From the author of "The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency," this completely charming collection of 40 tales from the Ndebele people of Zimbabwe and the Setswana people of Botswana demonstrates the wealth and variety of traditional African folk tales.
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"Like Mma Ramotswe I will put this book close to hand and "read it when there is nothing much to be done"... A charming collection of extremely short tales: 33 IN 171 pages. A number of the shortest are less than 4 pages long, and I found it an ideal book to read whilst waiting for odd minutes in the car, for a programme to start or just to break a tedious job. It will stay on my shelf for visitors. Even the tired overnight visitors will find a story to tickle their fancy here!"
— Gill (4 out of 5 stars)
“The personalities of Africa's animals—the wiliness of the hare, the gullibility of the lion, the laziness of the baboon—take shape as the book proceeds. And there are clear moral lessons here, useful for parents everywhere.”
— New York Times“In these folktales, Smith (who was born in Zimbabwe and now teaches law at Edinburgh University) acts as a veritable bridge between cultures.”
— Washington Post“These are pithy, engaging tales, as habit-forming as peanuts.”
— Publishers Weekly“A fine production and a good listen for anyone interested in folktales. It's also perfect family listening.”
— AudioFile" I am a dedicated fan of anything Alexander McCall Smith writes. He re-tells African folk tales in this book. They are about a time when animals could talk and interact with each other and with people. Sometimes they have a moral, sometimes they are just entertaining, and sometimes they are instructive as to human/animal nature. They made me smile, they made me think. I think I will read them to my grandson when he is a little older and see what he gets from them. "
— Kozie, 2/13/2014" A fun and easy read that made me think while I was laughing. The stories are short, but have abrupt and sometimes tragic endings that I would not recommend for small children. (I had planned on reading these fables to my 9 and 6 year-olds.) great for middle school age and up:) "
— Johnnelle, 2/7/2014" This is the non-illustrated version of The Baboons Who Went This Way and That. "
— Ticklish, 2/3/2014" This book consists of fables edited by Alexander McCall Smith. I enjoyed them, but think they are meant to be read to children maybe one or two a night. "
— Pam, 2/1/2014" It is interesting to read these folk tales from another culture. In most of them good actions prevail, and wrong is punished. As in many of Aesop's fables, the animals in many of these stories can talk. I enjoyed the short stories, but I still enjoy the Mma Ramotswe mysteries better. "
— Duckpondwithoutducks, 1/22/2014" An interesting collection of African folktales from the author of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. "
— Bridget, 1/22/2014" I do love Alexander McCall Smith and everything he does, but this book has some of the dumbest stories I've ever read. "
— Matthew, 1/19/2014" Its refreshing and beautiful stories from Africa "
— Fatima, 1/3/2014" I read this to my class every year because we study Africa and folk tales. When I first begin to read it, the students act too cool for such things. However, it is just twisted enough to keep 7th graders very interested. They always beg for more. I always make them wait for another day. "
— Mary, 12/15/2013" "We can offer a discounted iPhone upgrade at 2 yr commitment pricing + $250 along with a new 2 year contract +$18 upgrade fee" "
— Paul, 12/10/2013" This book has some interesting tales but alot of them involve people dieing. "
— Caroline, 12/7/2013" This book contains folk tales from Africa. It reminded me of "Uncle Remus" or "Aesops Fables", but not as funny. It is a quick read because many of the stories are pretty sparse. "
— Cathy, 11/26/2013" A nice collection of folk tales; I experienced this as an audiobook and enjoyed the readers' accents. "
— Lauren, 11/26/2013" good African short folktales from Botswana and Zimbabwe. "
— Mariana, 11/26/2013" This is a collection of Folk Tales from Botswana. The audio book is short, only 4 discs and is read by three different narrators with African accents. Very fun! "
— Maria, 10/3/2013" This is a very neat little collection of folk tales, gathered from and told by people of all ages. I listened to it and the narrators were excellent. The stories all have a moral and are probably very good teachers. I liked it. "
— Cindee, 6/26/2013" AMS is great for the first few books, but after that, they all run together in my head. "
— Elinor, 4/29/2013" Audiobook version. While I enjoyed some of the stories from this one, I didn't get into it as much as Smith's other books. The tales are really interesting though, as they are quite different from most "western" folk tales. "
— Amanda, 11/5/2012" If you liked stories of the great grey-green greasy Limpopo River, you'll probably like this collection of stories as well. I especially recommend the audio book version. The readers change from story to story, but all the voices are charming. Now pass me the calabash. "
— Jim, 5/16/2012" A charming collection of African folktales, with a forward by Mma Ramotswe. (If you don't know who Mma Ramotswe is, run out and get a copy of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.) For an extra special treat, listen to the audiobook. "
