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How the Guinea Fowl Got Her Spots: A Swahili Tale of Friendship
The Guinea Fowl and Cow are best friends. Both of them keep an eye out for Lion. When Lion threatens, each must intervene to save the other. Beautiful watercolors transform this tale into a visual delight.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 1990
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 8, 2012
After an unfortunate fairy tale incident, we decided to give folk tales a try. How the Guinea Fowl Got Her Spots was an excellent and encouraging first pick for this new strategy.
The story, which is based on a Swahili folk tale, is a simple one. Cow and Guinea Fowl are two friends with a common enemy, Lion. Twice Guinea Fowl rescues Cow from Lion with more bravery than caution. As thanks, Cow gives Guinea Fowl the gift of camouflage (those lovely spots, which as Guinea Fowl delightedly points out "are just the thing for hiding in the shadows and grass").
There's a lot to like about this book. The simple theme of friendship. The Lion who is more foolish than fierce. The inventive ways in which Guinea Fowl, who you wouldn't expect to be a match for Lion, is still able to get the better of him. The fact that no one dies.
The illustrations are both lovely and stark. Knutson combines bold lines and delicate scratches to create full-color animal illustrations that are both engaging and pleasing to the eye. Meanwhile, Knutson decorates the text with stark black and white straight-line patterns derived from traditional African designs. Although the black and white designs can seem overwhelming at times, they do make a nice foil for the delicately drawn animal illustrations.
The story is fun to read as well, which is always a plus. I particularly enjoy reading the bit when the Lion struggles to get his roar working properly again after Guinea Fowl thoroughly douses him with river water. Audience participation suggests that The Four-Year-Old's favorite bits are the moments of stalking, which Knutson writes so light-heartedly that you can easily pretend that the three animals are just playing a bit of hide and seek--should your Four-Year-Old, like mine, require that sort of coddling.
Review originally posted on my blog Caterpickles.com.
The story, which is based on a Swahili folk tale, is a simple one. Cow and Guinea Fowl are two friends with a common enemy, Lion. Twice Guinea Fowl rescues Cow from Lion with more bravery than caution. As thanks, Cow gives Guinea Fowl the gift of camouflage (those lovely spots, which as Guinea Fowl delightedly points out "are just the thing for hiding in the shadows and grass").
There's a lot to like about this book. The simple theme of friendship. The Lion who is more foolish than fierce. The inventive ways in which Guinea Fowl, who you wouldn't expect to be a match for Lion, is still able to get the better of him. The fact that no one dies.
The illustrations are both lovely and stark. Knutson combines bold lines and delicate scratches to create full-color animal illustrations that are both engaging and pleasing to the eye. Meanwhile, Knutson decorates the text with stark black and white straight-line patterns derived from traditional African designs. Although the black and white designs can seem overwhelming at times, they do make a nice foil for the delicately drawn animal illustrations.
The story is fun to read as well, which is always a plus. I particularly enjoy reading the bit when the Lion struggles to get his roar working properly again after Guinea Fowl thoroughly douses him with river water. Audience participation suggests that The Four-Year-Old's favorite bits are the moments of stalking, which Knutson writes so light-heartedly that you can easily pretend that the three animals are just playing a bit of hide and seek--should your Four-Year-Old, like mine, require that sort of coddling.
Review originally posted on my blog Caterpickles.com.
March 5, 2013
Knutson, Barbara. How the Guinea Fowl Got Her Spots: A Swahili Tale of Friendship. Minneapolis: Carolrhoda Books, 1990. Print. 32 p.
Nganga, the guinea fowl, and Cow share a friendship in which they enjoy the same tasty patches of grass as well as protect each other from harm, often in the form of hungry lions. On two separate occasions, Nganga saves Cow from becoming the lion's next meal. To repay her, the cow splashes the small bird with drops of cream which become spots on her back. These new spots prevent the lion from recognizing her as the same bird who twice ruined his meal. The lion comes upon the speckled bird and asks her if she knows the guinea fowl, to which she responds by leading him on a wild goose chase. The birds new spots are perfect for hiding in the tall grasses from lions.
Nganga, the guinea fowl, and Cow share a friendship in which they enjoy the same tasty patches of grass as well as protect each other from harm, often in the form of hungry lions. On two separate occasions, Nganga saves Cow from becoming the lion's next meal. To repay her, the cow splashes the small bird with drops of cream which become spots on her back. These new spots prevent the lion from recognizing her as the same bird who twice ruined his meal. The lion comes upon the speckled bird and asks her if she knows the guinea fowl, to which she responds by leading him on a wild goose chase. The birds new spots are perfect for hiding in the tall grasses from lions.
