How the Ostrich Got Its Long Neck: A Tale from the Akamba of Kenya

by Verna Aardema, Marcia Brown (Illustrator)

One morning, long, long ago, in the days when the ostrich had a very short neck, Crocodile woke up with a terrible toothache. Her pained cries touched Ostrich's heart, and as Ostrich played dentist to the hungry crocodile--KBAK!--she clamped her jaws on Ostrich's head! But when Ostrich tried to pull away, a most peculiar thing happened.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Folklore, Africa, Geography, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 28, 1995

About the author

A prolific American children's author and teacher, Verna Norberg Aardema Vugteveen - more commonly known as Verna Aardema - was born in 1911 in New Era, Michigan. She was educated at Michigan State University, and taught grade school from 1934-1973. She also worked as a journalist for the Muskegon Chronicle from 1951-1972. In 1960 she published her first book, the collection of stories, Tales from the Story Hat. She went on to write over thirty more books, most of them folkloric retellings. Her picture-book, Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears, won co-illustrators Leo and Diane Dillon a Caldecott Medal. Aardema was married twice, and died in 2000 in Fort Myers, Florida. (source: Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Crocodile gets a toothache, none of the animals are willing to take the risk of helping her, until Ostrich is moved by her tears. But Crocodile's hunger overpowers her pain, and she clamps down on Ostrich's head, precipitating a tug-of-war with surprising consequences...

This pourquoi tale from the Akamba people of Kenya offers a humorous explanation of how ostriches came to look the way they do. Verna Aardema, known for her many excellent folktale adaptations, here delivers an engaging narrative that - with its many sound-words - will lend itself to reading aloud. Unfortunately, despite her three Caldecott Medals, Marcia Brown's illustrations, which had a crude and cartoonish quality, did not appeal to me at all.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and amusing for kids or adults

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really fun book. The illustrations were not the best (not the African bright colors), but the story is well written and the kids really enjoyed. It's a great complement to any study of Africa.

This is a book of 'creation' stories - stories of how animals became the way they are. How they got spots or long necks or shells or whatever. They're usually quite funny and have a twisted logic to them. My kids liked making up their own stories as well.

We've liked everything from this author so far.

[midnightfaerie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Eh. Not much here. The pictures were neat, and the legend was somewhat interesting I suppose, but it didn't hold the attention of my preschoolers or my 5 yr old. And they love all books. Each page blended into the next and didn't hold much interest. Wouldn't recommend.

[Just a Girl Fighting Censorship · Rating 2 out of 5]

Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears was one of my favorite picture books ever since it was read to me in 3rd grade, so when I saw that the author wrote this other African pourquoi story I was excited. Perhaps that excitement is what lead to my disappointment. The onomatopoeias are fun but the characters lacked personality. The story was forgettable but the biggest problem I had was actually with the illustrations, they are distractingly abstract and scribbly, very unappealing. I hate to go there, but I will...the ostrich's skin kept reminding me of scrotum....there I said it.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: This fun book tells a story about how the ostrich got its long neck.
Evaluation: The text was an extremely entertaining book to read! The illustrations were appealing and the story was fun to go through. Very appropriate for younger grades.
Teaching Idea: One could use this book to introduce the term "myth" and why it means. Reading this book lets the students think if this was actually a real story of how something came to be or not. Could an alligator realllllly stretch out an ostrich's neck without hurting it? No. So is that what really happened? Probably not.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Long ago, ostriches had short necks. One day, Crocodile wakes up with a toothache. He searches for someone to reach into his mouth to pull out the tooth. But no one will trust him. Finally, he asks Ostrich. Against the warnings of Fish Eagle, Ostrich sticks her head in the croc’s mouth. It is then that the crocodile realizes he’s hungry and chomps down. Ostrich pulls away but when she is free, her neck has been stretched.

[Raven · Rating 1 out of 5]

The artwork is very horrifying.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the pictures how they’re all more imaginative. Great fable of how the ostrich got its long neck.

[Danni Langdon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun fast fast-paced folk story, that engages students and teaches a lesson that you that not all change has to be bad.

[Ally]

