Reviews (24)

I read this book when I was a kid!
Can you imagine my surprise when I encountered this book on Amazon.com!
Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters
Wonderful book about Manyara and Nyasha, daughters of an African King.This books shows that beauty comes from within.Manyara is a selfish sister and wants nothing more than to be queen and she will stop at nothing to be it. Nyasha is kind and loving and only wants to be happy. She sees the beauty in nature and people. A king from the neighboring town is searching for a wife and immediately Manyara wants to be queen. Manyara gets up early and sneaks to the village of the King but she is met by a little boy who wants food, and a elderly woman whom she is told to be kind too. She doesnt give the boy food and is verbally mean to the old woman. Nyasha goes through the forest and finds the same people but this time she gives food to the little boy. She is met by a woman who points the way to the city and she is kind to her and gives her sunflower seeds.As they approach the city, Manyara runs out and crying saying that she saw a snake with 5 heads and was telling her how rotten of a person she is. Nyasha is brave and walks in only to a find a simple snake for whom she was friends with.He tells her that he is the king and the elderly woman and little boy in the forest.He then asks her to be his queen because she is the most beautiful and kindhearted of them all.

a beautiful African folk tale
This story is based on an African tale that is similar in nature to Cinderella. In this story a man named Mufaro had two beautiful daughters, one named Manyara, and one named Nyasha. Manyara is rude to Nyasha, who just calmly bears it. When a call comes saying the Great King wants a wife, Mufaro plans to take his daughters to the palace the next day. Manyara decides to leave in the night to make she is chosen to be Queen. During the journey she is rude to a number of people, who turn out to be the King himself, shape-shifted into those forms as well as the form of a garden snake well-known to Nyasha. When Nyasha passes the next day, she is kind where her sister was rude. Needless to say the King picks Nyasha, and they live happily.
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Subjects:  1. 1987    2. Africa    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Grades 2-3    5. Fairy Tales & Folklore - African    6. Fairy tales    7. Fiction    8. Legends, Myths, & Fables - General    9. New York (N.Y.)    10. People & Places - Africa    11. Juvenile Fiction / Legends, Myths, Fables / General   

Reviews (5)

Illustrations are beautiful, but grammar is not
The illustrations in this children's book are beautiful; the story appeals to all children; however, the use of incorrect grammar detracts from both the story and the illustrations.It is possible for children to use standard English if that is what they are exposed to in literature and in life.I was very disappointed in the use of grammar by the narrator and by the characters in the story.

Memorable for more than 30 years!
This book made such an impression on me when I was only 7 or 8. I am now in my mid-40s, and I can still remember the story and how intrigued I was with the artwork. I remember crying for Robert's loss of Stevie. I remember feeling the same feelings as Robert as he came to lose his jealousy of Stevie and soften his feelings toward him.
Enough Love to Go Around
Robert is an only child and he is used to having his mother all to himself.One day Robert's mother announces that Stevie will be coming to stay with them while his mother is working during the week and Robert is not happy.Robert gets jealous of the attention the younger Stevie (who Robert considers a crybaby) gets from his parents and hates the fact that he has to share his toys, friends and everything else with Stevie.Robert cannot wait until Stevie's mother comes to pick him up at the end of the week, or can he?Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Fiction - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Preschool    4. Family - Orphans & Foster Homes    5. Family - Siblings    6. Fiction    7. Friendship    8. People & Places - United States - African-American    9. Juvenile Fiction / Ethnic / African American   

Reviews (14)

Eagle
This story is about a mouse who wants to go to a far off land. While he is traveling , he is named jumping mouse, he gets better legs to jump with, he stays with an old mouse,he gives a buffalo his sight,and he gives a fox his smell. Jumping Mouse gets to the far off land and is named Eagle by Magic Frog.Jumping Mouse then turns into an eagle.
jumping tale
This is a great book. THe artwork is worth the Caldacott medal and the story is a good one for all ages. It is about a mouse trying to reach a far land which is supposed to be beautiful and about learning to keep hope and selfishness alive in you and you will be rewarded. It is a great story that people now a days need to consider more often the world would be a better place.

