Two Animal Tales From Africa

Two beautifully told traditional tales by Beverley Birch. ‘The Water Thief’ is about the mischievous antics of Hyena and how crafty Tortoise plays him at his own game. ‘Lumbwi and the Gazelle’ is about a moving friendship, but when Lumbwi embarks on a new life he seems to forget about his old friend, to dreadful consequences.

Folktales can be described as fictional prose narratives that are not confined to any particular culture. A folktale may appear in a slightly different form in a culture that is geographically nearby, or it may appear in a culture that is quite far removed from its original source. In The Zebra’s Stripes and other African Tales, Dianne Stewart has retold a collection of folk tales that have their origins all over Africa. Aimed at children and adults, these tales include legends such as ‘How Lion and Warthog became Enemies’ from the Lamba people of Togo, ‘How Giraffe Acquired his Long Neck’ from East Africa, ‘Why Hippopotamus Lives in the Water’ from Nigeria and ‘Monkey The Musician’ from South Africa. There are tales from the San, Zulu, Zambia, Congo and West Africa, et al. Each section is devoted to a type of animal, and concludes with some facts about the animal in question, adding educational to the stories. Proverbs from various cultures provide additional insight. Throughout, Kathy Pienaar’s beautiful illustrations show great attention to detail.

Chosen from familiar but almost extinct African folktales, these four animal stories are descriptive, but also introduce children to African beliefs about different animals. Through the stories they learn why the monkey lives on trees; and why the tortoise has a crooked shell.

This is an exciting collection of true stories involving the antics of South Africa's best-loved wild animals and family pets. It is a combination of two classic children's best sellers: "South African Animals Adventures and "True African Animal Tales. Retold especially for young, beginning readers, the simple text tells of great animal adventures and escapades in the wilds of Africa. This enchanting book will introduce children to an awe-inspiring part of the world, and the people and animals that make it their hom$$$ Beautifully illustrated in color, "African Animal Tales is sure to capture the hearts and imagination of all young animal lovers, and will be a favourite of young readers for years to come.

On the Great Grassy African Plain Handsome Hog had a beautiful smooth coat and an extremely elegant tail. This is the story of how Handsome Hog lost his looks and became known as Warthog to the other animals. Mwenye Hadithi is a pen name and means a story-teller in Swahili.

This book is a collection of humorous stories meant to uplift thehuman spirit. Some of the stories are funny, capable of making the reader laugh, smile, and relax. These stories teach, instruct,educate, and elicit good moral conduct. The purpose of a story is not to give a scientific explanation to any issue. Instead, a story is to teach us about life. Stories bring happiness and consolation to thedownhearted and the brokenhearted. Stories are meant not only forchildren. Everybody listens to and tells stories. Grandparents tell their grandchildren stories. Parents tell their children stories. Storytellingis a means of social communication and education. “Insightful and fascinating! African Animal Tales provide a rare insight into the inner working of animals’ social life.” -Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Udoanwankwo-

Timeless tales from the Bushmen recorded before the oral story-telling tradition was threatened by modernity, presented here accompanied by lively illustrations. Appropriate for ages 4 to 104!

This collection of folktales from South Africa has been put together the author says, not for scholarship but for a love of the sunny country where he was born. Some stories originate from Dutch sources, and some have several versions. Most are tales told by the bushmen.