Title: How the Ostrich Got It’s Long Neck: A Tale from the Akamba of Kenya
Author: Verna Aaderma
Illustrator Marcia Brown
Genre: Non-European Folktale
Theme(s): Kindness/Stranger Danger
Opening line/sentence: “Long, long ago when the Earth was set down and the sky was lifted up, the Ostrich had a short neck.”
Brief Book Summary: The Ostrich was helping a Crocodile with a toothache when the Crocodile forgot the Ostrich was helping and bit down on him to eat him. The Ostrich pulled and pulled and other animals helped and the Ostrich was finally free, but he felt a little funny. He was suddenly able to reach things that he never could before. That is when he realized that his neck was all stretched out and long.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: Recorded Books (Recorded Books, LLC.) Long ago, when the world was new, the ostrich’s neck was so short that he couldn’t reach the succulent berries in the trees, and he had to sit on the ground to eat bugs. All that changed on the fateful day when the crocodile awoke with a terrible toothache that no one dared to help her with--no one, that is, but a naive and compassionate young ostrich. Compromising his own safety to help a needy stranger, he was rewarded with a most amazing surprise. This delightful African folk tale comes from the Akamba people of Kenya, a word that means the place where there are ostriches. Verna Aardema’s masterful word play lends itself perfectly to being read aloud. Made-up words for the sounds of tears falling, ostriches strutting, and kudus galloping create an atmosphere of sheer delight. n.d., Recorded Books, Unabridged Cassette - Library Edition; 95090, $15.75. Ages 5 to 11.
(PUBLISHER: Recorded Books Inc. (Prince Frederick MD:), PUBLISHED: 1997.)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: Mary Sue Preissner (Children's Literature)
Aardema and Brown have a hit in this delightfully retold folktale from Kenya. Originally, ostrich had a short neck and could not easily reach the ground and tall bushes for food. Nor could he easily reach the river water for a drink. In the river, crocodile, crying in pain from a toothache, approaches various animals to help him. Naturally, ostrich fall prey to the crocodile tears. His humanitarian efforts are quickly thwarted when crocodile remembers he forgot to eat breakfast and chomps down on ostrich's head. As ostrich tries to back away from croc, croc pulls in the opposite direction. With each pull from both sides, ostrich's neck stretches. Brown's illustrations are both humorous and colorful, using a combination of watercolor and marker that bring Aardema's text to life. 1995, Scholastic, $14.95. Ages All. (PUBLISHER: Scholastic (New York:), PUBLISHED: 1995.)
Response to Two Professional Reviews: I agree with both reviews. The illustrations bring the whole story to life and make the book humorous and colorful.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: I think that retelling folktales is something useful to know about because it allows us to better understand certain groups of people.
Consideration of Instructional Application: In a classroom, I would use this book to talk about different cultures and their stories and adaptations that animals have had over the years.

[Marissa Sansone]

Title: How the Ostrich Got Its Long Neck
Author: Verna Aardema
Illustrator: Marcia Brown
Genre: Non-European Folktale
Theme(s): Animals, Multicultural, Creation
Opening line/sentence:
Long long ago, when the earth
Was set down and
The sky was lifted
Up, the ostrich
Had a short neck.
Brief Book Summary: Ostrich has trouble reaching food that is high up or low to the ground. He goes to the river to get a drink, and crocodile tricks him into putting his head in the crocodile’s mouth. Crocodile bites down, but when crocodile finally lets go of ostrich’s head, ostrich now has a very long neck. It is much easier to reach food and eat his food in a more comfortable way.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: (Horn Books)
32 pp. Scholastic ISBN 0-590-48367-6
(3) K-3 series. 'Long long ago, when the earth was set down . . . the ostrich had a short neck.' His short neck is a source of great aggravation, until Ostrich encounters a hungry alligator with a toothache. In this retelling of a tale collected from an Akamba man in Kenya, language rich with onomatopoeia and repetition creates an appealing 'pourquoi' tale with illustrations done in watercolor and black marker.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: (CLCD)
Mary Sue Preissner (Children’s Literature)
Aardema and Brown have a hit in this delightfully retold folktale from Kenya. Originally, ostrich had a short neck and could not easily reach the ground and tall bushes for food. Not could he easily reach the river water for a drink. In the river, crocodile, crying in pain from a toothache, approaches various animals to help him. Naturally, ostrich fall prey to the crocodile tears. His humanitarian efforts are quickly thwarted when crocodile remembers he forgot to eat breakfast and chomps down on ostrich’s head. As ostrich tries to back away from croc, croc pulls in the opposite direction. With each pull from both sides, ostrich’s neck stretches. Brown’s illustrations are both humorous and colorful, using a combination of watercolor and marker that bring Aardema’s text to life.
Response to Two Professional Reviews: Both of these reviews comment on the well done watercolor illustrations. The first review comments on the colorful language as well as the pictures. The writer explains that the story is told in a way that keeps the reader interested.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: The pictures in this book are nicely done. The way the book is written is exciting for readers. The plot is easy to follow, and the pictures accurately depict what is going on in the story. It is told in a way that is easy to understand. The language keeps readers interested and curious as to what is going to happen.
Consideration of Instructional Application: This book can be used to explain how different cultures have different opinions. This book is an African folktale, so it could be read on a culture day. Students could read many different books from different cultures, and learn about how all of those differences are okay.

