Steptoe, John Books

Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters (Reading Rainbow Book)

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 26 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

a beautiful African folk tale 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

This story is based on an African tale that is similar in nature to Cinderella. In this story a man named Mufaro had two beautiful daughters, one named Manyara, and one named Nyasha. Manyara is rude to Nyasha, who just calmly bears it. When a call comes saying the Great King wants a wife, Mufaro plans to take his daughters to the palace the next day. Manyara decides to leave in the night to make she is chosen to be Queen. During the journey she is rude to a number of people, who turn out to be the King himself, shape-shifted into those forms as well as the form of a garden snake well-known to Nyasha. When Nyasha passes the next day, she is kind where her sister was rude. Needless to say the King picks Nyasha, and they live happily.

The story is told well, and the language used is wonderful, though not quite as wonderful as the illustrations. They almost look more life-like than photographs. The way lighting is used is amazing, and they are just stunning pictures. Everything about this book is wonderful, with nothing to detract from it.

Loggie-log-log-log

Editorial Review:

Mufaro was a happy man. Everyone agreed that his two daughters were very beautiful. Nyasha was kind and considerate as well as beautiful, but everyone -- except Mufaro -- knew that Manyara was selfish, badtempered, and spoiled.

When the king decided to take a wife and invited "The Most Worthy and Beautiful Daughters in the Land" to appear before him, Mufaro declared proudly that only the king could choose between Nyasha and Manyara. Manyara, of course, didn't agree, and set out to make certain that she would be chosen.

John Steptoe has created a memorable modem fable of pride going before a fall, in keeping with the moral of the folktale that was his inspiration. He has illustrated it with stunning paintings that glow with the beauty, warmth, and internal vision of the land and people of his ancestors.

The Story of Jumping Mouse (Caldecott Honor Books)

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 15 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

The Story of Juming Mouse 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

John Steptoe's 40-page illustrated version of The Story of Jumping Mouse is a Native American legend of a Magic Frog who gives his jumping legs to a discouraged young mouse that had recently set out on a quest -- a journey to a far-off land. The frog also tells Jumping Mouse to remember three words -- "never lose hope." Rejuvenated and able to travel much more quickly, Jumping Mouse continues on his journey. On the way he encounters a fat mouse who invites him to stay with him the rest of his life in a safe haven. But Jumping Mouse is determined to continue his quest and later discovers his acquaintance is eaten by a snake. When his journey brings him to a vast prairie Jumping Mouse is surprised to meet a lonely buffalo just standing there. Upon inquiry, he learns that the buffalo is blind, so Jumping Mouse imitates Magic Frog by giving his eyes sight to a blind buffalo and the buffalo leads him across the prairie on his back. At the end of the prairie the buffalo can go no further and Jumping Mouse recalls Magic Frog's words, "never lose hope" and thus journeys animal that identifies himself as a fox that can't smell. Jumping Mouse tries his magic once more and is able to give the fox his nose. The fox, delighted at his cure, accompanies Jumping Mouse through the forest. But as the forest ends at the foot of a mountain and the fox can not go any further, Jumping Mouse goes to sleep in despair in the face of this seemingly hopeless barrier to his goal. Suddenly Magic Frog appears again and tells Jumping Mouse to jump as high as he can and remember his words, "never lose hope." He gathers his courage, leaps as high as he can, and discovers himself soaring over the mountain as Magic Frog below shouts out Jumping Mouse's new name -- "Eagle." This is a wonderful story to teach children about Hope, Determination, Sacrifice, Hardship, and Compassion.

Editorial Review:

"You will reach the far-off land if you keep hope alive within you." The words of Magic Frog give courage to the young mouse on his long and perilous journey to reach the wonderful land of legend. He faces many obstacles on his quest and sacrifices much to help others in need. But the mouse's compassion and faith in himself prove to be a source of great power...and bring him rewards even beyond his dreams.

Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters (Picture Puffin)

John Steptoe

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Stevie

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

An African-American child resents and then misses a little foster brother.

One day my momma told me, "You know you're gonna have a little friend come stay with you." And I said, "Who is it?" and "For how long?"

That's when Stevie moved in with his crybaby self. He played with my toys and broke them, and he left dirty footprints all over my bed. But then Stevie left again, and I missed him. I missed playing Cowboys and Indians on the stoop and watching cartoons in the morning. Maybe. . .just maybe, Stevie wasn't so bad after all.

Notable Children's Books of 1940-1970 (ALA)
"Best of the Best" Children's Books 1966-1978 (SLJ)
1978 Lewis Carroll Shelf Award
Society of Illustrators Gold Medal
Children's Books of 1969 (Library of Congress)
Children's Books of the Year 1969 (CSA)

Black Americans - Minority Groups List (BL)
Notable Books for the Portrayal of the Black in Children's Literature (Top of the News)
Select Children's Books of 1969 (Publishers Weekly)
Brooklyn Art Books for Children 1974

Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters (Spanish edition): Las bellas hijas de Mufaro (Reading Rainbow Book)

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Editorial Review:

Mufaro tiene dos bellas hijas. Nyasha es arnable y considerada, pero Manyara es egoísta y consentida. Cuando el rey decide buscar esposa entre "Las hijas más dignas y bellas del reino," Manyara decide que ella será la elegida. Esta fábula clásica es tambián un viaje fantástico a Zimbabwe, con todo el esplendor y belleza que nos brinda esta antigua tierra.

