Mufaros beautiful daughters is called a cinderella story because it. John steptoe was an awardwinning author and illustrator of childrens books from new york city. Mufaro had two beautiful daughters but each had very different personalities. Mufaros beautiful daughters reading rainbow books by.
Mufaros beautiful daughters john steptoe hardcover. A book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. In his twentyyear career, john steptoe illustrated sixteen picture books, twelve of which he also wrote. Powered by users, the librarything community, open library, geonames, natural earth and postgis. Lush illustrations set in zimbabwe and a straightforward telling make this a memorable book sometimes likened to a cinderella story. Mufaros two daughters react in different ways to the kings search for a wife one is aggressive and selfish, the other kind and dignified. There is, however, no evil stpmother, and there are two daughters, both of them beautiful. The book also went on to win the boston globehorn book award. Theal, along with others, and published in 1895 as kaffir folktales. A guide to using john steptoes mufaros beautiful daughters in class.
The tale is charming with morals including treating others as. Mufaros beautiful daughters reading rainbow books john steptoe. Mufaros beautiful daughters is a caldecott honor book by john steptoe and it is. Awardwinning artist john steptoes rich cultural imagery of africa earned him the coretta. I met john steptoe at a likely story childrens bookstore in alexandria. In mukiwa he talks with the voice of a child and that child grows up during the book its very affecting. How is zimbabwe the same as or different from where we live. Everyone agreed that his two daughters were very beautiful. Click to read more about mufaros beautiful daughters. John steptoe died on august 28, 1989 at saint lukes hospital in manhattan, following a long illness.
Mufaros beautiful daughters is an african folktale. Reading to kids is a grassroots organization dedicated to inspiring underserved children with a love of reading, thereby enriching their lives and opportunities for future success. With beautiful illustrations, mufaros beautiful daughters big book, a caldecott honor picture book, is perfect for introducing children to the cinderella fairytale as well as the history, culture, and geography of the african nation of zimbabwe. And the second one is a love letter to my father, or, perhaps an examination of him.
Petina gappahs top 10 books about zimbabwe books the. The first daughter, manyara, is badtempered and very selfish. With beautiful illustrations, mufaros beautiful daughters, a caldecott honor picture book, is perfect for introducing children to the cinderella fairytale as well as the history, culture, and geography of the african nation of zimbabwe. Mufaros beautiful daughters by john steptoe this traditional folktale in zimbabwe that is one of the many cinderella tales that can be found across the globe. Mufaros beautiful daughters big book by john steptoe and john steptoe overview a caldecott honor and reading rainbow book, this memorable retelling of cinderella is perfect for introducing children to the fairy tale as well as the history, culture, and geography of the african nation of zimbabwe. In fact, the lecture that i gave during the asian festival of childrens content may of last year had something to do. Steptoe illustrated 15 more picture books, ten of which he also wrote. A caldecott honor and reading rainbow book, this memorable retelling of. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. This wonderful tale takes us through a journey of introductory events, conflict. He began working on his first childrens 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. Mufaros beautiful daughters by john steptoe is a story based on an african folk tale, which seems to be a cinderella variant. Discuss what a folktale is, and have students share any folktale stories they have heard at home or in class.
The title of this book is mufaros beautiful daughters reading rainbow books and it was written by john steptoe. John steptoe has created a memorable modem fable of pride going before a fall, in keeping with the moral of the folktale that was his inspiration. Manyara, of course, didnt agree, and set out to make certain that she would be chosen. One of the books we considered was john steptoes mufaros beautiful daughters, a beautiful caldecott honor book that is often used in lessons about africa because it is mistakenly thought to be an authentic folktale from zimbabwe. Its also a kind of zimbabwe 101 and its what new diplomats to zim read because it explains what happened, why it happened. Steptoes retelling of cinderella, set in zimbabwe, gets rereleased alongside two other titles by the.
Get paid to read books online 10 sites that actually pay. Born on 14 september 1950 and raised in the bedfordstuyvesant section of brooklyn, new york, john lewis steptoe attended the new york school of design and an afternoon art program sponsored by the harlem youth opportunity act from 1964 to 1967. A caldecott honor and reading rainbow book, this memorable retelling of cinderella. Fiction and nonfiction books set completely or at least partially in zimbabwe. When the king asked to see the sisters, they were put through a series of. Awardwinning artist john steptoes rich cultural imagery of africa earned him the. Manyara was as haughty nyasha was kind and the behavior of one led to a royal wedding.
From early childhood, he drew pictures and told stories with them. I have an unabashed fascination with folklore and mythology. Theal and published in 1895 in his book, kaffir folktales. Steptoe himself is honest by writing that the book, was inspired by a folktale. One of the books we considered was john steptoes mufaros beautiful. Enrich students appreciation explain that the illustrations in this book show the fortresscity of great zimbabwe in ancient times. The story of jumping mouse in 1985 and mufaros beautiful daughters in 1988. This traditional folktale in zimbabwe that is one of the many cinderella tales that can be found across the globe.
