Tricky Tortoise

by Mwenye Hadithi, Adrienne Kennaway

This morality tale shows how a tiny creature of the jungle--a tortoise--triumphs over a bullying elephant

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Kids, Animals

32 pages, Hardcover

Published September 1, 1988

About the author

Mwenye Hadithi, meaning "he who has the stories," is a name used by Bruce Hobson, who was inspired by Adrienne Kennaway's vibrant use of color to write stories for children. Mr. Hobson grew up on ten acres of bush garden with porcupines and gazelles; crocodiles in the rose bed; and a hippopotamus that once got stuck between the courtyard gates--all of which fostered his great love of animals and bush country of Kenya. Mr. Hobson lives in Nairobi with his wife and child.
(From the inside cover of one of his books)

Reviews

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting take on the trickster tale, this one places the tortoise as the hero, and the arrogant elephant as the object of the trickery. Dishonest, yes, but that's the point of a trickster tale. Besides, getting stepped on 332 times is getting awfully close to the biblical 70x7. lol

Content Advisory: use of "stupid" as a belittling term

[Marlee · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was okay. It had cute pictures and was quick and easy and engaging for a young child. However, it felt immoral, even though the tortoise had valid reasons for what he did.

[Ash Reads Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful art! Some of the wording might be a bit boring or difficult for younger readers, but this would still be a nice book for group storytime.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really fun tale.

[Nate · Rating 1 out of 5]

What on earth? This book is awful. The main character is rude and outright mean. He lies and is made out to be the good guy. What is even the point of this book?

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another take on the tale of the "small smart animal cheats big animal who thinks they are something because they're big and/or have muscles", but in a refreshing setting with animals that northern European me isn't used to in this kind of story.