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Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears: A West African Tale

(1975, Fiction - Folklore, Written by Verna Aardema, Illustrated by Leo & Diane Dillon)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 0, age appropriate for kids over 4; suggested age 4.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Jazzy, inventive take on West African folktale.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 4 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Not an issue.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    There is a subdued but unexpected death of a baby owl.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears: A West African Tale

Parents need to know that this folktale about cause and effect uses lots of sound effects (buzz, hiss).

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Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about consequences. Do you think the mosquito had any idea what would happen when it lied? How could it have fixed the situation before it went too far?
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