Joshua's Masai Mask - Softcover

Dakari Hru

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1880000326 ISBN 13: 9781880000328

Publisher: Lee & Low Books, 1996

Synopsis

Fearing that his classmates will ridicule his playing the kalimba in the school talent show, Joshua uses a magical Masai mask to transform himself into different people he thinks are more interesting, before realizing that his own identity is one of value.Joshua uses a magical Masai mask to transform himself into different people that he thinks are more interesting, before realizing that his own identity is one of value

About this title

About the Author:

Dakari Hru (1952- 1994) was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A writer, poet, and storyteller, he held a B.A. in French and an M.A. in psychology. Mr. Hru's poetry was featured in the award-winning anthology Make a Joyful Sound, published in 1991. Joshua's Masai Mask is his first picture book. He died in 1994 after a brief illness.

Anna Rich has provided illustrations for national magazines and newspapers. She has wanted to be an illustrator since she was in high school. Ms. Rich attended the Rhode Island School of Design and works for the Graphic Artists Guild. She resides in Elmont, New York.

From School Library Journal:

Kindergarten-Grade 3-An inspiring story of a young African-American boy. Joshua loves when his uncle teaches him to play the kalimba, but when his family encourages him to perform in the school talent show, he knows he'll be embarrassed because his classmates prefer rap. Sure enough, when the children see Joshua's instrument at rehearsal, they laugh and call his uncle names. When he tells his uncle what happened, the man gives him three very important gifts-a bright colored dashiki, a beautiful new hand-carved kalimba, and a big ostrich-feather mask from the Masai tribe of Kenya. He tells the boy that "'The mask will listen to everything you say, and you must be careful to speak wisely.'" When Joshuq puts it on, he learns that he can become someone different by simply wishing, and in the end- wishing only to be himself-he is a hit in the show. Hru and Rich weave an accomplished story of sensitivity and self-actualization. Illustrations are rich in color and capture the essence of love, encouragement, anxiety, and self-assurance. Multiethnic representation and the universality of the theme create a picture book to be enjoyed by a wide audience.
Barbara Osborne Williams, Queens Borough Public Library, Jamaica, NY
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Lee & Low Books
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 1880000326
• ISBN 13: 9781880000328
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 32