Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale. John Steptoe. Illus. by John Steptoe. New York: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books, 1987. 32 pages. $16.00 (Hardcover). ISBN 0-688-04045-4. Grades K-3.
Beauty is not only skin deep, but also comes from within. This ageless truth is epitomized in Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale. Mufaro, which means happy man, is indeed happy because he has two beautiful daughters and the king is looking to marry. Manyara, who is always in a foul mood, often boasts that she will be queen while her sister Nyasha will work in her household. Nyasha is kind, hard working and selfless. These two different sisters travel the same path to the city to meet the king and it is their behavior during the journey that not only shows their beauty, but determines their futures. John Steptoe took inspiration for this book from ruins of an ancient city in Zimbabwe and a folktale collected by G.M. Theal, but turned these ideas in to a unique, engaging, and timeless tale. Steptoe’s blend of narration and dialog puts the reader in the midst of the action, while the story offers enough suspense to keep readers on their toes. The illustrations are rich and detailed, playing with color, lines, and shading to make beautiful, realistic scenes. Not only will readers enjoy rooting for one sister or another while reading this book, but they will also be exposed to another culture and learn a valuable lesson.Highly Recommended
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