Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears : : a West African Tale

Locations
Call Number: E AAR, R Caldecott Medal 1976, R Story Shelf E AAR, Kids Book / Picture Books / Fairy Tales & Folklore / General / Aardema, Verna
On Shelf At: Downtown Library, Malletts Creek Branch, Pittsfield Branch, Westgate Branch

Location & Checkout Length	Call Number	Checkout Length	Item Status
Downtown Kids Books 4-week checkout	E AAR	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Downtown Kids Books 4-week checkout	E AAR	4-week checkout	Due 05-04-2024
Downtown Kids Reference 0-week checkout	R Caldecott Medal 1976	0-week checkout	Library Use Only
Downtown Kids Reference 0-week checkout	R Story Shelf E AAR	0-week checkout	Library Use Only
Malletts Kids Books 4-week checkout	Kids Book / Picture Books / Fairy Tales & Folklore / General / Aardema, Verna	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Malletts Kids Books 4-week checkout	Kids Book / Picture Books / Fairy Tales & Folklore / General / Aardema, Verna	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Malletts Kids Books 4-week checkout	Kids Book / Picture Books / Fairy Tales & Folklore / General / Aardema, Verna	4-week checkout	Due 05-12-2024
Pittsfield Kids Books 4-week checkout	Kids Book / Picture Books / Fairy Tales & Folklore / General / Aardema, Verna	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Pittsfield Kids Books 4-week checkout	Kids Book / Picture Books / Fairy Tales & Folklore / General / Aardema, Verna	4-week checkout	Due 05-12-2024
Westgate Kids Books 4-week checkout	Kids Book / Picture Books / Fairy Tales & Folklore / General / Aardema, Verna	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Westgate Kids Books 4-week checkout	Kids Book / Picture Books / Fairy Tales & Folklore / General / Aardema, Verna	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Westgate Kids Books 4-week checkout	Kids Book / Picture Books / Fairy Tales & Folklore / General / Aardema, Verna	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Traverwood Kids Books 4-week checkout	Kids Book / Picture Books / Fairy Tales & Folklore / General / Aardema, Verna	4-week checkout	Due 05-19-2024

A retelling of a traditional West African tale that reveals how the mosquito developed its annoying habit. A mosquito annoyed the iguana, who frightened the python, who scared the rabbit...and now the whole jungle is in an uproar because the sun won't rise. The animals discuss the situation and decide to punish the mosquito. Even today, whenever we hear a mosquito buzz, we smack it hard!

REVIEWS & SUMMARIES

Booklist Review
Summary / Annotation
Fiction Profile
Author Notes

COMMUNITY REVIEWS

Great submitted by Motomori on July 22, 2012, 10:24am Loved this book!! Great story.

Interesting, but not the best submitted by cbrewster on August 16, 2013, 7:44pm I really enjoy the artwork, but I have never loved the plot. I always felt that it didn't quite add up right.

Yawner for kids... submitted by Kikumatsu97 on July 27, 2015, 11:59am It won the Caldecott medal for it's illustrations, but I find them kind of...ugly? Don't know how else to describe it. The story is like... My 2 year old daughter said "mom!!!! I'm BOORRED!" when I was trying to read it to her.

Great submitted by Whitetnchina on August 30, 2016, 9:13am The kids loved it!

Repetitive and long submitted by psgriffi on July 21, 2019, 10:14pm This book was boring for my 1.5 year old. He didn't sit through out. The 4 year old in our playgroup could barely sit through it either. It was too repetitive and long.

not very engaging for kids submitted by FordAlpha on August 15, 2019, 10:27pm This is an intriguing folktale that has great potential as a picture book, but this telling isn't very engaging for my kids. It is just too texty and lacks rhythm or punch or zing or whatever.

Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears submitted by SBNB on July 17, 2020, 10:16am Fun book with interestingly different pictures. My 5 year old liked this one.

Interesting submitted by kathscot on July 22, 2022, 10:00pm An interesting African pourquoi tale.

Pictures made it worth the read submitted by GSchne on July 25, 2022, 7:48pm The illustrations are unique and beautiful and may be worth reading the book alone. The story wasn't really my cup of tea. It's based around a very repetitive list - think the old lady who swallowed a fly. If you're reading with a sensitive kiddo, you may want to know that there's frequent mention of the death of a baby owl.