#27 The Magic Gourd
Title:
The Magic Gourd
Author:
Baba Wague Diakite
Illustrator:
Baba Wague Diakite
Publishing
Company: Scholastic Press
Copyright
Date: 2003
#
of Pages: 26
Genre/Category:
Multicultural
I chose this book because it was
very obvious that it was a multicultural book. It is about a starving rabbit in
Africa that helps a chameleon. The chameleon gives the rabbit a magic bowl that
fills up with whatever he asks, but the king eventually finds out about it. The
king takes the bowl and makes it fill up with gold. The chameleon then gives
rabbit a stone that hits people in the head until called off. The rabbit takes
it to the king and uses it to get his bowl back, and the king learns that
friendship and generosity are important.
There are many different mediums
used in this book. Ceramic plates, bowls, and tiles are used for the main
illustrations. The illustrator also uses hand-built clay sculptures. The
illustrations are very different than typical children’s books. They have a
very African feel to them, and the colors seem saturated.
This book seems difficult because of
the foreign words that are used in it, so I would recommend it for children
ages 8-11. I really did not care for this book, but it could be used to teach
about the culture of the people that live in Mali, Africa. It could also be
used to talk about generosity and friendship. I also think it would be fun to
let the students write about what they would ask for if they had a magic bowl
like the rabbit in the story. This book has not won any awards.
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