Bound To Stay Bound

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School Library Journal - 07/01/1987 PreS-Gr 3 An African villager named Mufaro had two daughters whom everyone agreed were beautiful. However, their dispositions were not alike: Manyara had a bad temper and was selfish (although not in front of Mufaro); Nyasha was always kind and considerate both to people and to animals. When Mufaro receives word that the Great King is inviting all of the most worthy and beautiful women to appear before him so that he might choose a wife, Mufaro decides that both of his daughters should go. Manyara, believing herself more worthy and beautiful than her sister, sets out alone so that she can be presented to the king before her sister. What happens to each girl along the way depends on her response to the strange people whom she encounters. This folktale shows the traditional qualities, characterizations, and predictability. It is distinguished, however, by its colorful ink and watercolor illustrations of the costumes, artifacts, flora, and fauna of the Zimbabwe region. The expressive drawings of people and events enhance the story and serve to strengthen readers' familiarity with traditional African culture. A magnificently illustrated book, filled with rich textures and vibrant color, and a story that will satisfy young romantics as well as those with a strong sense of justice. Helen E. Williams, University of Maryland, College Park - Copyright 1987 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 04/15/1987 *Starred Review* Steptoe has always been an artist concerned with the black experience. His illustrations and his storytelling (he has novels as well as picture books to his credit) have, with the exception of The Story of Jumping Mouse (1984), been firmly grounded in black life, most often as it is lived in the inner city. Now his exploration of black culture has widened to African roots. Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters is the tale of two sisters with opposite natures. Nyasha is kind and cheerful, with a gentleness that is best symbolized by her affection for Nyoka, a little snake that turns up in her bountiful garden. Manyara, on the other hand, is ill-tempered and jealous of her sister. When word comes that the king is looking for a wife, Mufaro plans to send his daughters to appear before the king, even as Nyasha protests that it would be hard for her to leave her father and her home should she be chosen queen. Manyara, though, is eager to present herself to the king and secretly sets out early so she will reach him first. Making her way through the night forest, she meets a boy who says he is hungry and asks for something to eat. Manyara pushes him aside and continues on her way. Her next encounter is with an old woman, who advises Manyara to ignore a grove of laughing trees and to be polite to a stranger who will be passing with his head under his arm. Manyara angrily dismisses the old woman and soon after, recklessly disregards her advice. "I will be queen," she chants on her way to the city. Meanwhile, with the coming of dawn, Nyasha travels the same path in the company of the wedding party her father has assembled. To the hungry boy who appears before her she gives a yam; to the old woman who crosses her path and directs her to the city she gives a pouch of sunflower seeds. Later, as Nyasha and her father enter the city gates, a distraught Manyara runs frantically to meet them. She warns her sister against entering the king's chamber for fear of the monster she has seen there. Calmly, though, Nyasha makes her way to the room, where on the king's stool she finds little Nyoka, the garden snake to whom she has so cheerfully sung. He introduces himself as the king and then changes before her eyes; he has been the boy and the old woman, too. "I know you to be the Most Worthy and Most Beautiful Daughter in the land," he says. Thus, Nyasha becomes his bride and her sister a servant in the royal household. An introductory note explains that Steptoe has adapted his story from one published in G. M. Theal's 1895 book, Kaffir Tales. Steptoe's modern version will appeal to today's audiences, for the conflict between the sisters and the themes of goodness rewarded and pride punished provide an instant spark that makes for solid drama. Supporting and amplifying the narrative are lush, expansive illustration, inspired by the ruins of an ancient Zimbabwean city. It is an understatement to say the Steptoe has come a long way artistically from the days of Stevie (1969) and Train Ride (1971). The experimentation that began with My Daddy Is a Monster Sometimes (1980) and led to the refinements in The Story of Jumping Mouse culminates in the dramatic full-color scenarios that are found here. The most striking element of the art is the characters' faces. All have a unique individuality that suggest they were drawn from live models. Throughout, musculature and facial expression are true; unlike many artists who find difficulty in capturing the elusive lines of the human figure, Steptoe shows that he has intuitive grasp of its form and movement. The people of the story are placed most often against the dark tropical greenery of the region. The verdant depths are splashed with bursts of color—a yellow bird, the deep rose of a flower, the glow of a white robe—giving the individual spreads balance and interest. Lighting is a key element in the pictures as well, and it is the one area where technique falls prey to excess. There are, occasionally, instances of overly bright sheens, which lead to exaggerated-looking facial expressions. Apart form that, the work of Beautiful Daughters shows an impressive ability to draw readers into another time and space with complete absorption. The final double-page spread in particular—a Charles Mikolaycak-like display of physical form, draping robes, and sensuous splendor—makes clear that Steptoe is maturing into a premier illustrator. - Copyright 1987 Booklist.

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