Ashley Bryan says, "My mother had a proverb for any situation, attitude, or event." Many of us have had the same experience. But have you ever heard, "As a crab walks, so walk its children" or "A log may lie in the water for ten years, but it will never become a crocodile"? These are two of the twenty-six African proverbs Ashley Bryan has chosen to illustrate in this book. Having grown up with proverbs, it was no surprise to Mr. Bryan when he began reading African literature to find African proverbs along with African stories. The proverbs grew out of the lives and experiences of the varied African peoples. Each proverb here is credited to a specific tribe, yet, as Ashley Bryan explains, most were known in other tribes as well. And in fact, all are true for people everywhere. We may not see crabs often, but we understand about crab children, and even people who do not have crocodiles nearby know that they do not begin as logs. This is a book to treasure for its rich universal wisdom and its gloriously evocative illustrations. Grade 2-5-This collection of proverbs represents a range of thoughtful admonitions and contemplations, both serious and humorous. The beauty of this work is in the many possible meanings these words will elicit. Whether considering the Krahn saying, "Never try to catch a black cat at night"; the Kpelle proverb, "As a crab walks, so walk its children"; or the Ashanti phrase, "No one knows the story of tomorrow's dawn," readers can imagine the stories behind these expressions. Each proverb has its own page and is interpreted with a colorful, energetic painting that extends the folkloric theme with playful symbols and figures. The tempera-and-gouache pictures with white outlines are reminiscent of woodcuts. This book will find an audience among families, discussion groups, and readers who relish discovering the wisdom of words. Joan Zaleski, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. With one proverb per page, this collection of 26 African aphorisms provides an appetizing but small bite of African wisdom. Characterized by vivid concrete imagery, some selections deal with identity "while others are cautionary. Most are readily understood, and a few have familiar counterparts, i.e., "There is no one-way friendship." Some sayings are serious and some are humorous but all will stimulate thought and discussion. Each is credited to a particular tribe, but no sources are cited. Illustrated in Bryan's distinctive multishape, multicolor style, the tempera-and-gouache art resembles stained glass. Most pictures clearly reflect the imagery of the proverb, but a few require a closer look. A worthy supplement to cultural studies, this will also inspire students to write and illustrate their own proverbs. Linda Perkins Every country boasts its own proverbs, but unless US children study a foreign language or live in a bilingual family, their exposure to these pithy sayings can be limited. Bryan's 26 African proverbs from different villages and peoples provide a playful introduction to the cultural aspect of language. Accompanied by brilliantly colored illustrations reminiscent of stained glass, these short but wise sentences``The house of the loud talker leaks,'' ``Treat your guest as a guest for two days; on the third give him a hoe,'' etc.grant a funny and fascinating glimpse into how different societies pass their collective wisdom from generation to generation. (Picture book. 4-8) -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. Ashley Bryan (1923–2022) grew up to the sound of his mother singing from morning to night, and he shared the joy of song with children. A beloved illustrator, he was named a Newbery Honoree for his picture book, Freedom Over Me . He also received the Coretta Scott King—Virginia Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Award, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, was a May Hill Arbuthnot lecturer, a Coretta Scott King Award winner, and the recipient of countless other awards and recognitions. His books include Freedom Over Me ; Sail Away ; Beautiful Blackbird ; Beat the Story-Drum, Pum Pum ; Let It Shine ; Ashley Bryan’s Book of Puppets ; and What a Wonderful World . He lived in Islesford, one of the Cranberry Isles off the coast of Maine. Used Book in Good Condition