Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters
Sale price
$1899
Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 1987 · Est. 13 min read-aloud

Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters

Written by John Steptoe

Book #44 in the Reading Rainbow series

Two sisters vie for a king's heart, but only one can be queen. Who will he choose?

4.8/7 Bookroo experts·4.3/5 Goodreads · 21,107 ratings
32 pages· 1,596 words· Est. 13 min read-aloud· AD790L

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Bookroo's summary

In a land where beauty and worth are prized, Mufaro's daughters, Nyasha and Manyara, are summoned by the king seeking a bride. Nyasha's kindness contrasts with Manyara's ambition, setting the stage for a royal decision. As the sisters journey to the king, their true natures are revealed. Will the king see beyond appearances to choose the right queen? This tale, rich with African culture and moral lessons, explores themes of pride, virtue, and destiny. Discover who will win the king's heart and the crown in this timeless fable.

From the publisher

Mufaro was a happy man. Everyone agreed that his two daughters were very beautiful. Nyasha was kind and considerate as well as beautiful, but everyone – except Mufaro – knew that Manyara was selfish, badtempered, and spoiled. When the king decided to take a wife and invited “The Most Worthy and Beautiful Daughters in the Land” to appear before him, Mufaro declared proudly that only the king could choose between Nyasha and Manyara. Manyara, of course, didn’t agree, and set out to make certain that she would be chosen. John Steptoe has created a memorable modem fable of pride going before a fall, in keeping with the moral of the folktale that was his inspiration. He has illustrated it with stunning paintings that glow with the beauty, warmth, and internal vision of the land and people of his ancestors.

Awards

Boston Globe–Horn Book Award (1987)Coretta Scott King Award (1988)Caldecott Honor (1988)
At a glance
Format
Pages
32
Words
1,596
Reading age
4–8
Audience
Picture
Lexile
AD790L
Themes & topics
What readers & critics say

Reviews

4.8

out of 7

The author

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The series

The Reading Rainbow series

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The fine print

Book details

Reading levels
ATOS
4.3
F&P level
~S
AR points
0.5
AR interest level
LG
AR quiz
5030
Publication
Published
December 31, 2018
First published
January 1, 1987
Publisher
Lothrop Lee Shepard
Edition
Language
English
Type
Picture Book
Identifiers
ISBN
9780688040451
LCCN
84007158
OCLC
10696776

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