By the time he was 18 it had been printed in life magazine, and in 1970, it was published as a book. Explain that this book was awarded the caldecott medal, which was named in honor. A collection of xhosa folktales was published in 1886 called kaffir folklore by. Mufaros beautiful daughters big book by john steptoe. He began working on his first picture book, stevie, when he was just 16 years old.
The story is set to come alive this sunday, february 17 at 2pm with the stageone family theatres performance at the kentucky center for the arts. Steptoe creates the storys setting using the flora and fauna of an ancient ruin in zimbabwe. Mufaros beautiful daughters childrens lit classics. The american library association named two of his books caldecott honor books, a prestigious award for childrens book illustration. This book could be used in a social sciences lesson on african cultures. An oversized book with magnificent pictures set in the ruins of ancient zimbabwe, mufaros beautiful daughters is the story of two sisters wholly different in temperament who travel with. Award winning childrens authorillustrator john steptoe researched african history and culture to write mufaros beautiful daughters. John steptoe an artist remembered the washington post. To begin to correct this i pull out one of my favorite john steptoe books. Steptoe himself is honest by writing that the book, was inspired by a folktale collected by g. The story john steptoe has chosen for mufaros beautiful daughters is a.
Mufaros beautiful daughters by john steptoe, is a beautifully written and illustrated book that is set in zimbabwe. A caldecott honor and reading rainbow book, this memorable retelling of cinderella is perfect for introducing children to the fairy tale as well as the history. Manyara, of course, didnt agree, and set out to make certain that she would be. Tell the students that they are going to hear a folktale from zimbabwe. This stunning story is a timeless treasure that readers will enjoy for generations. In 1968, steptoe was recruited as a senior in high school by john torres to attend. Nyasha was kind and considerate as well as beautiful, but everyone except. John steptoe, mufaros beautiful daughters, new york. John steptoes absolutely brilliant mufaros beautiful daughters is basically an african take on the globallyknown and ever popular. Steptoe twice received the coretta scott king award for illustration, for.
In the front cover, the author mentions that the story is based off a folktale. I am particularly interested in the external and internal struggles reflected in these. You can find information on the john steptoe new talent award here. Set in precolonial zimbabwe, it centers on the fates of the villager. This book was included on nypls 100 great childrens books, 100 years which i put together with jeanne lamb. Mufaros beautiful daughters, a folktale from zimbabwe by john. Use the api for geographical book searches to find books set in a specific location or implement locally relevant book recommendations in your own projects. He stated work on stevie, his first picture book, when he was sixteen, and stevie published three years later to outstanding critical acclaim.
Mufaros beautiful daughters lesson plan scholastic. Author and illustrator john steptoe created mufaros beautiful daughters from a story collected by g. John steptoe, a brooklynborn black artist who burst into the public eye at the age of 18 with the publication of his first book, stevie, in 1969, dedicates mufaros beautiful daughters to. John steptoes absolutely brilliant mufaros beautiful daughters is basically an african take on the globallyknown and ever popular cinderella folklore theme both narrative and illustrations are outstanding in every way and their lovely and evocative marriage, their delightful combination, turn mufaros beautiful daughters into truly a shining and glistening gem of a picture book, and not. Steptoe was among the small handful of african american artists who have made a career in childrens books. Our celebration of black history month continues here in gatheringbooks with john steptoes adaptation of an african tale entitled mufaros beautiful daughters. A caldecott honor and reading rainbow book, this memorable retelling of cinderella is perfect for. An african tale, was written by john steptoe in 1987. Both of mufaros daughters are beautiful, but manyara is angry and cruel, while nyasha is quiet and kind.
Theal when he was in africa, and published in 1895 in his book kaffir folktales. John steptoe has created a memorable modem fable of pride going before a fall. What it is not is a book to introduce children to either cinderella or zimbabwe. Hadithi online mufaros beautiful daughters youtube. John steptoe was born in brooklyn, new york, in 1950. This story is set in zimbabwe, a country in africa. John steptoes mufaros beautiful daughters educating alice. The book mufaros beautiful daughters by john steptoe, computer, white board, markers, paper, pencils 1. But in africa, a similar zimbabwe folktale was collected by g. The book, mufaros beautiful daughters, taught me about zimbabwe. This book would be great in a public library and i would recommend it for parents to read to.
Awardwinning artist john steptoes rich cultural imagery of africa earned him the coretta scott king award for mufaros beautiful daughters. So it is very much set in old zimbabwe among the shona people. Steptoe has likewise stayed faithful to the land of zimbabwe, where this tale is set. He has illustrated it with stunning paintings that glow with the beauty, warmth, and internal vision of the land and people of his ancestors. John steptoe was one of the first and earlier successful africanamerican picture book illustrators.
The illustrations in the book are incredibly detailed and take up the entire set of pages. Mufaros beautiful daughters by john steptoe picture. Heres javaka steptoes 2017 caldecott award winner radiant child. Nyasha is kind and considerate, but manyara is selfish and spoiled. Mufaros beautiful daughters by john steptoe picture book the.
229 372 913 111 191 312 744 331 1182 424 1052 261 296 906 1409 150 876 232 667 1433 676 1225 587 1180 932 376 322 1426 36 124 634 15 418 1173 784 176 384 826 1104 103 688