She Come Bringing Me That Little Baby Girl

Eloise Greenfield

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

She Come Bringing Me That Little Baby Girl 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

The main idea is a boy at first he did not like his sister and then he liked her. My favorite part is when the mom said I used to be a baby girl . I would recommend this book to a friend because it shows you how to take care of your sister and brother.

By: D.H.
Age: 6
Los Angeles, CA.

Sweet Book 4 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

"Kevin wants a baby brother. So when his mama brings home a baby girl, Kevin wants her to go back to the hospital and get a baby boy instead. When Kevin finds out she can't, he is so disappointed. At first Kevin doesn't want anything to do with this new baby girl. But soon Kevin finds the pleasure of being the older brother of his baby sister."

I liked this book a lot. It reminds me of myself, because I wanted a baby brother, too, not a sister. I think that even though Kevin is a boy, him and I share a lot of the same feelings. But all in all, I love my sister just like Kevin, and I think we both had a happy ending to our stories.

Editorial Review:

A young boy resolves his disappointment with his new baby sister by becoming an older brother.`How he changed his opinion about his sister is developed in a . . . visual and verbal paean to familial love.' —H.`[The] pictures are superb.' —Washington Post.

Notable Children's Books of 1971-1975 (ALA)
1974 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Honor Book
Children's Choices for 1975 (IRA/CBC)
1975 Irma Simonton Black Award (Bank St. College of Ed.)

Creativity

John Steptoe

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 19 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Review by Brittany Lowe 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

My class just read a book Creativity by John Steptoe. My favorite part was when they went to P.E. because even though every one was laughing at Hector Charles wasn't. But the author could of told us more about Puerto Rico. I will tell people they should read this book because it is interesting. Brittany Lowe, 3rd grade Scribe at CLAS.

Quentin Collier Creativity Review 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Have you ever read a book called "Creativity"? I had fun reading "Creativity". I like when Charles walked Hector home. Because in this story Charles did not won't his friend to look crazy. The author could have improved the book "Creativity" by making the picture better. I would recommend this book to my brother, my mom, and my dad.
Quentin Collier, 3rd grade Scribe at CLAS.

Isa's Creativity Review 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Our class just read a book Creativity by John Steptoe. I liked it when Charles and Hector gave clothes to each other. I liked it because it showed love. The author should have changed the part about the kids laughing at Hector.
Yaisa Dodd, 3rd grade Scribe at CLAS.

Editorial Review:

Charles, an African American student, learns to appreciate his similarities to and differences from his new friend Hector, who is from Puerto Rico.

Thank You, Jackie Robinson

Barbara Cohen

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 9 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

a teacher's perspective 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

You will miss out on a great read if you think this story is just about baseball. This is a compelling novel about an interracial friendship between a young Jewish boy and an older African American man. They find their common interest in a love for Jackie Robinson and the Brooklyn Dodgers. The story takes place in the 50's and the author, in subtle ways, shows the reader how things are dfferent for the African Americans in the U.S. at this time. Their friendship is believable and the story touching (I choke up every time I read it aloud). Although kids who enjoy sports will certainly appreciate the details, all kids will enjoy the message of friendship beyond racial barriers. I highly recommend this for every 4th-6th grader.

Editorial Review:

After Sam's father died, he became so wrapped up in the Brooklyn Dodgers that he could describe every game they'd played in the past four years. Nobody was very interested, until Sam met Davy. They came from different races, religions, and generations. But it didn't take long before they had a friendship that went well beyond baseball.

Daddy Is a Monster...Sometimes

John Steptoe

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

We Are All Monsters Sometimes 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

John Steptoe is one of my favorite children's writers. I like his book Daddy Is a Monster Sometimes .I am from the monster generation. This book takes me back to my childhood days. Monsters would transform into their evil selves on television. I grew up in the late seventies in the city of Philadelphia. We didn't have cable, but we had our monster pictures on television every Saturday afternoon. Many of those films were very old and technology was not as advanced as it is now, however I enjoyed them. The characters in this story often view each other as monsters. Steptoe's illustrations beautifully show the transformation of these characters from person into monster. When the children misbehave, which is quite often, daddy has to get tough with them. They have a way of bringing the monster in him out. This is a great story about an African-American family and the loving relationship that they have... I am so glad to see that it is available again...

Editorial Review:

Bweela and Javaka relate the incidents that make Daddy a monster in their eyes.

Outside Inside Poems

Arnold Adoff

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Editorial Review:

Unique word pictures of how it feels to be young and growing.