The Lion's Whiskers: An Ethiopian Folktale
Grade 3 Up?Day retells a folktale of Ethiopia's Amhara people in a readable manner that will appeal to both children and adults. A woman seeking the advice of a medicine man on how to win the love of her young stepson is told that she must pluck three whiskers from the chin of a fierce old lion. As she slowly earns the beast's trust, she learns the way to the boy's heart, as well. Day has elaborated upon the ending of the story as told in Russell Davis and Brent Ashabranner's The Lion's Whiskers (Little, 1959; o.p.), giving more life to the characters. Grifalconi's earth-toned collages provide a perfect window to the tale. Her careful use of plain and patterned papers of various textures, both cut and torn, results in an effective portrait of the desert?its ever-changing sands, oases, dunes, and rock formations. Pieces of fabric, parts of photographs (sometimes just a head, arm, hand, or leg attached to a body made of paper and cloth with face and hair drawn in), and tiny twigs, moss, and other natural materials add both artistic appeal and ethnic veracity. A surefire read-aloud and discussion-starter, accompanied by masterful artistic expression.?Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OHCopyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.