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The Magic Gourd
Kindhearted Rabbit is foraging for his family when he rescues Chameleon from a tangle of thorns. Chameleon rewards him with a gourd bowl that fills itself with whatever the bearer requests--insects, carrots, even couscous! When the king gets word of the gourd's power, he steals it and asks for bowl after bowl of gold. Chameleon comes to the rescue again in a humorous tale about compassion, generosity, and kindness. In addition to his trademark handpainted ceramic tiles, Mali native Baba Wagué Diakité has decorated ceramic plates, as well as bowls that represent the abundant gourd, to illustrate this lively story. In the artwork, lush colors are framed by black-and-white border art inspired by Mali mud cloth patterns. In the text, words and phrases in Bambara, the national language of Mali, add texture to the spirited storytelling. ©2003 Cooperative Children's Book Center
Illustrated by Baba Wague Diakite
CCBC Age Recommendation: Ages 4-7
Age Range:
PreK-Early Elementary (Ages 4-7)
Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-10)
Format:
Picture book
Subjects:
Animals (Fiction)
Bambara Language
Folk and Fairy Tales
Generosity
Humor
Kindness
Diversity subject:
Black/African
Publisher:
Scholastic
Publish Year: 2003
Pages: 32
ISBN: 0439439604
CCBC Location: Non-Fiction, 398 Diakite