In his twentyyear career, john steptoe illustrated sixteen picture books, twelve of which he also wrote. Mufaros beautiful daughters is an intriguing tale from africa of two sisters, their adoring father, and the different paths they take to reach the city and eventually the king. Nyasha is kind and considerate, but everyoneexcept mufaro. Mufaro has two beautiful daughters, manyara and nyasha. Manyara has a bad temper which she never shows to her father and is selfish. Kindness just because students analyze acts of kindness and selfishness, place events of the story in their proper sequence, describe the setting, and trace a route on a map that shows rivers and mountains. The story starts with mufaro, a man with two beautiful daughters whom he loves equally. The king disguises himself to learn the true nature of both the girls and chooses nyasha, the kind and generous daughter, to be the queen.
Both mufaros daughters are beautiful, but only one is beautiful both inside and out. Nyasha was kind and considerate as well as beautiful, but everyone except mufaro knew that manyara was selfish, badtempered, and spoiled. The king takes on disguises to learn the true nature of both girls andof course chooses nyasha, the kind and generous daughter, to be his queen. The story of jumping mouse in 1985 and mufaro s beautiful daughters in 1988. The articulate accented and rhythmic narration of robin miles brings a new dimension to this readalong version of a beloved classic african tale of greed and pride, a variation of charles perraults fairy tale about the unkind sister. When the king of the land asks the daughters to appear before him so he can. All the woman of the land are invited to the kings palace so he can choose his worthy bride.
The book won many awards for steptoes illustrations, and went on. Mufaros beautiful daughters by john steptoe picture. An african tale by john steptoe an african villager named mufaro has two daughters whom everyone agrees are beautiful. Theal and published in 1895 in his book, kaffir folktales. One daughter was kind and the other very selfcentered. The tale of mufaro s two daughters, two beautiful girls who react in different ways to the kings search for a wife one is aggressive and selfish, the other kind and dignified. Mufaros beautiful daughters is a childrens picture book published in 1987 by john steptoe.
Although mufaro is proud of both of his daughters, they are very different. This caldecott medalwinning african tale evokes the cinderella story, as well as the traditional theme of good triumphing over evil. This story is similar to the classic tale of cinderella and encompasses some of the same themes, but focuses more on the virtue of both daughters and how kindness. Because of this love, he can find no fault with either of them. I remember when i was a child listening to this story from reading rainbow and i was hooked. Mufaros beautiful daughters is about two sisters, manyara and nyasha, who.
Inspired by a traditional african folktale, this is the story of mufaro, who is proud of his two beautiful daughters. Mufaros beautiful daughters was inspired by a folktale collected by g. One day the king calls all the beautiful women of the land to come to him so he can choose his queen. Nyasha is kind and considerate, but everyoneexcept mufaroknows that manyara is selfish and badtempered. Mufaro has two beautiful daughters one mean and one nice. Nyasha is kind and considerate, but everyoneexcept m. I think this is a great book because the moral of the story is something and especially children should read about. Chapman had repeated, not a single syllable saying anything about the heat of mufaros land or the salt in his beautiful daughters. Steptoe illustrated 15 more picture books, ten of which he also wrote. Manyara, an illtempered girl, is jealous of nyasha and vows to be queen and have nyasha as her. Steptoe twice received the coretta scott king award. 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. Mufaro has two daughters, the badtempered manyara and the loving nyasha, who must pass a series of tests in order for one of them to be considered a beautiful and worthy wife for the great king.
Mufaros beautiful daughters teaching children philosophy. Manyara sees herself as beautiful and treats others in a selfish and selfcentered way. Anyway, with that said, this weeks mentor text is another tale an african tale that i love titled mufaros beautiful daughters by john steptoe. When the king decided to take a wife and invited the most worthy and beautiful daughters in the land to appear before him, mufaro declared proudly that only the king. The story of jumping mouse in 1985 and mufaros beautiful daughters in 1988. This african tale evokes the cinderella story, as well as the traditional theme of good triumphing over evil. Details of the illustrations were inspired by the ruins of an ancient city found in zimbabwe, and the flora and fauna of that region. Nyasha is kind and considerate, but everyoneexcept mufaro knows that manyara is selfish and badtempered.
Awardwinning artist john steptoes rich cultural imagery of africa earned him the coretta scott king award for mufaros beautiful daughters. An african villager hears of the summons and decides to send his two daughters, manyara and nyasha. Mufaro has two daughters, the badtempered manyara and the loving nyasha, who must pass a series of tests in order for one of them to be considered a. This book module deals with multiculturalism and ethics, specifically happiness. A man named mufaro lived in this village with his two daughters, who were called manyara and nyasha. Mufaros beautiful daughters lesson plan scholastic. So, when he hears that a prince is looking for a beautiful wife, he believes that both of his daughters have a chance at true happiness. A caldecott honor and reading rainbow book, this memorable retelling of. The story of jumping mouse in 1985 and mufaros beautiful daughters in. Everyone agreed that his two daughters were very beautiful. He is best known for mufaros beautiful daughters, which was acknowledged by literary critics as a breakthrough in african history and culture. This book is a beautiful african cinderella fairy tale.