[Samantha Hagler · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a fable about how the ostriches got their long necks. It tells about a ostrich that had a short neck and couldn't reach bugs on the ground or the berries in the trees, such an inconvenience. One day, a crocodile came along and asked the ostrich if she would try to pull his tooth out that was hurting. The ostrich felt bad for the crocodile so she stuck her head in his mouth and the crocodile chomped down on her head. The crocodile pulled and the ostrich pulled, both in opposite directions. Before you knew it, the ostrich was finally set free, but her neck had been stretched!

The illustrations were not the best in this book, but I think it would be a good book to teach students about fables and the difference between fiction and non-fiction. An activity that could be assigned after reading this book would be have the students make up their own fable about something in the world.

[Lizzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

How the Ostrich Got Its Long Neck is a folktale. It is called a pourquoi tale because it is a "why" story that explains how an animal got a certain trait. I believe stories like this one are great for younger children because they are constantly asking why about everything around them. To give them an entertaining story that explains the why behind something as silly as an ostrich's long neck would thrill them. This story is filled with onomatopoeia, from the sound of crocodil tears hitting the water to the sound of ducks skittering across the water and flapping. Student love sound effects and talking animals so this would be a great story to read in an elementary classroom.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun "pourquoi" story from Africa, offering an explanation (as the title suggests) for how the ostrich got its long neck. The tale is tale is fairly short and interesting, with mottled watercolor illustrations and lots of onomatopoeia. I really enjoyed the author's note at the end that offers more information about the story and recommends other "pourquoi" tales that explain how an animal or person came to have a particular characteristic or how a certain natural phenomenon came to be.

[Kacey Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

This African folktale tells the creation story of how the ostrich got its long neck. I thought the story line was very clever, using a crocodile as the key role in the ostrich's transformation. There are many examples of onomatopoeia within the text, making it a fun read aloud book for young children. The illustrations by Marcia Brown were endearing and added visual humor. The animal characters were cartoonish and child friendly. I would recommend this book to any teacher or parent with children reading or learning about folktales or the African culture.

[Tiauna Holley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a folklore. This book does not have any awards with its name. This book is about an old tale told that came all the way from Kenya about an Ostrich who was helping his crocodile friend and when he was looking at his friends tooth he clomped his teeth down and when the ostrich took his neck out it was very long. I gave the book three stars because I am not a very big fan of the illustrations. Aside from the illustrations I loved the characters. I think the author was clever with how he used the crocodile in his story.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Traditional literature, folk tale from Kenya
Crocodile asks everyone in his habitat for help with pulling out a painful tooth. No one comes to his aid, but ostrich agrees to help. Once her head is in Crocodile's mouth, however, he chomps down and won't let go. She pulls and pulls and her next stretches and stretches. Happily, it's the prefect solution; now she drink water and eat berries without crouching down.
The sloppy sketchy style of the illustrations didn't appeal me.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

The pictures were kind of cool . . .

[Shelley · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a fun story about how the ostrich came to have a long neck. It is a folk tale and would be a book to read to discuss legends and folk tales.

[Miss Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I totally remember this book! very funny story where the kid you are reading to can squawk right along with the bird "dont do it!"

[Bella Cassese · Rating 5 out of 5]

it was very cool and its so funny!!!!!

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

An old tale that comes to life. A Kenyan folktales in the genre of pourquoi "why" story that's survived the centuries. The creativity is in the illustrations and that crocodile is the epitome of an antagonist.

[Brittany Gaskins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: The ostrich shows many struggles in the beginning of the story. The crocodile is asking for help with his toothache, but all the animals won't stop to help him. The ostrich helps the crocodile, but when it is in the crocs mouth he remembers his hunger and clamps down on the ostrich. All the animals try to pull and pull the ostrich out. They finally free him and his neck is stretched out. He can now do all of the things he couldn't do before.
Eval: I thought this was a cute and funny story that exaggerated how ostriches got their long necks. It displays the genre is well represented and the culture is displayed by how they thought of the adaptation and how to explain it as a story. I enjoyed the illustrations and the way the ostrich was portrayed.
Teaching Tip: I would use this in a science introduction to adaptations and ask, could this have happened for the ostrich to get its long neck. How did adapting help this organism? and students could write their own short story for how adaptations occurred.

[Lydia]

SUMMARY: This book was a Folktale about how Ostrich’s got their long necks. The story of the Ostrich struggling with a short neck and long legs. The alligator needs help with a toothache and asks the ostrich to reach back in to his mouth and pull the tooth out. Right in the middle of this the alligator remembers hungry he is and clamps down on the ostrich’s neck. The other animals try to save her and pull and pull. As a result, the Ostrich’s neck became much longer and from now on avoids the alligators.

EVALUATION: This book is a great example of a Folktale and conversation starter about what a Folktale is. The story of the ostrich and his long neck is intriguing and surprising.

TEACHING POINT: I would use this book to teach about Folktales and get students thinking about other Folktales and life lessons.