October 15, 2009
This was a great example of a story that is used to explain why things are a certain way in the world. The author's note at the end of the story was a great contribution to the work. In it, the author described where the story had originated and also mentioned what mode she had used for the illustrations. This attention to the reader is critical when an author is attempting to convey the importance of the story they are trying to tell. Because the author included this information, the reader is able to make connections to the real world and learn a little bit about another culture much different from their own.
October 31, 2011
How the Guinea Fowl Got Her Spots is he winner of the Anne Izard Storyteller Choice Award. It is a folklore that came from East Africa. This story shows how two friends looks after one another. The Cow will watch out for the Lion while the Guinea Fowl, Nanaga ate. Nanaga would do the same and when she saw Lion came near Cow she would distract her.Cow was so thakful that she paid the favir back by splattering Nanaga with creamy white milk. When she went home it trick the Lion.
I like this book because it shows friendship how friends have each other backs.
I like this book because it shows friendship how friends have each other backs.
April 12, 2018
Love it! This book is great for teaching Folktales - or about friendship in general. It is engaging with vibrant illustrations and figurative language. The interactions with the characters are fun, playful, and at times, suspenseful. There is also a section at the end that talks about the background of the book, which is a great feature. It talks about how a lot of Swahili legends tell why/how animals look how they do today. The illustrations are even made after a traditional way of African wood carving. This is a great book and awesome classroom resource overall.
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September 22, 2019A cow and a fowl work together to thwart the advances of a hungry lion.
January 3, 2013
Illustrated by the author. Although I think that this would be a great storytime book, I worry that the kids wouldn't know what a guinea fowl was supposed to look like and therefore miss the development of the story. I'll try it though if we the other creation-type stories are successful as I really enjoyed this one.
October 28, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. This is a Swahili tale that talks about friendship. This story also talks about how certain relationships with different animals were made. This story explains how certain animals developed their characteristics are popular throughout Africa.The illustrator's use of watercolor and India ink on scratch board is very beautiful and shows traces back towards Africa.
April 9, 2009
This is a wonderful story of a brave guinea fowl who protects her friend, the cow, from a hungry lion. The cow speckles the guinea fowl with drops of milk as a disguise, and it works like a charm. Lovely story.
August 28, 2014
Lovely illustrations. Brave little Guinea Fowl takes on Lion to protect her friend Cow. Creation story that also brings up themes of courage and loyalty to friends. Author's note talks about creation stories from Africa and the choice of materials to match the African setting.
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November 22, 2016This is the tale about how the guinea fowl fooled the lion. Once the lion was upset because she had fooled him, the cow helped the guinea fowl by putting milk on her wings to give her spots for the lion wouldn't recognize her.
I would use this book when introducing tales into the classroom.
I would use this book when introducing tales into the classroom.
May 16, 2008
This was a gift from a friend who snagged it at a used book sale. Perfect for my next book! It's in the References.
May 27, 2008
A folk explanation for the guinea fowl's protective coloration that enable it to hide from its natural predator, the lion.
Beautiful washed woodblock illustrations with traditional borders.
Beautiful washed woodblock illustrations with traditional borders.
July 11, 2008
The woodcut illustrations and the illuminated text work together to tell this story vividly. (Choice)
September 21, 2015
Loved this book!
It was nice to read a Swahili folktale! It is good to see how animals protect each other.
It was nice to read a Swahili folktale! It is good to see how animals protect each other.
April 14, 2016
Beautiful Story, a Swahili Tale.
August 9, 2025
Companions and friends, Guinea Fowl and Cow liked to spend their days together in the fields, Cow grazing and Guinea Fowl pecking for seeds, and both on the lookout for Lion. When Guinea Fowl sees that predatory feline lurking near her friend one day, she charges forward, causing a dust storm that distracts him, while she and Cow make their escape. The next day, she performs a similar brave act at the water. Now a target of Lion, who is angry at being cheated of his meal, Guinea Fowl is given a gift by the grateful Cow, who decorates her all over with sprinkles of milk, changing her appearance forever...
