Courlander, Harold, 1908-1996.,

The cow-tail switch and other West African stories /by Harold Courlander and George Herzog ; drawings by Madye Lee Chastain. Cow tail switch - first Square Fish edition. - New York, New York : Square Fish/Henry Holt, (c)2008. - 143 pages : illustrations ; 20 cm

Reprint. Previously published: New York : Henry Holt and Company, 1947. "Notes on the stories" (pages 133-140). Includes glossary and pronunciation guide (pages 141-143).

"Africa is many things" -- Cow-tail switch -- Kaddo's wall -- Talk -- One you don't see coming -- Kassa, the strong one -- Anansi's fishing expedition -- Younde goes to town -- Singing tortoise -- Time -- Messenger to Maftam -- Guinea fowl and rabbit get justice -- Anansi and Nothing go hunting for wives -- How Soko brought debt to Ashanti -- Hungry spider and the turtle -- Throw mountains -- Ansige Karamba, the glutton -- Don't shake hands with everybody.

"The stories of West Africa are about men and animals, about kings, warriors, and hunters. They tell about clever people and stupid people, about good ones and bad ones, about how things and animals got to be how they are. Sometimes they are just tall tales. There are stories about Frog, Rabbit, Turtle, Guinea Fowl, and all the other animals that West Africans know. Some of the stories make you think. Some make you laugh. Here are some of the stories of the people of the forests, the seacoast, the hills, and the plains"--Page 4 of cover.



Newbery honor book.

9780312380069


Tales--Africa, West.
Folklore--Africa, West.

PZ8 / .C698 2008 PZ8