Lion and the Ostrich Chicks and other African Tales retold by Ashley Bryan

1.      Bibliography

Bryan, Ashley.1986. LION AND THE OSTRICH CHICKS AND OTHER AFRICAN TALES. by Ashley Bryan. New York, NY: Atheneum. ISBN 068931311X.

2.      Plot Summary

This book contains a collection of folktales derived from African tradition and retold by notable children’s book author, Ashley Bryan. All of the stories include the theme of smaller animals outsmarting larger animals. For example, Lion and the Ostrich Chicks tells the story of a foolish lion who insists that he fathered some ostrich chicks that he is plotting to kill and eat for dinner. He is outsmarted by the ostrich chicks as they are able to escape from him and the chicks’ friend, a mongoose who angers the lion so much that he waits and waits for an opportunity to eat the mongoose until he wastes away from hunger.

3.      Critical Analysis

NOTE: Although this book contains four short tales, this critical analysis will only focus on Lion and the Ostrich Chicks. As I read Lion and the Ostrich Chicks, I was not totally impressed with the overly used idea of the lion being the bad guy because of his pride. However, I did like how this analogy was used to present a valuable theme: Pride and arrogance benefits no one. As the reader will see in this story, the lion is very prideful and he uses this pride to intimidate other animals. Yet, the ostrich chicks and the mongoose combat his pride with wisdom, showing that wisdom is stronger than pride (another possible theme).  Bryan, in his retelling of this African tale captures the connection between African storytellers and the animals that they may observe from afar.

4.      Review Excerpts

Publishers Weekly- “Illustrated with line art, each of four tales from a different region of Africa highlights the power of common sense.”

School Library Journal- “Bryan’s lively illustrations focus on animals engaged in the action taking place in the stories, but without any context, thus reinforcing the generic content of the stories.”

5.      Connections

Other great books written by Ashley Bryan include:

·         Bryan, Ashley. BEAT THE STORY-DRUM, PUM-PUM. ISBN 0689711077.

·         Bryan, Ashley. THE NIGHT HAS EARS. ISBN 0689824272.