Tshai, a poor but sincere and generous Ethiopian girl who finds a perfect orange, decides to take it to the Nigus, or ruler, with no thought of reward in mind at all. Along the way, she encounters Ato Jib, a hyena cloaked in traditional white robes with holes cut out for his ears. Ato Jib is scornful of her paltry gift but when she returns with a donkey, gold, and jewels, he in turn offers the Nigus all of his lands and cattle. In return, the hyena receives the Nigus's most prized possession--the perfect orange.
This ancient Ethiopian folktale reinforces the values of generosity and selflessness over greed and self-centeredness. The illustrations by Xiao Jun Li make dramatic use of the watercolor medium, depicting Tshai as a lovely young woman adorned in traditional robes with striking necklaces and headgear. The majesty of the Nigus's court and the irony in the dark cunning of the well-dressed hyena are also made visually clear.
The author, an expert in cultural anthropology and linguistics, heard the story while doing field work in Ethiopia. Araujo includes a glossary of Ethiopian terms which are sprinkled strategically throughout the story. This is the second volume in the publisher's Toucan Tales series. It is a handsome, appealing book that gives young readers a window both on Ethiopian culture and on the universality of the values expressed in the tale. -- The Five Owls
The Perfect Orange: A Tale from Ethiopia retold by Frank Araujo introduces the reader to that very special outgoing kindliness of the African spirit: the spirit of giving. We witness this theme in The Perfect Orange. Tshai, the orphan girl, was rewarded by Negus (the Ethiopian ruler), and Ato Jib, the Lord Hyena, was humiliated by the Negus after his greedy motives were exposed.
By contrasting a generous woman and a self-seeking hyena, the story highlights an essential trait in closely knit African communities. What we want to dwell upon here is the visual side of this work, the exceptional watercolor paintings of Xiao Jun Li. Li breaks images into rhythmic shapes that are almost cubist in mode, and he organizes them in clusters of overlapping designs. The beautiful distinctness of the protagonist remains intact, while the villainess hyena is swathed in the same graceful garments but lacks the woman's magical aura. The brilliance of this work lies in the way one can sense an interior kind of structure--a modeling and forming technique that relies upon an inner solidity, rather than a contour. Subtle shades of color build the figures and suggest either anatomical form or graceful folds of cloth. Li produces a particularly striking page when encircles the hyena, Ato Jib, with menacing cattle or makes luminous, abstract backgrounds with merging colors. Throughout all this richness, great care is taken in articulating the essence of the story.
-- Wilson Library Bulletin
In this gentle story from Ethiopia, an orphan girl presents the Nigus (king) with a perfect orange and refuses payment. She does accept a donkey, however, unaware that its saddlebags are full of gold and precious jewels. Ato Jib, the Lor Hyena, mocks the child's simple gift, but when he sees the richness of her reward, he hurries to the Nigus to present all his lands and cattle--and receives the perfect orange in return. Araujo's straightforward style is well suited to the simplicity of the story. Although the occfasional inserted pronunciations can be distracting, they are certainly useful, as is the glossary. Li's delicate watercolors mesh well with the text. The earth-toned illustrations sweep across the pages, and are touched with brighter colors and intricate details. The human characters are a little stiff, but the hyena, muffled in his white robe, sparkles with mischief. An author's note identifies the oral source of the tale. A pleasant offering by the author and illustrator of Nekane, the Lamina, and the Bear.
-- School Library Journal
With wit and wisdom, author Frank P. Araujo weaves a wonderful tale about how an orphaned girl's selfless generosity is handsomely rewarded by a kindly Ethiopian ruler.
Rooted in legendary East African folktales, The Perfect Orange tells of Tshai's journey from her village to the great palace of the Ethiopian ruler Nigus to present his highness with a perfect orange that she plucked from her village orchard. On her way, she meets a wily hyena who tries to convince her that her humble gift is not grand enough for the ruler. Undeterred, Tshai continues to the palace. The ruler is so moved by the little girl's humble offering that he rewards her unselfish gesture with a gift of a donkey whose saddlebags are laden with gold an jewels. On her return home, Tshai has a second encounter with the hyena. He is so impressed by her good fortune that he schemes to increase his coffers as well. However, the wise ruler sees through the hyena's greedy plot and gives him his just desserts.
Acclaimed artist Xiao Jun Li brings the tale to life with vibrant watercolor illustrations that capture the majesty of ancient Ethiopia. This story is sure to be included among the favorite books of many young readers.
