What is this children's book?

Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters by John Steptoe

In Mufaro's 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. Steptoe creates the story's setting using the flora and fauna of an ancient ruin in Zimbabwe; the story itself is an English adaptation of a local African tale from today's indigenous inhabitants of the area. By encompassing a spiritual tale in realistic settings, Steptoe forces the reader to blur the line between reality and magic; however, this "magic" galvanizes to action by drawing distinctions between compassion and greed with which young readers can easily identify. This is the story of two sisters, Manyara and Nyasha, the beautiful daughters of Mufaro, two believably human girls who embody the characteristics of pride and humility. Children will quickly see that Manyara is selfish and ill tempered and that her promise to make her sister a servant in her house is based on jealousy. On the other hand, Nyasha is calm and kind; an aura of peace surrounds every action. Her singing, the villagers think, causes her garden to produce more bountifully than the others'. Even the animals find her friendly. She names and befriends a garden snake named Nyoka. The plot itself serves as a didactic tale with which children will identify. Themes of sibling rivalry and false appearances dominate the text. Steptoe mentions that the only person fooled into believing that Manyara is as kind as her sister is Mufaro, a theme that might resonate with children who endure the trials of living with siblings. The true test of character, however, comes when the King announces his search for a bride. In characteristic form, Manyara leaves in the middle of the night to unfairly secure the king's favor. In a form similar to many Anglo-Saxon fairy tales, she encounters three tests on the way to the king and fails miserably. A young boy begs for food; she brusquely pushes him aside. An old woman gives her invaluable advice about upcoming obstacles; she rejects the advice deliberately and proceeds in her journey. This obstinate behavior is rewarded when a five-headed monster greets her at the end of her journey. However, Steptoe also allows this character to partially redeem herself. While fleeing from the monster, Manyara encounters Mufaro and Nyasha. Showing consideration for another person for the first time in this narrative, Manyara begs her father and sister to avoid the palace. The monster knew her faults, she tells them, and the outcome of the story suggests that this was enough to cause her to change her ways. Steptoe toys with the fine line dividing the spiritual world from the material world, as well as building a suspenseful plot. It is this unconcern for the shape of the living being, be it male or female, young or old, animal or human, supernatural or common, that Steptoe stresses. Children will enjoy the reality of his illustrations, while adults will realize the deeper underlying message about the common threads that bind all human life: respect and admiration bring great reward.

Ten factors?! you do no longer assign factors. i do no longer think in banning books, yet as a political exercising, how with regard to the "liked" atrocity "The Rainbow Fish." this is between the main biased, socialistic products of trash i've got ever study and yet many human beings (alongside with pre-college instructors) think of that this is a e book approximately recognition. A fish who's "diverse" is kept away from-basically based upon innuendo and jealousy- till she provides up each thing that makes her "diverse" and so turns into the comparable by way of fact the backside ordinary denominator. The e book is fantastically, so little ones will have an interest in it, however the message is unfavourable (to be primary you won't be able to be extra suitable/ proficient or smarter than all and sundry else or they're going to shun you). this is undesirable, yet known. i ask your self why?