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. Steptoe, creator of awardwinning picture books for children, was born. Any mfa in childrens writing must have this book on its required reading list such an important tale. 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. One day, the king sends out a proclamation that he is looking for a wife and all eligible women need to report to the palace. Mufaros beautiful daughters lesson plan scholastic. Share with students that folktales are stories handed down from one generation to another by word of mouth. Nyasha was kind and considerate as well as beautiful, but everyone except. Mufaro has two beautiful daughters one mean and one nice.
Mufaros beautiful daughters, by bedstuys john steptoe. Nyasha is kind and considerate, but everyoneexcept mufaroknows that manyara is selfish and badtempered. 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. Cinderella stories, childrens picture books with beautif. Mufaros beautiful daughters teaching children philosophy. I have an unabashed fascination with folklore and mythology.
A related lesson in the story is found in how the kind daughter responds to the teasing and abuse from her cruel sister. Everyone agreed that his two daughters were very beautiful. 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. Mufaros two beautiful daughters, one badtempered, one kind and sweet, go before the king, who is choosing a wife. This stunning story is a timeless treasure that readers will enjoy for generations. An african tale by john steptoe in my opinion this is a great book. The story of jumping mouse in 1985 and mufaro s beautiful daughters in 1988. Mufaros beautiful daughters by john steptoe scholastic. Goodreads members voted mufaros beautiful daughters. African folktale, this is the story of mufaro, who is proud of his two beautiful daughters.
When the king announces that he is looking for a wife, both of mufaro s daughters undertake a journey to his city for the chance to be chosen. Mufaros beautiful daughters by john steptoe is a wonderful african folk tale similar to cinderella. 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 lesson plan and activities. When the king announces that he is looking for a wife, both of mufaros daughters undertake a journey to his city for the chance to be chosen. Mufaros beautiful daughters big book john steptoe paperback. The title of this book is mufaros beautiful daughters reading rainbow books and it was written by john steptoe. Jul 08, 2012 mufaros beautiful daughters was one of them. Details of the illustrations were inspired by the ruins of an ancient city found in zimbabwe, and the flora and fauna of that region. An african tale from the worlds largest community of readers. Uniquely south african and full of stunning, authentic illustrations. Because of this love, he can find no fault with either of them. 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.
Whenever her fathers back was turned shed tease her sister. Mar 31, 1986 mufaros beautiful daughters, john steptoe, is an african cinderella story. 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. The story of mufaros beautiful daughters goes like this. One daughter, nyasha is kind and gentle while the other daughter, manyara was usually in a bad mood and.
It is the tale of two very different daughters who learn the ills of pride, selfishness, and fierce competitiveness. Mufaros beautiful daughters literature guide learning to give. This african tale evokes the cinderella story, as well as the traditional theme of good triumphing over evil. Badtempered manyara taunts nyasha behind mufaro s back. Inspired by a traditional african folktale, this is the story of mufaro, who is proud of his two beautiful daughters. Yet the story is inspired by an original folktale from 1895. One day the king calls all the beautiful women of the land to come to him so he can choose his queen. Explain that long ago before books were available, people told stories as a way of.
Mufaro s beautiful daughters big book 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. By that i mean there are a great many others like me where i come from. This oversize edition 14 34 by 17 58 inches makes it easy to share the book in a library or classroom. Nyasha is kind and considerate, but everyoneexcept mufaroknows that manyara. Steptoe illustrated 15 more picture books, ten of which he also wrote.
Mufaros beautiful daughters audiobook by john steptoe. 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. Mufaros beautiful daughters lesson plans and teaching resources mufaros beautiful daughters scroll down on the page for crosscurricular lesson ideas. John steptoes mufaros beautiful daughters educating alice. The book also went on to win the boston globehorn book award. Allison henry, award book, family, culture, picture book, fiction, 23, 45. As a teacher and a parent of a girl, i read a lot of books that are different versions of classic stories. 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. Text to text connections help your child make the connection between this story and cinderella. Mufaros beautiful daughters john steptoe hardcover. Theal, along with others, and published in 1895 as kaffir folktales. The story starts with mufaro, a man with two beautiful daughters whom he loves equally. But in africa, a similar zimbabwe folktale was collected by g.
