What Are The Birds That Clean Crocodile Teeth

How Plover Bird Came to Clean Crocodile's Teeth. A West African Tale Book Cover

Title: How Plover Bird Came to Clean Crocodile's Teeth. A Westward African Tale

Writer: Richards, Michael and David Wolobah (illus,)

Genre: Folklore / Folktales

Publisher: Arab Printing Press

Release Appointment: 2022

Pages: 32 pp

Source: ISBN: 978146756882

In this retold tale, nosotros learn of cooperation, symbiosis and friendship. Information technology is a typical explanatory tale with lessons for life. There are vibrant illustrations in blue and greens, orange and browns–oil paint on denim—highlighted by borders of white.

The story begins with fearsome Crocodile lying tranquility and still on the depository financial institution of the St. John River in Liberia, W Africa where he resides. He is in hurting because he has a sore molar. The many wood animals wonder why the mighty crocodile is lying quietly on the riverbank and ask, "Why is Crocodile not moving?" Guinea Fowl, Leopard, Tiny Leafage Walker, Monkey and Serpent discover that the river "is a very wearisome place these days" (six). After all the animal speculation, "former and wise Turtle" offers to become to Crocodile to find out why he is and then unhappy (ix). Turtle becomes the mediator/go-betwixt in the tale simply it is Plover Bird [who] has knowledge and skills and the cleverness to [solve Crocodile's trouble]. She gathers ingredients from the forest and forest ash from a hamlet and [tells] Crocodile that she will utilise the medicine and clean his teeth if he volition agree to give her the bits of fish from his teeth for her and her children and that he will never harm them, forever and ever. When Crocodile agrees, she hops in his mouth, applies the medicine to his sore molar, and proceeds to clean his teeth for bits of fish for herself and her children. The last folio summarizes that this is why in Republic of liberia, "the fearsome crocodile allows the fiddling plover bird to hop about in his mouth cleaning his many teeth" (32).

The text and the illustrations are vivid, with enticing read aloud repetitions. Young readers will savor a clever story and learn most the varied fauna found in tropical West Africa and their symbiotic existence, besides as life lessons about cooperation and interdependence.

There are several small concerns. In several sections, the writer inserts as well much exposition. He includes an explanation, the moral of the story, in the vocalisation of Turtle, "wise as he was" (30), only readers should exist able to figure this out on their own.

In an author's note, Richards states that information technology is probable that the story of the crocodile and the plover bird "was originally brought to Liberia past Islamic groups in the thirteenth or fourteenth century AD." It is non clear what the evidence is for this statement. There could be similar stories in many parts of the world and though wars and migrations from the medieval empires of the Sahel pushed migrations of peoples further s toward the declension, it is unlikely that Islamic groups were in Republic of liberia in the 13th or 14th centuries.

A minor but persistent badgerer is the gratuitous use of "native" when writing of African topics. The writer notes that the illustrator "specializes in depicting native life…" Why not: Liberian life… the illustrator, a Liberian…local life? There is an app, "Dentist Bird," available for $1.99.

Reviewed by Jo M. Sullivan, Ph.D., Independent Scholar.

Published in Africa Access Review (May 3, 2022)