The Name of the Tree: A Bantu Tale Retold - Hardcover

Lottridge, Celia Barker

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0888990979 ISBN 13: 9780888990976

Publisher: Groundwood Books, 2002

Synopsis

When a drought spreads through the land of the short grass, the animals set out across the great plain to find food. Their only hope for survival is a tree with a variety of colorful fruit. The problem is its branches are too high. To reach them, the wise old turtle says, one must know the name of the tree, something only King Lion is privy to. In this Bantu folktale retold by Celia Barker Lottridge, the hero is not the most cunning or the strongest but the one that tries the hardest. Ian Wallace’s striking illustrations of desert landscape and luscious fruit help bring this tale to life.

About this title

About the Author:

Celia Barker Lottridge is a writer and storyteller who has written several highly acclaimed children's books, including Ticket to Curlew (winner of the Canadian Library Association Book of the Year for Children Award and the Geoffrey Bilson Historical Fiction Award), Berta: A Remarkable Dog (nominated for the Texas Bluebonnet Award, Horn Book starred review) and Stories from the Life of Jesus (Publishers Weekly starred review). She wrote Home Is Beyond the Mountains after hearing her mother's stories about growing up in Persia and after reading letter's written by Celia's aunt, Susan Shedd. Born in Iowa and raised in the United States, Celia now lives in Toronto.

Ian Wallace is one of Canada’s best-known children’s book creators. He has published many classics, including Boy of the Deeps and Chin Chiang and the Dragon’s Dance. His illustrations for Canadian Railroad Trilogy and Just So Stories have each received three starred reviews. His most recent book is The Curiosity Cabinet.

Ian has won the Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Award, the Mr. Christie’s Book Award and the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Award, among others. He has been nominated for the Hans Christian Andersen Award, the Governor General’s Award and the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award.

Ian lives in Brookline, Massachusetts, with his wife, Deb.

Review:

A lively African folktale that celebrates effort rather than talent...A strong read-aloud, handsomely illustrated. (Booklist 2002-04-01)

The steady cadence of the text makes the story a worthy addition to the storytelling shelf, and young readers should also find it satisfying reading. (School Library Journal 2002-04-01)

The story moves quickly in an easy, conversational style. (Horn Book 2002-04-01)

About this edition

• Publisher: Groundwood Books
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0888990979
• ISBN 13: 9780888990976
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 36
• Illustrator: Wallace Ian