Gumbo Grove is once again the setting for a story involving Mary Elouise, an elementary school-aged girl whose pride in her African-American heritage grows appreciably throughout this contemporary story concerning personal self-esteem and racial pride. A visiting African-American storyteller and Mary Elouise's grandmother represent important mentors as Mary Elouise gains new insights. As she first did in JUST AN OVERNIGHT GUEST (Dial, 1980), Tate once again reliably examines sensitive, intra-racial issues directly and effectively, using lively and believable peer dialogue and motivations recognizable to readers. (Ages 9-12)

Mary Elouise is dying to be in the school play, but the part she gets is the last one she wants--narrator of the Black History skit. She'd rather be in the skit about presidents. Then one day, two storytellers come to school with glorious tales of Africa . . . and a new way for Mary Elouise to see herself and her heritage.