Includes song lyrics and explanation, explanation of mud cloth patters, author's note, glossary, and related stories. ( )

The Magic Gourd is a traditional rabbit story that are very popular among children in Mali, West Africa. Rabbit's family is experiencing a drought and famine. Because of Rabbit's hard work, kindness, and loyalty, a chameleon gives him a magic gourd that can fill itself with anything you ask. Rabbit's family is now no longer hungry and thirsty. However, when the greedy king steals it back Rabbit out smarts him and overcomes do to his kind and loyal nature.
The story is written in a conversative dialect between the characters along with a narrator. Some words are written in Bambara, the national language of Mali. Also, in the back of the book is a song in Bambara, facts about traditional ali things, and a glossary with the words in Bombara and translated to English. ( )

This is a folktale that deals with the concepts of kindness and generosity. The illustrations and inclusion of Bambaran words create an authentic view into the culture of Mali. This is a great story of how kindness is rewarded and how friendships and generosity are more important than gold. This is a great book for teaching the concept of generosity and kindness even when times are tough. ( )

Brother Rabbit has a magic gourd and the uses it to feed others. A Greedy King comes and takes it but the Rabbit tricks the King into giving it back. The rabbits kindness wins in the end. ( )

This book offers children a peak of African culture through it's authentic illustrations and through songs from Mali that can be sung during different parts of the story with translations of the lyrics displayed as well. The main character, Rabbit, exemplifies what a good neighbor is when crossing paths with a chameleon who needs help. The chameleon sets an example by sharing and caring for someone in need (Rabbit), even when it's a stranger. This is a great book for children to learn the importance of keeping a good attitude when times are tough, as Rabbit gracefully did, and also displays the importance of sharing, as Chameleon so kindly did. ( )