Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters
An African Tale
by John Steptoe
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A picture book retelling of an African folktale (which is reminiscent of the fairy tale CINDERELLA), MUFARO'S BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS is the story of two beautiful sisters: the kind and good Nyasha and the selfish and evil-tempered Manyara. When an African king decides to marry, he requests that "the most worthy and beautiful daughters in the land" appear before him so that he can select an appropriate bride. Believing that only a king could choose between his two lovely daughters, Mufaro declares that both Nyasha and Manyara must travel to the city to meet the King. That decision doesn't suit Manyara, who, in her desire to reach the King first, slips out of the house and makes the perilous journey to the city by herself. However, in her haste and her greed, Manyara ignores a number of important signs and tests, a situation that, ultimately, results in her heartbreak. Will Nyasha's loving heart and generous spirit help her win the hand of the King? John Steptoe has said that the ruins of an ancient city near Zimbabwe, Africa, inspired his 1988 Caldecott honor-winning watercolor-and-ink illustrations.
Editions of Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters
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ISBN |
Binding/Format PACKAGE |
Publisher Live Oak Media |
Date 2003 |
Price $35.95 |
 New |
 |
ISBN |
Binding/Format Paperback |
Publisher Live Oak Media |
Date 2003 |
Price None Available |
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 |
ISBN |
Binding/Format Paperback |
Publisher Live Oak Media |
Date 2003 |
Price $66.95 |
New |
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ISBN |
Binding/Format Hardcover |
Publisher Live Oak Media |
Date 2003 |
Price $50.95 |
New |
 |
ISBN |
Binding/Format Hardcover |
Publisher Lothrop Lee & Shepard |
Date 1987 |
Price $2.95 |
Good |
 |
ISBN |
Binding/Format Reinforced Hardcover |
Publisher William Morrow & Co |
Date 1987 |
Price $5.00 |
Good |
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ISBN |
Binding/Format PACKAGE |
Publisher Live Oak Media |
Date 2001 |
Price None Available |
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ISBN |
Binding/Format Paperback |
Publisher Harpercollins Childrens Books |
Date 1993 |
Price $9.99 |
New |
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ISBN |
Binding/Format Paperback |
Publisher Scholastic Paperbacks |
Date 1988 |
Price $1.00 |
Used, Very Good |
Media Reviews
"Steptoe weaves tribal culture and history, magic and mystery in this version of the timeless moral lesson of pride going before the fall."
Synopses
Mufaro's two beautiful daughters, one bad-tempered, one kind and sweet, go before the king, who is choosing a wife.
First Line
A long time ago, in a certain place in Africa, a small village lay across a river and half a day's journey from a city where a great king lived. A man named Mufaro lived in this village with his two daughters, who were called Manyara and Nyasha.
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