African Folk Tales

by Hugh Vernon-Jackson (Editor), Yuko Green (Illustrator)

This exciting collection of traditional African folk tales introduces you to a host of interesting people and unusual animals. Eighteen authentic fables, recorded as they were told by tribal members of Nigerian and other cultures, range from the imaginative "Story of a Farmer and Four Hyenas" to an entertaining account of "The Man with Seven Dogs."
In "The Magic Crocodile," you'll meet a reptile with very strange powers, while "The Boy in the Drum" teaches a valuable lesson in the importance of obeying one's parents. In "The Hare and the Crownbird," a fine, feathered friend is rewarded for its acts of kindness. You'll also learn why a ram has a large head and a tortoise a small one in "The Greedy but Cunning Tortoise"; and in "A She-Goat and Her Children," you'll discover how a clever animal managed to provide food for her children.
Set in large, easy-to-read type and enhanced with Yuko Green's 19 lively illustrations, this collection of time-honored folk tales will delight readers of all ages.

Genres: Africa, Fiction, Folklore, Folk Tales, Childrens, Short Stories, Fantasy

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 8, 1999

Reviews

[Daniel Kleven · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this one. I teach 4th grade, and one of our ELA units is on myths and folk tales. We mainly focus on Greek and Roman myths, but also include some Native American myths as well. Since most of my students are Black, I'm always trying to supplement the curriculum with material that is relevant, and at some book giveaway, I ended up with 20 copies of this book on my shelf. We started reading it, and for the most part it went okay. These stories are interesting, fun, and sparked some good discussions.

My mixed feelings come from the author and illustrator of the book, neither of which are Black, or have any African descent. Hugh Owen Hardinge Vernon-Jackson was a Canadian educator who spent many years in Africa and worked for the Canadian International Development Agency ("Obituary"). The illustrator is Yuko Green. My first misgivings were over some of the pictures, which I was sharing with the class, that seemed to have exaggerated features in the pictures of the Africans. Doing some research on the book, the original illustrator in 1958 was a white women who had never even been to Africa, and created her illustrations in correspondence with Vernon-Jackson ("Stories Illustrated by Remote Control").

So, all that is to say that for next year, I will be looking into a collection of African Folk Tales for kids by a Black author and Black illustrator. I always tell my students about the authors of the books we read, and I think representation really matters.

[Mark Isaak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay for children, but some more background information would have been nice. In particular, there is no indication of where in Africa the stories came from. A note on the copyright page says the stories are from _West African Folk Tales_, but even West Africa is a big area. The stories themselves are a nice range of folktales, mostly. One tale bothered me because the ending came out of nowhere, without even any indication that anyone had magic.

[Heri · Rating 3 out of 5]

kisah dongeng yang singkat kecuali satu yang sedikit lebih panjang
ditulis dalam bahasa yang sangat mudah dipahami dengan cerita yang ringkas, meski sebagian menarik tapi sebagian lain terasa biasa saja
secara umum menceritakan kisah yang memberi nasihat dan yang lainnya hanya dongeng yang berakhir bahagia meski ada pula yang berakhir tragis

memberi pengenalan singkat tentang kisah2 tradisional afrika yang berbeda dari dongeng eropa dan asia, namun memiliki ciri kesamaan berupa hewan yang bisa berpikir dan berbicara seperti manusia dan memiliki kekuatan gaib yang mirip dengan dongeng eropa dan asia

[Komi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nonsense

This was pure nonsense. The stories didn't make much sense to me and seemed to focus on tortoises. Couldn't finish it because these fables just weren't entertaining. Wonder what part of Africa these stories were taken from.

[Krisz · Rating 4 out of 5]

African tales are so different than European ones, I really like how they do not need a cunny ending like we do over here, and a tale is okay if it only entertains withougt a huge lesson to be learnt.

[Khristyna · Rating 1 out of 5]

left me wanting more but not in a good way

I found the stories to be incomplete. I love African Folklore stories due to the tales having a point to make some type of lesson. This did not and some things seemed not even to make sense. I would not recommend this book.

[Bobby Shafer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Neat stories. Very simple read. Maybe children's level.

I like these stories. They are very simple though but do give some insight to midges of thought and cultures in Africa.

[GP · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a good collection of stories, by no means is it comprehensive but it's perfect for reading to children.

[Teddy Pridemore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book because it had turtles.

[Hannah of the Sky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent, but bland. Good for an introduction to African folk tales, and works for young kids. I wish they told which country or people group the stories came from.

[Clarence Reed · Rating 2 out of 5]

ReedIII Quick Reviews: Okay remotely interesting stories. I prefer tales with clear moral lessons tied clearly to the story.

[Jimmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This work is another exceptional folktale, and historical piece. Written as it was told by Nigerian and other cultures, this collection bring us the truest form of African folktales. Children will find the stories to be full of lessons, that not only help children grow, but give them a plethora of ides to create their own stories.

I loves this collection, and its tales. I find it wonderful how across the world one can find a similar story told in a completely different way. If these along with collections of other worldly folktales do not show students we are the same and united, I wouldn't know what would. This is one of many worldly collections that is sure to broaden the minds of students.

Literature lesson, history lesson, writing lesson, reading lesson, rug-time, snack-time

[Ben Ba · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a Africa boy name is musa who a boy who wants to catch this unusual animal who is the powerful animal that everyone in his village cant catch so every time he try to catch but he get scared and run when he see's it and he he keep doing that almost every until the powerful animal kill musa brother and that when he cuaght the animal and kill the animal he was a hero in his family.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short collection of short folk tales is translated simply. The pictures leave a great deal to be desired, however. The simple drawings do not do justice to the stories included.

Be certain to read The Man With Seven Dogs as it is a very clever tale.