Donna L. Washington opens her vibrant collection of folktales with a marvelous commentary on the nature of storytelling. She discusses the difference between telling a story and writing it down and invites readers to make the book’s stories their own. The six lively tales she tells come from Ghana, Congo, the Republic of Congo, Nigeria, and Cameroon. Washington provides a brief introduction to each story to explain its function or role in the scheme of story genres (e.g., “ Pourquoi tales are told to explain why the world is the way it is.”) as well as to set the scene. A map at the start of each tale shows where its country of origin lies on the continent of Africa. Story notes and a bibliography at the end of the book provide source information and additional context for each. James Ransome’s rich, dynamic watercolor illustrations and detail decorations add lovely visual impact to a terrific volume. (Ages 6–11)

This treasure trove of lavishly illustrated stories comes from different regions in Africa. In "Anansi," an uproarious story from Ghana, the tables are turned on lazy Anansi. "The Boy Who Wanted the Moon," set in the Congo, explains why there are monkeys in the world. "Shansa Mutongo Shima," a thrilling story of the Tabura people from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, reveals the dangers of judging by appearances. In "The Roof of Leaves," from the Congo, a married couple learns a lesson about anger and forgiveness. "The Wedding Basket," set in Nigeria, is a cautionary tale about taboos. In "The Talking Skull," from Cameroon, a foolish man learns too late the wisdom of keeping his mouth shut.

Each tale reflects the rhythms and cadences of the storyteller's muse. For her research, Donna Washington consulted as many written and oral sources as she could find. And award-winning artist James Ransome's stunning water-color paintings illuminate the diversity of the African people, clothing, architecture, landscape, and wildlife. Readers will discover that despite the variety, these stories about human foibles hold universal truths for everyone, everywhere.