— Debbie, 2/28/2012" A set of stories which echo the children's stories we know, with the differences in animals creating a sunny, dreamy world of magic and mischief. "
— Sophie, 2/4/2012" Unusual for me to give up on a book but this just didn't do it for me. The stories just seemed pointless. "
— Lisa, 9/27/2011" I'm so glad I took the time to listen to these stories on audio. This would be a great activity for parents and children to enjoy folk tales from another culture. "
— Sonia, 9/6/2011" African folk tales, well told. "
— Nicole, 6/26/2011" Prejudiced ... I like anything and everything by this author. "
— Stephanie, 6/25/2011" I loved this so much! "
— Indigoflowers, 5/14/2011" I read this to my class every year because we study Africa and folk tales. When I first begin to read it, the students act too cool for such things. However, it is just twisted enough to keep 7th graders very interested. They always beg for more. I always make them wait for another day. "
— Mary, 5/10/2011" So far, I have loved everything that I have read by Alexander McCall Smith. I love these little African folk tales. "
— Chaz, 5/5/2011" This is a collection of Folk Tales from Botswana. The audio book is short, only 4 discs and is read by three different narrators with African accents. Very fun! "
— Maria, 4/29/2011" The author of the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency has compiled tales from africa - oral stories told from one generation to the next and they are all great to read. "
— Sara, 2/20/2011" Great retelling of old african folk tales. I really enjoyed the collection. Light reading, but good. "
— Margaret, 2/17/2011" Very short stories, only a page or so each. I like reading folktales, but I wish this collection had included longer or more fleshed out versions of the ones chosen, perhaps with related discussion as to meaning, and descriptions of where they came from. "
— Virginia, 1/1/2011" This book consists of fables edited by Alexander McCall Smith. I enjoyed them, but think they are meant to be read to children maybe one or two a night. "
— Pam, 12/22/2010" This book has some interesting tales but alot of them involve people dieing. "
— Caroline, 12/22/2010" This book contains folk tales from Africa. It reminded me of "Uncle Remus" or "Aesops Fables", but not as funny. It is a quick read because many of the stories are pretty sparse. "
— Cathy, 11/14/2010" If you liked stories of the great grey-green greasy Limpopo River, you'll probably like this collection of stories as well. I especially recommend the audio book version. The readers change from story to story, but all the voices are charming. Now pass me the calabash. "
— Jim, 7/20/2010" The Tales in this were so different than any I've heard I had to laugh with them. Kids sat bug eyed during them and scratching their heads after them. "
— Tara, 6/5/2010" An interesting collection of African folktales from the author of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. "
— Bridget, 4/2/2010" I greatly enjoyed reading these exotic folktales, in which the supernatural and the everyday mingle so closely. "
— Peacegal, 1/12/2010Alexander McCall Smith is the New York Times bestselling author of numerous novels, including the No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, the Isabel Dalhousie series, 44 Scotland Street novels, Corduroy Mansions series, the Perfect Passion Company novels, and more. He has also written stand-alone novels, books for children, and nonfiction works. In 2004 he was named the British Book Awards Author of the Year and Booksellers Association Author of the Year. He is professor emeritus of medical law at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and has served with many national and international organizations concerned with bioethics. He was born in what is now known as Zimbabwe and taught law at the University of Botswana.
Davina Porter has been enthralling listeners for over twenty-five years with her ability to mine the psychological depths of the characters she reads and bring them convincingly to life. In 2006, she won the prestigious Audie Award for Best Female Narration and in 2004 for Best Inspirational Literature Narration. She has been honored as an AudioFile Golden Voice and has won nineteen AudioFile Earphones Awards. As an actress, she has appeared on stage at the Vineyard Playhouse and the Square One Theater, among others.
Christina Moore is an actress and Earphones Award–winning audiobook narrator. As an actress, she is best known for her roles in the television series That ’70s Show, Hawthorne, and 90210. She is a founding member of Bitches Funny, an all-female sketch group that has performed in New York City and Los Angeles.
Nyambi Nyambi is an American character actor, best known for his role as Samuel in CBS’s Mike and Molly.
Steven Crossley, a graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, has built a career on both sides of the Atlantic as an actor and audiobook narrator, for which he has won more than a dozen AudioFile Earphones Awards and been a nominee for the prestigious Audie Award. He is a member of the internationally renowned theater company Complicite and has appeared in numerous theater, television, film, and radio dramas.
Traber Burns worked for thirty-five years in regional theater, including the New York, Oregon, and Alabama Shakespeare festivals. He also spent five years in Los Angeles appearing in many television productions and commercials, including Lost, Close to Home, Without a Trace, Boston Legal, Grey’s Anatomy, Cold Case, Gilmore Girls, and others.