Award winning childrens authorillustrator john steptoe researched african history and culture to write mufaros beautiful daughters. Multicultural, content course, international, award winner age range. 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. Mufaros beautiful daughters 2011 presented by dallas childrens theater.
This story is an african tale similar to cinderella. Mufaros daughters are tested unknowingly to reveal which one is worthy enough to marry the king in this award. 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. Mufaros beautiful daughters by john steptoe, lothrop, lee and shepard books, new york, 1987isbn 0 688 040454 11x17 sheet of construction paper for each student. Mufaros beautiful daughters big book 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. Click to read more about mufaros beautiful daughters.
The first daughter, manyara, is badtempered and very selfish. Mufaros beautiful daughters by robin miles, other format. One daughter, nyasha is kind and gentle while the other daughter, manyara was usually in a bad mood and was unkind. Go to the library and find some other versions of cinderella from around the world and talk about how those are like.
Theal and published in 1895 in his book, kaffir folktales. Nyasha is saddened by her sister s anger, but goes on about her business of tending a garden, singing even more sweetly when the pretty. Nyasha is saddened by her sisters anger, but goes on about her business of tending a garden, singing even more sweetly when the pretty. Badtempered manyara taunts nyasha behind mufaros back. Along the path are many opportunities to show one s true character. The story of jumping mouse in 1985 and mufaros beautiful daughters in 1988. Mufaros beautiful daughters is the story of nyasha, the nice sister, and manyara, the mean sister. A man named mufaro lived in this village with his two daughters, who were called manyara and nyasha. Mufaros beautiful daughters, john steptoe, is an african cinderella story. Mufaros beautiful daughters an african tale by john steptoe. Mufaros beautiful daughters 9780618062232 by houghton mifflin and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. Mufaros beautiful daughters jestresss forgotten books.
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. This story, based on an african folktale, is somewhat similar to other folktales and fairy tales from other parts of the world such as cinderella, mother holle, and vasilisa the beautiful, where a girl with a kind, hardworking nature triumphs over a mean sibling because someone in authority recognizes her good nature and rewards it. 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. Mufaros beautiful daughters reading rainbow books by. I read a lot of books that are different versions of classic stories. The american library association named two of his books caldecott honor books, a prestigious award for childrens book illustration. Mufaros beautiful daughters is a cinderella story from africa in which kindness, generosity, honesty, and love are rewarded and selfishness is punished. Mufaros beautiful daughters lesson plan and activities mufaros beautiful daughters is an african folktale from zimbabwe, a country in africa. Mufaros beautiful daughters was inspired by a folktale collected by g.
Mufaros beautiful daughters was inspired by an african folktale. It has some elements of the classic grimms version of cinderella. Manyara, mufuaros other daughter was very cruel, mean, and rude. Summary this story is set in africa, and focuses on the two daughters of a man named mufaro. Our celebration of black history month continues here in gatheringbooks with john steptoes adaptation of an african tale entitled mufaros beautiful daughters. In fact, the lecture that i gave during the asian festival of childrens content may of last year had something to do. Mufaros beautiful daughters lesson plan and activities woo. Both of mufaro s daughters are beautiful but one is bad tempered and one is kind. Awardwinning artist john steptoes rich cultural imagery of africa earned him the coretta scott king award for mufaros beautiful daughters.
Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Two beautiful sistersone vain, the other kindcompete for the kings attention when he announces he is looking for a wife. Nyasha was kind and considerate as well as beautiful, but everyone except mufaro knew that manyara was selfish, badtempered, and spoiled. Along the path are many opportunities to show ones true character. Mufaro s beautiful daughters mufaro s beautiful daughters mufaro s beautiful daughters mufaro s beautiful daughters mufaro s beautiful daughters mufaro s beautiful daughters. 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. Mufaros beautiful daughters big book by john steptoe. Mufaros beautiful daughters childrens lit classics. Mufaro had two very beautiful daughters who lived with him. I think this is a great book because the moral of the story is something and especially children should read about. The kids in room 207 dont know how lucky they are to have a nice teacher like miss nelson until their misbehavior causes her disappearance, and they get miss viola swamp for a substitute. Two beautiful sistersone vain, the other kindcompete for the kings. Students will be able to identify that mufaros beautiful daughters takes place in africa.
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