Although I have read one other picture book that Barbara Knutson illustrated, How the Guinea Fowl Got Her Spots: A Swahili Tale of Friendship is the first of her own books I have picked up, and I am glad to have done so. It is an engaging pourquoi story, explaining how the eponymous Guinea Fowl got her speckled appearance. I liked the fact that our fowl heroine's pretty appearance is a reward for brave deeds, and that in this story it is the small creature which is the bravest and makes the greatest impact. The accompanying artwork, done in watercolor and India ink on Essdee scratchboard, and then scratched out, has an understated appeal that I appreciated. I liked the decorative borders on the left of each page as well, and the large initial letter at the beginning of the text on each page. Recommended to young folklore enthusiasts, particularly those who enjoy animal pourquoi stories, or who are looking for East African fare.
Although I have read one other picture book that Barbara Knutson illustrated, How the Guinea Fowl Got Her Spots: A Swahili Tale of Friendship is the first of her own books I have picked up, and I am glad to have done so. It is an engaging pourquoi story, explaining how the eponymous Guinea Fowl got her speckled appearance. I liked the fact that our fowl heroine's pretty appearance is a reward for brave deeds, and that in this story it is the small creature which is the bravest and makes the greatest impact. The accompanying artwork, done in watercolor and India ink on Essdee scratchboard, and then scratched out, has an understated appeal that I appreciated. I liked the decorative borders on the left of each page as well, and the large initial letter at the beginning of the text on each page. Recommended to young folklore enthusiasts, particularly those who enjoy animal pourquoi stories, or who are looking for East African fare.
April 7, 2017
As you may remember, after last week’s unfortunate fairy tale incident, we decided to give folk tales a try. How the Guinea Fowl Got Her Spots was an excellent and encouraging first pick for this new strategy.
The story, which is based on a Swahili folk tale, is a simple one. Cow and Guinea Fowl are two friends with a common enemy, Lion. Twice Guinea Fowl rescues Cow from Lion with more bravery than caution. As thanks, Cow gives Guinea Fowl the gift of camouflage (those lovely spots, which as Guinea Fowl delightedly points out “are just the thing for hiding in the shadows and grass”).
There’s a lot to like about this book. The simple theme of friendship. The Lion who is more foolish than fierce. The inventive ways in which Guinea Fowl, who you wouldn’t expect to be a match for Lion, is still able to get the better of him. The fact that no one dies.
The illustrations are both lovely and stark. Knutson combines bold lines and delicate scratches to create full-color animal illustrations that are both engaging and pleasing to the eye. Meanwhile, Knutson decorates the text with stark black and white straight-line patterns derived from traditional African designs. Although the black and white designs can seem overwhelming at times, they do make a nice foil for the delicately drawn animal illustrations.
The story is fun to read as well, which is always a plus. I particularly enjoy reading the bit when the Lion struggles to get his roar working properly again after Guinea Fowl thoroughly douses him with river water. Audience participation suggests that The Four-Year-Old’s favorite bits are the moments of stalking, which Knutson writes so light-heartedly that you can easily pretend that the three animals are just playing a bit of hide and seek–should your Four-Year-Old, like mine, require that sort of coddling.
The story, which is based on a Swahili folk tale, is a simple one. Cow and Guinea Fowl are two friends with a common enemy, Lion. Twice Guinea Fowl rescues Cow from Lion with more bravery than caution. As thanks, Cow gives Guinea Fowl the gift of camouflage (those lovely spots, which as Guinea Fowl delightedly points out “are just the thing for hiding in the shadows and grass”).
There’s a lot to like about this book. The simple theme of friendship. The Lion who is more foolish than fierce. The inventive ways in which Guinea Fowl, who you wouldn’t expect to be a match for Lion, is still able to get the better of him. The fact that no one dies.
The illustrations are both lovely and stark. Knutson combines bold lines and delicate scratches to create full-color animal illustrations that are both engaging and pleasing to the eye. Meanwhile, Knutson decorates the text with stark black and white straight-line patterns derived from traditional African designs. Although the black and white designs can seem overwhelming at times, they do make a nice foil for the delicately drawn animal illustrations.
The story is fun to read as well, which is always a plus. I particularly enjoy reading the bit when the Lion struggles to get his roar working properly again after Guinea Fowl thoroughly douses him with river water. Audience participation suggests that The Four-Year-Old’s favorite bits are the moments of stalking, which Knutson writes so light-heartedly that you can easily pretend that the three animals are just playing a bit of hide and seek–should your Four-Year-Old, like mine, require that sort of coddling.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews