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Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales (audiobook)

(2009, Fiction - Folklore, Written by Nelson Mandela)

  • 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 8.

  • Is it any good?

    5.0

  • Common Sense says

    Magical storytelling brings African folktales to life.

Themes in this book include:   family relationships, friendship, growing up, honesty, revenge

Why We Rated This on for Ages 8 and Up

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    Not only is this collection of folktales from across the African continent brimming with cultural lessons and stories but, in audio version, it also teaches the joys of storytelling.

  • Messages:

    Fables, mostly involving animals, and stories present positive lessons and morals, while nature myths explain the stars, clouds, etc. Good deeds are rewarded, and honesty wins out.  

  • Role models:

    Characters who do the right thing are rewarded, while those who do not are punished.

  • Illustrations:

    A pdf. presents original artwork that accompanied the printed version of the book. African artists, most from South Africa, created colorful expressive illustrations for each of the 16 stories.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    A hint of violence is present in a few of the folktales, though the lesson is always that violence does not pay. Some of the moral lessons may be a bit harsh for younger listeners, and mentions of blood, animals eating one another, the chopping off of heads, and sticks used for hitting may be better understood by older kids.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales (audiobook)

Parents need to know that this audio-book brings alive 16 of the African folktales Nelson Mandela gathered in a book by the same name. Stories are read by many different actors, and a pdf. of original illustrations is included. The proceeds benefit children in South Africa orphaned and impacted by HIV/AIDS.

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Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about each of the stories presented here. Does the story remind you of any other you have heard? Who are the characters? What lessons did they learn?
  • Each story came from somewhere on the map that can be printed out. Find each one. What kind of trees, flowers, and countryside do you imagine when you hear the story? Do you think that says anything about the place of its origin?
  • Would you rather hear a story, or read one? How is the experience different, or the same? How do stories change when they are told by different people, in different times and places?
  • How do the songs add to the stories? What kinds of things do you notice in the music?
  • If families are able to look at the artwork, they will enjoy talking about ways the artists showed the characters and why they chose to paint the scene as they did. Kids might enjoy making their own illustrations.
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Adult Reviewer
    shang777
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 7 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Educational
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models
    • Great illustrations

    A great audiobook with all kinds of related activities.

    check out the audiobook's website which has all kinds of additional information, discussion questions and coloring pages to download and print out. www.mandelasfavoritefolktales.com

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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