Nyasha is kind and considerate, but manyara is selfish and spoiled. Tell students that the covers show mufaros two daughters. According to rules, anyways, on posture and elocution and all those fancy words mrs. For ten minutes, i read without breath and without flaw. Mufaros beautiful daughters audiobook by john steptoe. Their dispositions however are completely different. An african tale from the book by john steptoe adapted for the stage by karen abbott synopsis one act 1 hour in a small village in africa, there lives a man named mufaro. He summons all the daughters of the land to choose a wife. Mufaros beautiful daughters by john steptoe scholastic. Both mufaro s daughters are beautiful, but only one is beautiful both inside and out. Mufaros beautiful daughters reading rainbow books john steptoe isbn. One daughter, nyasha is kind and gentle while the other daughter, manyara was usually in a bad mood and. This is the tale of mufaros two daughters, two beautiful girls who react in different ways to the kings search for a wife one is mean and selfish, the other kind and dignified. Yet those who dislike that story because the idiot prince cant seem to recognize the love of his life without the aid of a shoe might enjoy this tale better.
Mufaros beautiful daughters by john steptoe lothrop themes. The american library association named two of his books caldecott honor books, a prestigious award for childrens book illustration. When the king decided to take a wife and invited the most worthy and beautiful daughters in the land to appear before him, mufaro. Mufaros beautiful daughters lesson plans and teaching resources mufaros beautiful daughters scroll down on the page for crosscurricular lesson ideas. Mufaros beautiful daughters john steptoe hardcover. Badtempered manyara taunts nyasha behind mufaros back. Whenever her fathers back was turned shed tease her sister. 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. Mufaros daughters are tested unknowingly to reveal which one is worthy enough to marry the king in this awardwinning production, lush with steptoes magnificent paintings and a rich musical score.
Ask students to note how beauty is treated in this story. It is a good lesson in treating others well and the rewards that can come from it. Mufaros beautiful daughters by john steptoe a long time ago, in a. An african tale by john steptoe in my opinion this is a great book. 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. When the king of the land asks the daughters to appear before him so he can choose a queen, the prideful, bad tempered daughter decides to set out in the night so she can get there first. Synopsis mufaros two daughters react in different ways to the kings search for a wife one is aggressive and selfish, the other kind and dignified. Mufaros beautiful daughters is the tale of how a king decided which of mufaros daughters he would select as his wife. Mufaros beautiful daughters a long time ago in a small village half a days journey from where a great king lived, lived a man named mufaro and his two beautiful daughters, manyara and nyasha. Inspired by a traditional african folktale, this is the story of mufaro, who is proud of his two beautiful. Mufaros beautiful daughters by john steptoe is a wonderful african folk tale similar to cinderella.
Unit 2b folklore folktales fairytales mufaros beautiful daughters by john steptoe a long time ago, in a certain place in africa, a small village lay across a river and half a days journey from a city where a great king lived. The book also went on to win the boston globehorn book award. This oversize edition 14 34 by 17 58 inches makes it easy to share the book in a library or classroom. Mufaro was a king of a small village who had two beautiful daughters, manyara and nyasha. I remember both reading this book as a kid, and seeing it featured on pbs shows such as the puzzle place and reading rainbow.
Inspired by a kafir folk tale published in an 1895 collection, caldecott honor winner steptoe has reset the classic cinderella pattern in an ancient zimbabwe city. Explain that the book students will read is titled mufaros beautiful daughters. When the king decides to choose a bride from among the most worthy and beautiful daughters in the land, both mufaros girls travel to the capital city. A caldecott honor and reading rainbow book, this memo. It has some elements of the classic grimms version of cinderella. Perfect for introducing variants to the cinderella story as well as the history, culture, and. In the lush country of zimbabwe a king is looking for a wife. When the great king decides to take a wife and invites the most worthy and beautiful daughters in the land to appear before him, mufaro brings both of his.
An african tales was an african tale reminiscent of cinderella. Multicultural, content course, international, award winner age range. Mufaros beautiful daughters hardcover childrens book. Along the path are many opportunities to show ones true character. In mufaros beautiful daughters, john steptoe combines stunning illustrations to create almost mystical surroundings for his characters, surroundings which serve to distinguish between the baser human characteristics, greed and pride, and those which we as humans must emulate, such as mercy and compassion. Nyasha was kind of considerate as well as beautiful, but everyone except mufaro knew that manyara was selfish, badtempered, and spoiled.
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