by John Steptoe.
Lothrop, Lee and Shepard, 1987
The dense, luscious jungle is home to Mufaro and his beautiful daughters---Manyara and Nyasha. Manyara, an angry, unhappy girl is jealous of Nyasha because she is so kind. Nyasha works hard on her land growing yams and millet, singing while she works. In her garden, she befriends a snake whom she calls Nyoka. One day a messenger from the city half a day's journey away, arrives to tell Mufaro that the Great King is seeking a wife and is requesting presence of the most worthy and beautiful daughters in the land. Greedy Manyara decides not to wait until the morning to depart from the village. In the forest, she stumbles upon a hungry boy who asks for something to eat. Manyara is rude to the child. Further along, she encounters a woman that she treats similarly. Nyasha, on the other hand, proceeds through the wild jungle with her father and a procession of elders. She is much impressed with the city and is delighted to see her friend, the garden snake on the chef's stool. The snake, of course, transforms into the handsome prince and chooses kind Nyasha for his bride. So stunning are the wonderfully researched illustrations that a person feels as if they've taken a walk through a rain forest. A Caldecott Honor Book.
Grade Level: 1-4
Locale: Zimbabwe
