The Hunterman and the Crocodile - Softcover

Baba Wagué Diakité

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0590898299 ISBN 13: 9780590898294

Publisher: Scholastic Inc., 1998

Synopsis

Key Features Description This vibrant retelling of a traditional West African folk tale is full of twists and turns to keep storytime listeners glued to their seats. Tired after an overland journey to Mecca, Bamba the crocodile and his family need the help of a human to reach their river home. Donso the hunterman agrees to help, but only after Bamba promises not to bite him. When the hungry crocodile goes back on his word, Donso begs other creatures for help, only to find that they are unwilling - cow, horse, chicken, and mango tree alike feel too much resentment at the way they have been treated by humans in the past. Finally, trickster Rabbit comes to the rescue, and Donso heads home with a stack of crocodiles on his head, trussed and ready for a feast. But there is yet another surprise in store for the hunterman. When Donso gets home, he finds that his wife is gravely ill. The only thing that can save her? Crocodile tears! Needless to say, Bamba and his family give gladly of their tears in exchange for freedom. Diakite, an artist and storyteller from Mali, tells this entertaining tale with a rolling cadence and impeccable sense of timing. His full-page illustrations, originally painted on ceramic tiles, feature stylized black figures on a pastel blue and orange background. Together, words and pictures convey both the exciting atmosphere of the story and the magic of the storytelling experience. The Hunterman and the Crocodile is destined to be a much-requested "read-aloud." This vibrant retelling of a traditional West African folk tale is full of twists and turns to keep storytime listeners glued to their seats. Tired after an overland journey to Mecca, Bamba the crocodile and his family need the help of a human to reach their river home. Donso the hunterman agrees to help, but only after Bamba promises not to bite him. When the hungry crocodile goes back on his word, Donso begs other creatures for help, only to find that they are unwilling - cow, horse, chicken, and mango tree alike feel too much resentment at the way they have been treated by humans in the past. Finally, trickster Rabbit comes to the rescue, and Donso heads home with a stack of crocodiles on his head, trussed and ready for a feast. But there is yet another surprise in store for the hunterman. When Donso gets home, he finds that his wife is gravely ill. The only thing that can save her? Crocodile tears! Needless to say, Bamba and his family give gladly of their tears in exchange for freedom. Diakite, an artist and storyteller from Mali, tells this entertaining tale with a rolling cadence and impeccable sense of timing. His full-page illustrations, originally painted on ceramic tiles, feature stylized black figures on a pastel blue and orange background. Together, words and pictures convey both the exciting atmosphere of the story and the magic of the storytelling experience. The Hunterman and the Crocodile is destined to be a much-requested "read-aloud." Product Details Item #: NTS89829 ISBN13: 9780590898294 Format: Paperback Book Pages: 32 Genre: Fairy Tales, Folk Tales, Fables Grades: 2 - 3 Lexile® Measure: AD800L Guided Reading Level: GR Level P DRA Level: 34 - 38 ACR Level: 4.0 The Hunterman and the Crocodile Paperback Book 4.46 Out Of Stock Out Of Stock Email me when back in stock Top {{#if inStock}} {{#if isSubscribe}} {{button.label}} {{else}} {{button.label}} {{/if}} {{/if}} {{#if isOutofStock}}

{{oosMessage}} {{#if isTSO}}
Email me when back in stock {{/if}}

{{/if}} {{#if isLearnMore}} {{#if learnMoreUrl}}

{{button.label}}

{{/if}} {{#if learnMorePhone}}

Contact Us{{learnMoreNumber}}

{{/if}} {{/if}} x

{{query}} in All ({{match.model.model}})

{{query}} in {{facet.myHashMap.value | facetValue}} ({{facet.myHashMap.count}})

What can we help you find? Search PRIVACY POLICY TERMS OF USE TM ® & © 2021 Scholastic Inc. All Rights Reserved. if(_satellite) {_satellite.pageBottom();} commonUtil.enableMouseflow(); Key Features Item #: NTS89829 ISBN13: 9780590898294 Format: Paperback Book Pages: 32 Genre: Fairy Tales, Folk Tales, Fables Grades: 2 - 3 Lexile® Measure: AD800L Guided Reading Level: GR Level P DRA Level: 34 - 38 ACR Level: 4.0

About this title

From Kirkus Reviews

Diakit‚'s first book makes bold use of memories of his childhood in West Africa and of the hand-painted ceramic tiles that appear as the illustrations in this book. ``There was a time'' when the crocodile, Bamba, and his family, finding themselves hungry and exhausted en route to Mecca, ask Donso the Hunterman to return them to the river. Fearing for his safety, Donso complies only after Bamba promises no harm, carrying the crocodiles into the water in a neatly tied stack. Bamba goes back on his word, however, and Donso must beg for mercy; he asks other creatures and plants for help, only to find that ``Man'' has treated the earth so badly that no one but clever Rabbit will help him. Not only does Donso regain solid footing on land, but due to Rabbit's tricks, the crocodiles are once again securely stacked on Donso's head, trussed and ready for a feast. At home Donso learns that his wife is gravely ill and in need of crocodile tears, which are joyfully offered by Bamba's family in exchange for freedom. The moral of this folktale--that people should place themselves among rather than above all other living things--is timely, but it is the breaking of promises, the sound effects as the creatures decline to help Donso, the intervention of Rabbit, and the surprise finale that will entertain children most and that makes this dramatic tale worthy of story-hour inclusion. Sources are offered in an author's note. (Picture book/folklore. 4-7) -- Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

From Publishers Weekly

Stunning primitivist paintings make a graceful transition from the ceramic tiles on which they originally appeared to this memorable debut book by an artist and storyteller born and raised in West Africa. Featuring bold, black-and-white animal characters set against earth-toned backgrounds and framed by patterned borders, the paintings give a distinctive spin to this folktale about a contest of wits between a hunter and a crocodile. Donso agrees to return Bamba and family to their river home if the crocodile clan promises not to bite him. Yet once there, the crafty creatures decide they're too hungry to let the hunter go. One by one, animal passers-by refuse to rescue Donso, explaining how Man has exploited their species, taking much from them and giving back nothing. A clever compromise brings the narrative to a satisfying close. With its many animal voices, occasional onomatopoeia and clearly delivered message about the importance of respecting nature, this is a natural choice for a read-aloud, likely to entertain as it teaches. Ages 4-7.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
• Publication date: 1998
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0590898299
• ISBN 13: 9780590898294
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 32