Ethiopian Children's books.
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Faraway Home by Jane Kurtz, E.B. Lewis (Illustrator)
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Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover - 32 pages (March 2000)
Reviews:
From Booklist February 15, 2000. Like Allen Say's Grandfather's Journey (1993), this picture book captures the immigrant experience when generations live far apart and even happy family life is mixed with longing for "back home." Kurtz tells it from the point of view of Desta, a young African American girl whose father must return "home" to Ethiopia to visit his sick mother. Desta can't bear the parting, and as Daddy holds her close and tells her stories of his childhood, she comes to know how hard it is for him to be parted from the place and people he left behind. Occasionally, the writing is self-consciously poetic about "glimmering" sadness, but both the words and the pictures are wonderfully specific about the particular place Desta's father remembers. There are no generic images of "steamy Africa." Lewis' stunning, realistic watercolors move from loving close-ups of father and daughter inside their comfortable house to double-page spreads of the Ethiopian countryside, where the pink cloud of flamingos ripples up from the lake and the hyenas, "strange coughing cry" can be heard in the night. The pictures show Desta rooted in her local American school and neighborhood; it's also clear that her father's images enrich her life here, even as she longs for his return. Hazel Rochman
About the Author: Jane Kurtz grew up in Ethiopia. She teaches children's literature at the University of North Dakota and lives in Grand Forks.
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Ethiopia (Festivals of the World) by Elizabeth Berg
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Library Binding illustrate edition (September 1999)
'On the wings of eagles', an Ethiopian boy's story, by Jeffrey Schrier.
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This book tells the story, through the eyes of a 5 year old boy, of the Falasha Jews rescue from Ethiopia. As the boy tells his story, he travels back to the fireside where his Grandmother brought him up with the tales of how the Queen of Sheba met King Solomon of Israel and returns to her Ethiopian homeland carrying with her the faith of Israel and Menelik, Solomon's son.
During the Ethiopian famine and civil war of the 1980's the falashas were in danger of being wiped out and an airlift was organised by Israel to save them. The 5 year old boy who narrates the story was one of nearly 30,000 falasha jews that was airlifted to Israel in 1985 and 1991.
The book is beautifully illustrated with a collage of photos, paintings and line drawings. The background of every page is an actual Shamma, a handwoven robe typically worn in Ethiopia's highland areas.
Fire on the Mountain, by Jane Kurtz., Illustrated by E.B.Lewis.
(sometimes printed as 'Mamo on the Mountain', same illustrations, slightly different text)
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Review:
In this beautiful retelling of an Ethiopian folk tale it is hard to know which is more delightful, the simple logic and wisdom of the story or the stunning watercolour illustrations.
It tells the story of Alemayu, a young Ethiopian shepherd boy, who loses his parents and goes to live with his sister and work at the house of a rich man, caring for his cows.
The story has a wonderful moral to it that I won't spoil by giving it away! This is a favorite in our house and has been retold over and over.
Only a pigeon, by Jane and Christopher Kurtz, Illustrated by E.B.Lewis.
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Review:
Lewis's beautiful watercolours again make this book a delight. It is a true story, based in modern Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, telling the life of a boy, of about 12 years of age, who keeps pigeons as a hobby. It covers many aspects of the typical lifestyle of a child growing up in Addis and has a lovely storyline.
Both Jane and Christopher Kurtz grew up in Ethiopia and their love of the country and people is evident on every page.
The perfect orange, A tale from Ethiopia, By Frank P. Araujo, Illustrated by Xiao Jun Li., (Toucan Tales Series;Vol. 2)
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Hardcover, Published 1994, Our Price: $16.95 |
Review:
This is a lovely folktale, set in ancient Ethiopia, of a young orphan girl, Tshai, who travels far from her village to take the great Nigus (Ethiopia's ruler) an extraordinary gift. Ato Jib, a greedy scoundrel, is foiled in his effort to increase his riches by the wise Nigus. Tshai returns to her village to share her good fortune with all her neighbours.
While many European folktales seem to use fear to get their message across, most of Ethiopia's rely on humour to express the wise council that they contain.
'The perfect orange' is brightly illustrated with colourful watercolours and is a pleasure to read.
Pulling the Lion's Tail, Jane Kurtz, Floyd Cooper
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In this retelling of a traditional Ethiopian folktale, Jane Kurtz tells the story of Almaz, a little Ethiopian girl coming to terms with her mother's death, and of her relationship with her new stepmother. The gentle wisdom that is expressed, of how all these things take time and patience, is beautifully illstrated in this story. As an adoptive mum, I found the story particularly touching and was yet again impressed by the beauty and wisdom of Ethiopia's folktales. Floyd Cooper's wonderful illustrations add to the attraction of this book.
The Storyteller's Beads, Jane Kurtz
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Ages: 9 - 12 years
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This is Jane Kurtz's first novel and tells the story of two girls who, in the midst of disaster and famine, must overcome prejudices taught to them since birth. Set in the Ethiopian famine of the 1980's, it puts a face, and a heart, into a time of history that many of us in the West found hard to comprehend.
Trouble, Jane Kurtz, Durga Bernhard (Illustrator)
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Teklah is always getting into trouble! In an attempt to keep his young mind busy, his father makes him a gebeta board so that he can play with it while watching the goats graze. Next morning Teklah sets of for the hills to graze the goats, but gets sidetracked. A very funny story that touches on many aspects of life in rural Ethiopia and Eritrea. Durga Bernhard's folk-art style illustrations are bright and humourous.
The Lion's Whiskers and Other Ethiopian Tales, Brent K. Ashabranner (Editor)
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This is a collection of sixteen of Ethiopia's folktales. There is a good variety represented here, from stories illustrating moral lessons, to just plain funny. Suitable for reading to younger children or independant reading from ages 8 and up. Black and white wood-cut style illustrations.
The Return, Sonia Levitin
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The Fire on the Mountain, and Other Stories from Ethiopia and Eritrea (An Owlet Book), Harold Courlander
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Paperback, Published 1995, Our Price: $7.15
First published in 1950, this book contains 25 stories from Ethiopia and Eritrea. It has black and white illustrations and includes good background information about the countries and culture of these two lands.
I Love My Hair by Natasha Tarpley, E.B. Lewis (Illustrator)
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List Price: $14.95, Our Price: $12.76, Hardcover - 32 pages 1 Ed edition (February 1998) |
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Reading level: Ages 4-8
Review:
Synopsis: Every night bef ore she goes to bed, Keyana sits down between her mother's knees to have her hair combed. But no matter how gently Mama pulls, it still hurts sometimes! Keyana doesn't feel lucky to have such a head of hair--until Mama reminds her of all the lovely ways her wonderful hair can be fixed. Full color .