--Small Press, The Magazine of Independent Publishing
In this charming folktale from Ethiopia, a young girl finds a perfect orange and wants to give it to the ruler of her land. On her journey to the great ruler, she is stopped by the crafty and jealous hyena, who tries to trick her out of the orange. She pays him no heed, however, and continues on her journey. Upon seeing her gift and the generosity of her heart, the ruler wants to give her a gift in return, which she refuses. When she leaves, he has his courtier follow her with a generous gift. As the girl passes the hyena again, he sees that she has been well paid for her humble gift. He decides that he will give the ruler a great gift in hopes of receiving an even greater reward. But as the ruler is able to discern the heart of the giver, the hyena ends up with a surprise.
This hardcover book, which is also a PBS Storytime book, is beautifully illustrated with watercolor pictures on every page. Amharic vocabulary (the language of Ethiopia) are scattered throughout the story with pronunciation guides and a glossary at the end of the book. The story would make a wonderful supplement for a geography study of Africa, and the tale itself is a delightful allegory of how God looks upon our gifts to Him based on the attitude of our heart, not on the earthly value of the gift itself.
Any family would enjoy reading this story together and learning more about the culture of Ethiopia. It would make an especially good resource for families who have adopted children from Ethiopia.
-- The Old Schoolhouse Magazine
This tale from Ethiopia shares a common theme with many stories the world over: true generosity, especially shown by people of limited means, is sometimes greatly rewarded, while scheming and plotting by wealthy landowners usually backfires. Araujo is a cultural anthropologist, and he collected several versions of this story while working in Ethiopia, Somalia, and Eritrea. He selected the Ethiopian version as his favorite.
Tshai, a young orphan girl, finds a beautiful orange and decides that she will give it to the great ruler, the Nigus. On her way, she meets Ato Job (Lord Hyena) who tries to trade a gourd for the orange. When she refuses, he tries to ridicule the idea of presenting the orange to the ruler. The Nigus is entranced with her gift and tries to offer the girl gold and jewels, but she refuses. When she leaves, he sends his messenger after her with a donkey laden with riches. On her return, Ato Jib is surprised to see her on a donkey with full saddle bags. The hyena thinks that the Nigus would give him great riches if he offered him all his cattle and lands. And indeed, the Nigus does bestow upon Ato Jib a wonderful gift, the perfect orange offered with the full heart of the humble orphan girl.
The tale is told simply and effectively, with a few Amharic words used in the story and defined in the Glossary, which also offers a pronunciation guide. The paintings that accompany the folktale are shimmering, intense watercolors that depict Ethiopian clothing, buildings, and symbols.
-- MultiCurtural Review
The Perfect Orange is an inspiring and gentle folktale set in ancient Ethiopia. A generous young girl, Tshai travels far from her village to take an extraordinary gift to Ethiopia's ruler, the great Nigus. On the way, Tshai meets a greedy villain, Ato Jib, who selfishly plots to increase his riches. However, the great Nigus is wise: Ato Job is foiled; and Tshai is rewarded liberally. Tshai returns to her village and true to her nature, joyously shares her unexpected fortune with her neighbors.
-- Children's Bookwatch
Review by The Homeschool Magazine
"In this charming folktale from Ethiopia, a young girl finds a perfect orange and wants to give it to the ruler of her land. On her journey to the great ruler, she is stopped by the crafty and jealous hyena, who tries to trick her out of the orange. She pays him no heed, however, and continues on her journey. Upon seeing her gift and the generosity of her heart, the ruler wants to give her a gift in return, which she refuses. When she leaves, he has his courtier follow her with a generous gift. As the girl passes the hyena again, he sees that she has been well paid for her humble gift. He decides that he will give the ruler a great gift in hopes of receiving an even greater reward. But as the ruler is able to discern the heart of the giver, the hyena ends up with a surprise.
"This hardcover book, which is also a PBS Storytime book, is beautifully illustrated with watercolor pictures on every page. Amharic vocabulary (the language of Ethiopia) are scattered throughout the story with pronunciation guides and a glossary at the end of the book. The story would make a wonderful supplement for a geography study of Africa, and the tale itself is a delightful allegory of how God looks upon our gifts to Him based on the attitude of our heart, not on the earthly value of the gift itself.
"Any family would enjoy reading this story together and learning more about the culture of Ethiopia. It would make an especially good resource for families who have adopted children from Ethiopia."
Product review by Kim Kargbo, The Old Schoohouse® Magazine, LLC, September 2010
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