Award-winning actress and civil rights activist Ruby Dee retells a timeless tale of strength and leadership in Two Ways to Count to Ten: A Liberian Folktale, illustrated by Susan Meddaugh.

When the Leopard, king of all the jungle animals, declares the time has come for a successor to marry his daughter and wear the crown, the bravest beasts gather for a competition. The creature capable of throwing a spear high enough in the air for him to count to ten before it reaches the ground will be declared the jungle’s prince.

After many of the strongest animals fail, an antelope steps forth to take the king’s challenge, only to be ridiculed for his physical weakness. But the antelope possesses a different kind of strength―one that’s a perfect quality for leadership.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2 A retelling of a story available in Carpenter's African Wonder Tales (Doubleday, 1963; o.p.) and other collections. Leopard, the king, decides to choose his successor with a test; any comer who can cast a spear into the air for a count of ten will marry his daughter and become the next ruler. Elephant, Ox, Chimp, Lion, and the rest try and fail (Lion comes closesthe gets to ``nine''), but little Antelope tosses the spear up and calls out ``Two! Four! Six! Eight! Ten!'' King Leopard laughs, then acknowledges that it's ``sometimes the cleverest that wins the prize.'' A familiar cavalcade of African animals cavort and smile anthropomorphically through Meddaugh's clear, orderly illustrations; the antelope is dainty and ingenuous, the king more a comfortable fat cat than a regal presence. Next to an Aardema story, the text is flavorless, (``I can do this thing'' is a repeated refrain), but readers will enjoy the brains-over-brawn theme, however contrived the set-up may be. John Peters, New York Public Library
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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