neccessary to develop a community among the classroom. I would read this book to my students if they we...more
A 1001 CBYMRBYGU.
Mafaru had two beautiful daughters, but one was nice and one was not. The king wanted to find a wife and the two daughters are both sent to meet the king.
That night, when everyone was asleep, Manyara stole quietly out of the village. She had never been in the forest at night before, and she was frightened, but her greed to be the first to appear before the king drove her on. In her hurry, she almost stumbled over a small boy who suddenly appeared, standi...more
Mafaru had two beautiful daughters, but one was nice and one was not. The king wanted to find a wife and the two daughters are both sent to meet the king.
That night, when everyone was asleep, Manyara stole quietly out of the village. She had never been in the forest at night before, and she was frightened, but her greed to be the first to appear before the king drove her on. In her hurry, she almost stumbled over a small boy who suddenly appeared, standi...more
Annotation: Mufaro had two beautiful daughter, Manyara and Nyasha. The girls are tested in identical ways to reveal which of them is worthy to become the king’s wife. Even though Nyasha proves to be kind and Manyara vain. selfish and mean, Mufaro at the end proclaims that he is the happiest father in all the land for he is “blessed with two beautiful and worthy daughters.” This is a very interesting variation of the Cinderella story: an unhappy daughter who doesn’t’ get the prince, but ...more
This folktale takes readers to an ancient African village where Mufaro lives with his two beautiful daughters — Nyasha, who is kind and hard-working, and Manyara, who is mean-spirited and boastful. When the king invites "The Most Beautiful and Worthy Daughters of the Land" to come to the city so that he might choose a queen, Mufaro sends both girls. Manyara sneaks ahead hoping to gain an advantage. Nyasha travels the same route, but responds to the people and creatures she meets along ...more
"Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale" by John Steptoe was really great...this story is about Mufaro who has two beautiful daughters that he adores and wants them both to be presented to the king while he's looking for a queen. One of his daughters, Nyasha, is not only beautiful, but she is very kind and considerate of other's feelings while his other daughter, Manyara, is beautiful as well but her mean and selfish streak causes her to be very undesirable.
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John Steptoe was an award-winning author and illustrator of children's books from New York City. He began working on his first children's book, Stevie, while still a teenager and achieved great success during his tragically short career, encouraging the advancement of African American culture by producing work about the African American experience that children could appreciate. Recipient of two C...more
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