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Mollel, Tololwa M.;
Kele's Secret.
New York: Lodestar Books, 1997. $14.99 (o.p.),
ISBN 0-525-67500-0.
Note: In this picture book, a young Tanzanian boy conquers his fears about the forest and become resourceful in his use of money. KELE'S SECRET and TROUBLE provide a window into the life of adolescent boys in rural Tanzania and Eritrea. Each author portrays how adults help their children to develop responsible behavior. In the task given to them, these two boys grow in wisdom and endurance. Mollel, a Tanzanian Maasai, has written numerous children's books about Africa. The ones written about Tanzania such as KELE'S SECRET are the most successful. This story depicts how Yoanes conquers his fears about the forest and become resourceful in his use of money. His grandmother sends him to locate the site where a special chicken lays her eggs. Yoanes receives cash payment for his services. In contrast, Kurtz, an American who lived in Ethiopia, retells a folktale in which she situates it in Eritrea. In TROUBLE, Tekleh likes adventure. His father gives him a game to play while watching the goats so that Tekleh will remain with his goats and not wander into trouble. Unfortunately, Tekleh trades his game board for a series of items as he wanders along a road. His last trade results in a game board similar to the one that his father had carved for him prior to his trip. Consequently, his father attributes the game board to the goats being content and his son not getting into trouble. Several structures of the stories contribute to their readability. Both authors utilize suspense to build interest in the story as each boy moves away from the security of their home into the unknown. Upon their return home, each boy has acquired a new sense of dignity and self-worth because they have accomplished their task in their own creative way. They have become a contributing member of the his family and the community. To maintain cultural authenticity, the authors incorporate words from the Maasai or Tigrinya. They also provide a context for the stories in a description of the country and their experience in a similar context. Finally, the illustrators show a sensitivity to the culture. Catherine Stock camped for two weeks in the coffee-producing region of Tanzania to paint some of the scenes. On the other hand, Durga Bernhard, familiar with West African cultures, studied Eritrean culture prior to illustrating TROUBLE. Both stories contain universal themes concerning family, community, and self-respect. These themes fit a multicultural curriculum characteristic of early elementary social studies classes. Students can learn more about the coffee agriculture of northern Tanzania and the herding practices of Eritrea. In addition, students can learn about the economics of bargaining. By the illustrations, students can see the different types of clothing worn and then study the reasons for the differences. Some students might wish to play gebeta -- a common game in many African countries. These books are recommended for an elementary collection. However, the lack of two items detract from what might have been excellent books. One is the lack of a map in the Mollel book and the other is the lack of a few citations of other books to help students place the story in context.
Reviewed by: Patricia Kuntz, University of Wisconsin Subject: Tanzania / East Africa |
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