Sophisticated Illustrations
This lovely Caldecott honoree related the Native American legend of a mouse that morphed into an eagle by magic, determination, and force of character. A mouse listens to tales told by older mice that include visions of a far off land. He determines to visit the far off land even though he doesn't know much about traveling and is sure to encounter dangers. Shortly after setting out he meets the Magic Frog, who kindly transports him across the river. The Magic Frog also confers the gift of jumping legs on the mouse, which will serve him well the rest of the journey.
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Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 1-2    3. Fairy Tales & Folklore - Country/Ethnic-General    4. Fairy Tales & Folklore - Native American    5. Folklore    6. Great Plains    7. Indians of North America    8. Legends    9. Mice    10. People & Places - United States - Native American    11. Animal stories    12. Juvenile Fiction / Ethnic / Native American   

Reviews (9)

a teacher's perspective
You will miss out on a great read if you think this story is just about baseball.This is a compelling novel about an interracial friendship between a young Jewish boy and an older African American man.They find their common interest in a love for Jackie Robinson and the Brooklyn Dodgers.The story takes place in the 50's and the author, in subtle ways, shows the reader how things are dfferent for the African Americans in the U.S. at this time.Their friendship is believable and the story touching (I choke up every time I read it aloud).Although kids who enjoy sports will certainly appreciate the details, all kids will enjoy the message of friendship beyond racial barriers.I highly recommend this for every 4th-6th grader.

My Grandmother Wrote This
My grandmother, Barbara Cohen, wrote this book in hopes that it would show that you don't have to be the same race in order to have an incredible bond.I think she did just that in this wonderful novel.Though she is not alive, she lives in our hearts, and can be remembered through this timeless classic.A must read.

This Was Great
I read Thank You, Jackie Robinson for a book report.This book was a really good book for a baseball fan, or just a sports fan. Read more

Subjects:  1. Baseball    2. Children's 9-12    3. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    4. Children: Grades 4-6    5. Fiction    6. Friendship    7. Robinson, Jackie    8. Social Issues - Friendship    9. Social Situations - Friendship    10. Sports & Recreation - Baseball    11. Juvenile Fiction / Sports & Recreation / General   

Subjects:  1. Africa    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Fairy Tales & Folklore - African    4. Fiction    5. Spanish: Kindergarten    6. Juvenile Fiction / Fairy Tales & Folklore / Country & Ethnic   

Reviews (3)

She Come Bringing Me That Little Baby Girl
The main idea is a boy at first he did not like his sister and then he liked her.My favorite part is when the mom said I used to be a baby girl .I would recommend this book to a friend because it shows you how to take care of your sister and brother.
She Come Bringing Me That Little Baby Girl
The main idea of the story is to care for your brother and sister.My favorite part is when the dad brought the mom and baby girl home.I would recommend this book to a friend because it teaches you to love your family.
Sweet Book
"Kevin wants a baby brother. So when his mama brings home a baby girl, Kevin wants her to go back to the hospital and get a baby boy instead. When Kevin finds out she can't, he is so disappointed. At first Kevin doesn't want anything to do with this new baby girl. But soon Kevin finds the pleasure of being the older brother of his baby sister."Read more

Subjects:  1. Brothers and sisters    2. Children's 4-8    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Preschool    5. Fiction    6. People & Places - General    7. Juvenile Fiction / Family / New Baby   

Subjects:  1. Children: Kindergarten    2. Fiction dealing with multiculturalism   

Reviews (1)

All the Colors of the Race
I enjoyed reading All the Colors of the Race by Arnold Adoff. (Illustrated by John Steptoe.) It was interesting how Adoff writes from the perspective of a girl. With such strong sentiments, I couldn't help but wonder if there is any relation to his own life or that of someone he knows.I have read other poetry books by Adoff, and this was one of my favorites. In "I am making a circle for my self," I enjoyed the references to Golda Meir and Moses. In "The way I see any hope for later," Adoff powerfully addresses issues of race and gender, saying that we need to "stop looking" and "start loving." What a powerful poem! Even the layout of the words adds to the effect. "Remember:" makes an interesting reference to the fact that way back when there was only one race--a fact that makes one wonder how we ever became so divided. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American poetry    2. Children's 12-Up - Poetry    3. Children's Books/Young Adult Misc. Nonfiction    4. Children's poetry, American    5. Children: Grades 4-6    6. Family    7. Juvenile Nonfiction    8. Juvenile poetry    9. Poetry - General    10. Race awareness   

Reviews (19)

Kashifu grandbery review
HI, have you read a book about two .differentcultures.My class just read a book called `'CREATIVITY'' BY John Stepoe.What I liked was Hector was fromPuertoRico. And Charles But you could have told us more about Puerto Rico.No I would not Recommend because I did not like the book.Kashifu K. Grandberry

Darius' "Creativity" Review
Have you read the b ook `'Creativity'' ? Our class read a book called `'Creativity'' by John Steptoe.I like when Charles gave Hector his shoes, because it was a nice thing to do. The author should have made the boys do more things together. I would
Isa's Creativity Review

