Overview
Coretta Scott King Honor author/artist tells a tale from Mali about a magic gourd that can fill itself with whatever its owner desires. And hidden within is a powerful lesson about generosity.
Draught and famine have come to the parched forest. And when a hungry Rabbit rescues Brother Chameleon from a thorny bush, Chameleon repays him tenfold with a magical gourd that always stays filled with food and water. But soon a greedy king steals the gourd to make gold and food for himself. Cleverly, Rabbit recovers his gourd, but still leaves plenty for the King. Surprised by Rabbit's kind act, the king begins to learn the importance of generosity and friendship.
Exciting illustrations in bright ceramic plates, bowls and sculpture practically dance off of the pages.
Brother Rabbit and Chameleon teach a greedy king the importance of generosity and friendship.
Synopsis
Draught and famine have come to the parched forest. And when a hungry Rabbit rescues Brother Chameleon from a thorny bush, Chameleon repays him tenfold with a magical gourd that always stays filled with food and water. But soon a greedy king steals the gourd to make gold and food for himself. Cleverly, Rabbit recovers his gourd, but still leaves plenty for the King. Surprised by Rabbit's kind act, the king begins to learn the importance of generosity and friendship. Exciting illustrations in bright ceramic plates, bowls and sculpture practically dance off of the pages.
Publishers Weekly
Malian folklore springs to life in the exquisitely painted ceramics that have become Diakit 's (The Hatseller and the Monkeys) illustrative trademark. Set against solid color fields, his bold pottery extends an energizing magic to a traditional African tale of an enchanted gourd. The gourd, which fills with whatever its owner desires, is a gift to Brother Rabbit for his altruism in freeing Chameleon from a thorny bush. Rabbit uses the magic vessel to feed his hungry family and the rest of his impoverished village. Here, several photographs of ceramic bowls, all with intricate black-and-white exterior designs, break up the text. Viewed from different angles, the interiors of the bowls change to match the text: at first readers see the faces of Rabbit's family reflected as they peer inside; elsewhere, the interior is painted with carrots and then with water. The story plays out on plates and tiles in impressively detailed paintings. Deepening the impact of the illustrations, traditional Malian mud cloth patterns border the ceramics. Extensive endnotes explain each motif's meaning, define the text's many Malian sayings and words, illuminate the cultural context and identify the tale's folkloric "cousins" around the world. A visually invigorating work. Ages 5-8. (Feb.) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.
Editorials
Publishers Weekly
Malian folklore springs to life in the exquisitely painted ceramics that have become Diakit 's (The Hatseller and the Monkeys) illustrative trademark. Set against solid color fields, his bold pottery extends an energizing magic to a traditional African tale of an enchanted gourd. The gourd, which fills with whatever its owner desires, is a gift to Brother Rabbit for his altruism in freeing Chameleon from a thorny bush. Rabbit uses the magic vessel to feed his hungry family and the rest of his impoverished village. Here, several photographs of ceramic bowls, all with intricate black-and-white exterior designs, break up the text. Viewed from different angles, the interiors of the bowls change to match the text: at first readers see the faces of Rabbit's family reflected as they peer inside; elsewhere, the interior is painted with carrots and then with water. The story plays out on plates and tiles in impressively detailed paintings. Deepening the impact of the illustrations, traditional Malian mud cloth patterns border the ceramics. Extensive endnotes explain each motif's meaning, define the text's many Malian sayings and words, illuminate the cultural context and identify the tale's folkloric "cousins" around the world. A visually invigorating work. Ages 5-8. (Feb.) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.Children's Literature
In this West African folk tale set in the country of Mali, Dogo Zan, or Brother Rabbit, rescues a chameleon, and as a token of his appreciation, the chameleon gives Dogo Zan a magic gourd that will fill with food upon request—a wonderful gift during a time of famine! Dogo Zan and his family generously share the food from the magic gourd with other animals until the greedy king commands Dogo Zan to give him the gourd, leaving the people and animals of the kingdom to starve. Together, Dogo Zan and Brother Chameleon outsmart the king and once again the magic gourd's powers are used to feed the hungry. The kind acts of Dogo Zan and Brother Chameleon teach both the people and the animals of the kingdom the importance of generosity and friendship. Diakité uses photographs of hand-built clay sculptures of chameleons to represent Brother Chameleon, and he uses photographs of ceramic plates, bowls, and tiles to depict the daily life of the Mali people. Lyrics to a song of praise are included, along with a glossary containing English translations for the Bambara (the Mali national language) words used in the story. Diakité's use of Mali artwork and the authentic situations of famine and monarchial leadership make this story culturally appealing. 2003, Scholastic Press, Ages 4 to 7.—Christi Conti