Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears: A West African Tale
Common Sense says
- Verna Aardema
- Folklore
- 1975
Parents say
Kids say
Searching for streaming and purchasing options ...
Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Get it now on
Searching for streaming and purchasing options ...
Did this review miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive, diverse representations in books, TV shows, and movies. Want to help us help them? Suggest a diversity update
Suggest an update Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears: A West African Tale
A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this folktale about cause and effect uses lots of sound effects (buzz, hiss).
Stay up to date on new reviews.
User Reviews
- Parents say
- Kids say
There aren't any reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
Fantabulous!
The only sad bit i... Continue reading
What's the story?
This is a jazzy inventive rendition of the West African folktale explaining the mosquito's buzz. A boast by a mosquito sends events bumping into each other like dominos until the lion must call the animals together to untangle the truth. Aardema uses juicy words to introduce African animals and the sounds they make--"badamin badamin" went the iguana, "wasawusu" went the python. An irresistible read-aloud.
Is it any good?
This book is a gem, from the artwork that resembles the glories of stained glass, to the cumulative power of the story's progress, to the highly original words Aardema has invented for the animals. It is also a vibrant tale of consequences and personal responsibility, even if it ends on a note of high comedy. The Dillons' illustrations are sumptuous, boldly outlined and full of feeling. Each character is given a distinct personality: The iguana is a curmudgeon, the monkey is a piece of trouble, the mosquito is a menace.
As a read-aloud, the book has particular merit. Just watch as 5-year-olds try to wrap their lips around sounds like "purup" and "nge nge nge." Read with verve, the story pulses with life. Even the most timid of listeners are happy to join in that last KPAO!
Talk to your kids 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?
Book details
- Author: Verna Aardema
- Illustrators: Diane Dillon, Leo Dillon
- Genre: Folklore
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Penguin Group
- Publication date: January 1, 1975
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 4 - 7
- Number of pages: 28
- Award: Caldecott Medal and Honors
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
Top advice and articles
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.