What's Everybuggy Reading: Thistle
Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters
Written and illustrated by John Steptoe
Lothrop, Lee, and Shepard Books, 1987
You probably know the classic tale of Cinderella—it's one of my favorites! Well, the book I just finished is similar to Cinderella's story, but it's set in Africa and told as a traditional African folktale. There are no glass slippers, pumpkin carriages, or fairy godmothers, but who needs ‘em when you have a world of magic snakes and elflike little boys!
Nyasha is the kindest and most beautiful girl in her village, but her sister Manyara is jealous and mean. When the prince asks for the most worthy and beautiful daughters in the land to come before him so he can choose a queen, Manyara tries to get to the city first so she will be chosen over her sister. Nyasha’s kindness and patience pays off in the end, but I won’t tell you how. I will tell you that animals and little boys can be pretty tricky in this book, just like in this issue of Spider (remember “Little Rakoto and the Crocodile”?). But don’t worry—they all live happily ever after!
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