Traveling to Tondo: A Tale of the Nkundo of Zaire (Dragonfly Paperback) - Softcover

Verna Aardema grew up in New Era, Michigan as the third in a family of nine children.  A cedar swamp in the back of her house served as her inspiration and retreat as a young aspiring writer.  At Michigan State College, Verna took many writing courses, but none that were aimed at writing for children.  She didn't think about the children's book field until many years later, when she had to make up stories to get her baby daughter to eat.  Verna writes mostly African folktales because of her fascination with that infinitely diverse continent.  Out of its jungles, deserts, and great plains have come some of the most unusual and charming folktales in the world.  As of today, Verna has published over 25 books and is still working on more.  Her books have been translated into French, Spanish, Dutch, Japanese, Chinese and Afrikaans.

Verna lives in North Fort Myers, Florida, with her husband, Albert.  

Grade 1-4-- Not since the Three Sillies has there been a more foolish group of misfits--an unlikely quartet of a groom-to-be civet cat and his friends: a pigeon, a python, and a turtle. Bowane, the cat, has asked for the hand of a beautiful feline and is returning to his future wife's village with a basket of copper and trinkets. On the way, he invites one dear friend after another to accompany him. But one delay after another stalls the wedding party--for years--and when the entourage finally reaches Tondo, they are not welcome. The bride-to-be has married another and has a family, and Bowane is run off in disgrace. This satisfying tale owes its success to a clean, straightforward telling and beautiful illustrations in blues, browns, greens, and gold. Small black decorations under the text show the silly travellers in silhouette as they march along. This is the kind of story children love, and they're sure to cluck their tongues as they sit in awe of someone else's stupidity. Told with a steady rhythm that's perfect for reading aloud, this is a traveling tale for all collections. --Denia Lewis Hester, Dewey School, Evanston, IL
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.