Author: John Steptoe
Illustrator: John Steptoe
Genre: Picture Book
Subgenre: Folktale, Culture
Theme: Greed, Sibling Rivalry, Marriage
Primary/Secondary Characters: Mufaro, Manyaya, Nyasha, Nyoka
Date of Publication: 1988
Publishing Company: Scholastic Inc.
Award Winner: Caldecott Honor Book
Summary: Mufaro was the father of two daughters, Manyara and Nyasha in Africa. His goal was to find a man to be the King of the Empire, and one of his daughters to be the queen, Manyara was very greedy, and wanted the Kingdom all to herself, and felt as though she needed to be the queen. Nyasha was very humble, and knew what would happen would happen for the best. Nyasha tended to her garden and cared for the snake within it, fed the hungry children, and cared for the elders. At the same time, Manyara ignored the hungry children, did not have her own garden, and was so certain she would be the queen that she told everyone to bow down to her. As Nyasha was admiring the Kingdom and it's beauty one day, the snake from her garden, Nyoka, approached her, and told her that he was the King in disguise, and that he had seen all her good deeds, and she deserved to be the queen. Manyara became the servant and Nyasha rose as the Kingdom's queen. This book can be used in a classroom in many ways, as books of culture are not abundant in the curriculum. When learning about different cultures, this book could be used to set the scenery and demonstrate the qualities of other cultures, as well as provide entertainment at the same time. Children could learn from this book and the cultural value that comes along with it.
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