Monday, October 7, 2013

The Kings Magic Drum

(No official cover)

Summary:

The Kings Magic Drum is story about a king with a magic drum that everyone wanted. A tortoise concocted a scheme to get it, but he didn't realize its power. He returned it to the king and was given something to sustain him and his family with food. His son broke the rules and broke the ju ju and all tortoises have been cursed to live in a certain place since.

Genre Evaluation

This book would be classified as a folklore. It is an old African tale that explains why tortoises live under a certain tree. This has all the makings of a great folktale that gives light to a certain question.

Classroom Activities:

1. Students can create a drum. Using art material the students can make a replica of the magical drum.

Read & Response Questions

1. Why do you think that the tortoise wanted the kings drum?

2. What was the purpose of the king giving the tortoise the foo foo tree?

Personal comments:

This is one of the first children's folktales that I have read before and I loved it. Not only was it an African folktale, but it had a quality about it that really sat well with me. This story teaches children not to desire others things, because no one knows what it takes to have them. I will definitely be teaching my children with this.

About the Author:

As common with folktales this one has no known author but it has been revised and rewritten into similar works by several authors.

References:

World of Tales. (2008-2013). Retrieved from            http://www.worldoftales.com/African_folktales/Nigerian_folktale_4.html

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