Trouble: An Ethiopian Trading Adventure in Amharic and English

by Jane Kurtz, Ready Set Go Books, Caroline Kurtz

Tekleh is curious. Tekleh likes adventure. And trouble always seems to find him, no matter how hard he tries to avoid it. One day Tekleh’s father decides that a gebeta (also known as mancala) board will help keep Tekleh occupied--and out of trouble. “Time and place will prove no barrier to kids’ identification with an inadvertent mischiefmaker.”--The Bulletin

Genres: Africa, Picture Books, Ethiopia, Childrens

Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 1997

About the author

Jane Kurtz was born in Portland, Oregon, but when she was two years old, her parents moved to Ethiopia. Jane grew up in Maji, a small town in the southwest corner of the country.
Since there were no televisions, radios, or movies, her memories are of climbing mountains, wading in rivers by the waterfalls, listening to stories, and making up her own stories, which she and her sisters acted out for days at a time.


That love of nature has recently inspired her to write books about loving the Earth--such as WHAT DO THEY DO WITH ALL THAT POO? and PLANET JUPITER.

Jane has published more than 40 books, fiction, nonfiction, picture books, novels for young readers, and ready-to-reads. Some are based on her childhood in Ethiopia. Some draw on her own children, such as ANNA WAS HERE, a novel for young readers that asks life's big questions about pain and disaster--and offers a few puny answers.

Since her childhood in Ethiopia, Jane has lived in Illinois, Colorado, North Dakota, Kansas and--now--back in Portland, Oregon.

Reviews

[Kenzie Teel]

This book could be used in a writing piece of chronological order by looking at where Tekleh went first and then so on. This book also teaches students the value of communication between people and how quickly they could get into trouble by doing the wrong thing. Trouble does descend from Ethiopia, but the content is still relatable to children all over the world. This book could be brought in to create diversity; there are features in the back of the book to guide students into understanding the book on a deeper level.

[Kest Schwartzman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a pretty great story, told in a straightforward way. Includes (limited) bibliographical notes.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young boy in Ethiopia sets out on a journey and ends up making many trades along the way. Elementary and up

[Katie Spencer · Rating 2 out of 5]

What an adventurous and curious little boy Tekleh was. But trouble always seemed to find him, not matter what he did to avoid it! He would ruin the coffee beans and accidently lose track of the family goats. One day, Tekleh’s father took a piece of olive wood and carefully hallowed out holes to make a gebeta board. He promised the family that Tehleh would not have any more trouble, and that this board would teach Tekleh responsibiliy. When Tekleh was on an adventure and saw that a group of traders were in need of wood, Tekleh offered up his gebeta board in return for another item. He continues this trade along his adventure and is eventually surprised at the end of the day as to what happens next, and how he makes his father very proud.

[Edna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever story about a young boy who starts out with a gebeta board which his father is convinced will make him focus on his responsibilities but, he loses the board and is repaid with another item and continues to trade each acquired item for another item until he surprises even himself at the end of the day.

[Staci · Rating 4 out of 5]

My children love this story. Tension builds as the young hero gets further and further away from what is going to be 'OK' but he manages to make it all work out in the end. My kids love the relief and think it's pretty funny how it all resolves.

In English and Amharic, we look forward to sharing this with our daughters who speak Amharic.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A humorous retelling of an Eritrean folktale. Trouble always found Tekleh, a young goatherder. His father makes him a board game, gebeta,(like mancala), that is supposed to keep him out of trouble. A series of mishaps, trades and fortuitous events lead up to a witty conclusion in which everyone, including the goats, is satisfied.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very fun story about a young boy who leaves home for the day with one thing and through a series of events ends up trading, trading and trading for many other things. It's interesting to see the many different items he ends up with and how being open to trading, he is able to benefit. I read the bilingual version that is available in English and Amharic.

[LeAnne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A retelling of a traditional Eriktrean tale in which a young goatherd disobeys his father by trading away the board game that was supposed to keep him out of trouble.
Colorful, primative illustrations.

[Dolly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful folk tale about a little boy and his gebeta board (what I know as mancala.) It is set in Eritrea and is a fun story, but still passes along a bit of the culture, traditions, and heartache of the country. Our girls really enjoyed this story (and so did I.)

[Little Miss and the Legomeister · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely folktale set in Eritrea, which is adjacent to Ethiopia. It's an amusing story with colorful, distinctive illustrations, and I love how it shares bits of culture in a natural and interesting way without being heavy handed or forceful.

Little Miss "Loved it, and loved it, and loved it."

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Boys get into trouble. This book is based on a folktale from Ethiopia. The pictures are good the story is interesting but I was actually more interested in the authors note. Been sort of a lack luster for books...

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Summary from CIP: A retelling of a traditional Eritrean tale in which a young goatherd disobeys his father by trading away the board game that was supposed to keep him out of trouble.

[Leslie (updates on SG) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute children's story set in Eritrea.