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Subjects:  1. African Americans    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 2-3    4. Fiction    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. People & Places - United States - African-American    7. People & Places - United States - Hispanic/Latino    8. Puerto Ricans    9. Social Issues - Friendship    10. Steptoe, John    11. United States    12. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Friendship   

Reviews (2)

Dear John Steptoe..... Thanks for the childhood
As far as childrens books go this is a gem. Most of the books i can remember reading as a child seemed patronizing or too cute. "Sometimes" manages to meet the kid at eye-level. I'd go so far as to compare it to Hansel and Gretel,in that it's a cautionary little tale that works well as a story for the child and as an allegory for the astute parent. What i feel for it goes well beyond nostalgia; i remember the smell of the book's binding and i remember my father reading it to me. It wasn't until i got much older that i realized what a service Steptoe was doing for children by writing the book. My father was no tyrant but the book helped me overcome that natural fear that i think most kids have of their fathers. The water color paintings don't hurt either and i think they are as integral to the book as the artwork in Carrol's Alice in Wonderland. If i remember right this one was a Newberry winner and if it wasn't it should have been.

We Are All Monsters Sometimes
John Steptoe is one of my favorite children's writers. I like his book Daddy Is a Monster Sometimes .I am from the monster generation. This book takes me back to my childhood days. Monsters would transform into their evil selves on television. I grew up in the late seventies in the city of Philadelphia. We didn't have cable, but we had our monster pictures on television every Saturday afternoon. Many of those films were very old and technology was not as advanced as it is now, however I enjoyed them. The characters in this story often view each other as monsters. Steptoe's illustrations beautifully show the transformation of these characters from person into monster. When the children misbehave, which is quite often, daddy has to get tough with them. They have a way of bringing the monster in him out. This is a great story about an African-American family and the loving relationship that they have...I am so glad to see that it is available again... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8    2. Children: Kindergarten    3. Family - General    4. Fathers    5. Fiction    6. General   

Reviews (1)

An exquisitely illustrated book for toddlers
Baby Says portrays two brothers in a playroom, a toddler in his playpen and the older child playing with blocks nearby. The toddler wants to play with his older brother and seeks his attention by repeatedly throwing his teddy bear out of his playpen. When the older child indulges his brother, the toddler immediately knocks over his brother's block construction. When his older brother expresses his frustration, the toddler smoothes things over with a kiss. The story is told in a toddler's vocabulary, employing only seven words in a few phrases: "uh oh," "no no," "okay baby," and "here"; many pages are wordless. With such simple language, the action of the story is carried by the very realistic pencil drawings done in soft colors. The illustrations are primarily tightly cropped views of the space in the playroom that the children occupy, but as the story reaches its emotional climax, the illustrations shift perspective to extreme close-ups on the children's faces. This book is often considered a multicultural book because the children in the book are African-American, though ethnicity is not at all the subject of this story. Toddlers (and siblings of toddlers) of any ethnicity will relate to this simple story about the warmth of a sibling relationship. This is an excellent book for toddlers and older children to read together. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. African Americans    2. Babies    3. Brothers    4. Brothers and sisters    5. Children's Books/Baby-Preschool    6. Children: Preschool    7. Family - New Baby    8. Family - Siblings    9. Fiction    10. Juvenile Fiction    11. People & Places - United States - African-American    12. Juvenile Fiction / Family / New Baby   

Subjects:  1. Audio: Juvenile    2. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    3. Fairy Tales & Folklore - African    4. Fairy Tales & Folklore - Single Title   

Subjects:  1. Audio: Juvenile    2. Children's 4-8 - Literature / Classics    3. Children's Audio - 4-8    4. Children: Grades 2-3    5. Fairy Tales & Folklore - Country/Ethnic-General    6. Juvenile Fiction   

Subjects:  1. Boredom    2. Children: Grades 1-2    3. Dreams    4. Fiction    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. School & Education    7. Schools    8. Teachers   

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 1-2    3. Fairy Tales & Folklore - Country/Ethnic-General    4. Juvenile Fiction   

Subjects:  1. African Americans    2. Children: Grades 2-3    3. Fiction    4. Negroes    5. Race identity   

Subjects:  1. Children: Grades 1-2    2. Family    3. Family life    4. Fiction   

Subjects:  1. Africa    2. Fairy tales    3. Juvenile fiction   

Subjects:  1. Brothers and sisters    2. Children's 9-12    3. Children: Kindergarten    4. Fiction    5. General   

Subjects:  1. Birthdays    2. Blacks    3. Children: Kindergarten    4. Fiction    5. Holidays & Celebrations - Other, Nonreligious    6. Juvenile Fiction