The Magic Flyswatter: A Superhero Tale of Africa, Retold from the Mwindo Epic

Ancient Fantasy #3

by Aaron Shepard

The storyteller stands beside the fire, swaying, dancing, miming, singing, reciting. With one hand he shakes a gourd rattle, with the other he swings a conga -- a flyswatter made with a buffalo tail on a wooden handle. Anklet bells tinkle as he moves. Three young men beat a wooden drum with sticks.

Listening to him is a crowd of men, women, and children. They sing along at a song's refrain, they repeat whole lines of the story when he pauses to see if they're paying attention. They encourage him with little shouts, whoops, claps. Food and drink are passed around.

In a mountain rainforest of the Congo, a Nyanga village hears once more the tale of its favorite hero -- Mwindo, the one born walking, the one born talking . . . .

For ages 10 and up. Not illustrated!

/////////////////////////////////////////////////

Aaron Shepard is the award-winning author of "The Baker's Dozen," "The Sea King's Daughter," "The Monkey King," and many more children's books. His stories have appeared often in Cricket magazine, while his Web site is known internationally as a prime resource for folktales, storytelling, and reader's theater. Once a professional storyteller, Aaron specializes in lively retellings of folktales and other traditional literature, which have won him honors from the American Library Association, the New York Public Library, the Bank Street College of Education, the National Council for the Social Studies, and the American Folklore Society.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////

SAMPLE

She-Mwindo heard the noise. He went to the house of his favorite wife. He saw the boy and was full of rage. "What is this? Did I not say 'no sons'? Did I not say I would kill him?"

He threw his spear at the baby. Mwindo waved his conga. The spear fell short and stuck in the floor. Mwindo pulled it up. He broke it in two.

She-Mwindo cried out. "Aieeeeeee! What kind of child is this?"

Mwindo sang and danced and waved his conga.

I am Mwindo,
the one born walking,
the one born talking.
O my father, you do not want me.
O my father, you try to kill me.
But what can you do against me?

/////////////////////////////////////////////////

THE ANCIENT FANTASY SERIES BY AARON SHEPARD

#1 THE MOUNTAIN OF MARVELS: A Celtic Tale of Magic, Retold from The Mabinogion. The story of the magical lady Rhiannon, the king who loved her, and the magician who hated and aimed to destroy them.

#2 THE SONGS OF POWER: A Finnish Tale of Magic, Retold from the Kalevala. In a story born in the time of shamans, two magical heroes vie for the hand of a maiden and wind up battling her mother, whose powers rival their own.

#3 THE MAGIC FLYSWATTER: A Superhero Tale of Africa, Retold from the Mwindo Epic. Mwindo's father, the chief, never wanted a son and tries to get rid of him -- but Mwindo has other ideas, as well as the powers to make them happen.

#4 THE MONKEY KING: A Superhero Tale of China, Retold from The Journey to the West. From a comic epic about one of the most popular characters of all time. When Monkey decides he wants to become a god, Heaven had better watch out!

Genres: Mythology, Fairy Tales, Short Stories, Fantasy, Fiction

44 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Aaron Shepard is the author of many books, stories, and scripts for young people, as well as professional books and resources for writers and educators. He has also worked professionally in both storytelling and reader's theater, as a performer, director, and teacher trainer. Aaron's lively and meticulous retellings of folktales and other traditional literature have found homes with more than a dozen children's book publishers, large and small, and with the world's top children's literary magazines, winning him honors from the American Library Association, the New York Public Library, the Bank Street College of Education, the National Council for the Social Studies, and the American Folklore Society. His extensive Web site, visited by thousands of teachers and librarians each week, is known internationally as a prime resource for folktales, storytelling, and reader's theater, while his stories and scripts have been featured in textbooks from publishers worldwide, including Scholastic, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, SRA, The College Board, Pearson Education, National Geographic, Oxford University Press, Barron's, Hodder Education, and McGraw-Hill.

Reviews

[Kristina Cardoza · Rating 5 out of 5]

SUMMARY: The Magic Flyswatter: A Superhero Tale of Africa, Retold from the Mwindo Epic
"I am Mwindo,
the one born walking,
the one born talking.
My father She-Mwindo does not want me.
My father the chief wants to kill me.
But what can he do against me?"

Just before his wives became pregnant, African chief She-Mwindo had said that if any of his children was a boy, then they would be killed, for when it comes to wedding expenses, only the groom's family would have to pay for everything. Soon, six of his seven wives give birth on the same day--and luckily, they were all girls. When the seventh child, Mwindo, was born, he did not want to be killed. Mwindo chanted the song (see above) and could not be killed by his father! Later, because his father could not get rid of the boy, Mwindo was sent up the river. After being raised by his aunt Iyangura, Mwindo wants revenge--can he make his father get what he deserved?

AUTHOR BIO:
This book is a folktale, and it was retold by Aaron Shepard. The original author is unknown.

MY OPINION:
I found this book very amusing and even a bit funny at times--I don't know if it was made to be funny or not, but I personally thought that the story was, a bit. ;) I also think the ending is very sweet--it's not what you think it will be! My new favorite folktale!! <3

★★★★★ 5/5 stars!

Blog: http://reviewsbykristina.blogspot.com...

http://amazon.com/author/kristinacardoza
www.KristinaCardoza.com
www.facebook.com/KristinaCardozaChild...
www.twitter.com/KristinaCardoza

[Anusha Narasimhan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is probably my first time reading a book based in Africa. It was interesting and entertaining. I found myself singing Mwindo's dialogues in random tunes. I guess this would be better as an audiobook where the story is narrated to the beats of a drum (or any other percussion instrument).

[Edwina Book Anaconda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun version of an old fable about a boy who wouldn't give up on winning the love of his Father.

[Wendy Broyles · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story has such good rhythm. I feel certain it would be best enjoyed in the traditional oral way with drum accompaniment. A quick, fun read.

[Jon Santiago · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

Excellent take and one that I will definitely share with my children. Shepard did a wonderful job relating the epic and making it relatable

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rather entertaining. Love the notes at the end.

[Kath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read providing some culture as well.