John Steptoe
HarperCollins Publishers
Copyright 1987
Page Number 32
Reading Level 3-8 years
Genre: Folk Tales
Summary:
Manyara and Nyasha are the two daughters of Mufaro. Manyara treats Nyasha horribly because of her jealousy of Nyasha's kindness. Nyasha loved to work in her garden and the people said it was magnificent because she sang to it. One day in her garden, a garden snake rested beneath a plant. Nyasha welcomed the snake because it wouldn't hurt her and would be a help in her garden. A messenger came and told their village that the king wanted a wife. Manyara and Nyasha both were to go meet the king. Manyara left before her sister did selfishly wanting to meet the king first. Along the way, Manyara met a little boy who was hungry and refused to give him food. Then she met an old woman who warned her of what she would meet on the path. Manyara ignored her advice and laughed back at the laughing trees and ignored the man who held his head in his hand. In the morning, Nyasha and her father went to meet the king. On the way Nyasha saw a little boy and offered him food. They met an old woman and she gave them directions, Nyasha gave her sunflower seeds as a thanks. Trees bowed down to her and she saw the city as beautiful when she came to the top of the hill. As they entered the city, they heard Manyara scream as she ran from a building in the center of the city. Manyara begged Nyasha not to go into the king, because he was a five headed snake who almost ate Manyara. Nyasha left her sister to be comforted by their father and went in to meet the king. All she saw was the garden snake who had been her friend. The snake transformed in to the king and he told her that he had been the snake, the hungry boy, and the old woman. He knew that she was the most worthy and beautiful of all the women in the land. They got married and Manyara was a servant to the queen.
Recommendations and Conflicts:
I don't see any conflicts in this book. I would recommend this to a second grade teacher to read to their class.
Reactions:
I enjoyed this book the first time I read it five years ago and again when I just re-read it. I love that the king was able to find a bride who was worthy of being a queen by meeting them before they met him.
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