Why do mosquitoes buzz in peoples' ears? This West African folk tale explains why and how this started. Read it to find out!
This West African folktale explains why mosquitoes buzz in people’s ears. It all started with a misunderstanding. The mosquito said something that upset the iguana, so he stuck two sticks in his ears so that he would not have to hear the mosquito. The misunderstanding continues and escalates between the snake, rabbit, crow, monkey, and owl. The monkey calls a meeting to figure out why everyone is upset with each other, and they get to the bottom of the problem. It turns out that it is the mosquito’s fault. The mosquito has a guilty conscience, so he asks people if the animals are still mad at him. This annoys people, and they usually swat at him. Five- and six-year-old children would like this book because of its simple storyline and repetitiveness. They would be able to remember the story and quickly and easily read it on their own. The pictures are also bright and colorful and complement the text very well. The title refers to the explanation in the story as to why mosquitoes buzz in people's ears...it all started because of a little misunderstanding!
This book won the Caldecott Medal, and the illustrators won the Newbery Medal for the cover of A Wrinkle in Time. Check out http://history.librarypoint.org/Verna_Aardema to learn about the author and see some of her other books, a few of which have been featured on Reading Rainbow (Borreguita and the Coyote, Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain, Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears, and Who's in Rabbit's House?). Also visit http://www.kidsreads.com/authors/au-dillon-leo-diane.asp to learn about the illustrators. They also illustrated and won the Caldecott Medal for Ashanti to Zulu.
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| Verna Aardema, the author |
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| Leo & Diane Dillon, the illustrators |
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