The Name of the Tree: A Bantu Folktale

by Celia Barker Lottridge

When the other animals fail at the task, the slow but wise turtle finds a way to obtain the bountiful fruits of a magic tree

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens

36 pages, Library Binding

First published April 1, 1990

Reviews

[Kyle Hamlin]

The cover of this book is already one that excites me with the animals all grouped up around a tree, and shows what might happen in the future. throughout the book the message is clear of what must be done to save the animals. The message is restated several times and many animals attempt to complete the task. This book is great with the art and design within it as well and the transition from animal to animal. I enjoyed this book and I think it would be good for 2-3rd grade students.

[Whole And]

A book we've come back to many times.
The animals of the forest are short on food and travel to a tree that is beautiful and full of fruit that has all the colours of the world and smells of the sweetess combination of all fruits. They have all forgotten the name of the tree and the only way to find out the name is to visit the king, lion.

Several animals take turns to visit lion who is calm at first becoming angrier with every animal that comes to ask since each one forgets the name by the time they get back to the others. There is only one wise, focused and clever animal who tricks the lion ot give away the name one more time, focus on the name all the way home and thus feed all the animals.

A beautiful folk tale to inspire many conversations from environmental devastation to spiritual meaning of the tree to teaching what focus is really about.

A well loved treasury in our home.

[Heather]

Another favorite bedtime story...
When a drought spreads through the land of the short grass, the animals set out across the great plain to find food. Their only hope for survival is a tree with a variety of colorful fruit. The problem is its branches are too high. To reach them, the wise old turtle says, one must know the name of the tree, something only King Lion is privy to. In this Bantu folktale retold by Celia Barker Lottridge, the hero is not the most cunning or the strongest but the one that tries the hardest. Ian Wallace's striking illustrations of desert landscape and luscious fruit help bring this tale to life.

[Mother Goose Librarian]

A great story to tell.

[Andreia Avelar]

Good book .

[Wonda]

Great read aloud with library classes!

[Jenni Rollins]

This teaches a trick for remembering things - and the tortoise wins out in the end again!

[Yapha]

One of my favorite read alouds!

[Wendelle]

somehow tortoises win everything, in every culture

[Marilyn]

Daddy read these for Alissa's bedtime stories. They had a ball.