Verna Aardema (1911–2000)
Author of Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears
About the Author
Verna Aardema was born on June 6, 1911 in New Era Michigan. She received her B.A. degree from Michigan State College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences in 1934. She was a grade school teacher from 1934 to 1973 and staff correspondent for the Muskegon Chronicle from 1951 to 1972. Aardema started show more writing children's stories in the 1950's, and in 1960 she published her first books, Tales from the Story Hat and The Sky God Stories. She specializes in the modernization and adaptation of traditional African folktales. In the 1970s, Aardema joined illustrators Leo and Diane Dillon and produced three picture books. Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears received the Caldecott Medal in 1976 and the Brooklyn Art Books for Children Award in 1977. Who's in Rabbit's House? was the 1977 School Library Journal Best Book of the Year and a Lewis Carroll Shelf Award winner in 1978. Aardema received the Children's Reading Round Table Award in 1981, and several of her books have been selected as Notable Books by the American Library Association. Oh Kojo! How Could You! won the 1984 Parents' Choice Award for Literature. Verna Aardema died in 2000. show less
Image credit: Verna Aardema Vugteveen
Works by Verna Aardema
Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears... and More Stories from Africa [1984 film] (2004) 64 copies, 1 review
The Report Card 1 copy
The Crow and The Pitcher 1 copy
Associated Works
Cricket Magazine, Vol. 2, No. 12, August 1975 — Contributor — 2 copies
Cricket Magazine, Vol. 6, No. 4, December 1978 — Contributor — 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Canonical name
- Aardema, Verna
- Legal name
- Aardema Vugteveen, Verna Norberg
- Birthdate
- 1911-06-06
- Date of death
- 2000-05-11
- Gender
- female
- Education
- Michigan State University
- Occupations
- teacher
children's book author
journalist - Short biography
- A prolific American children's author and teacher, Verna Norberg Aardema Vugteveen - more commonly known as Verna Aardema - was born in 1911 in New Era, Michigan. She was educated at Michigan State University, and taught grade school from 1934-1973. She also worked as a journalist for the Muskegon Chronicle from 1951-1972. In 1960 she published her first book, the collection of stories, Tales from the Story Hat. She went on to write over thirty more books, most of them folkloric retellings. Her picture-book, Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears, won co-illustrators Leo and Diane Dillon a Caldecott Medal. Aardema was married twice, and died in 2000 in Fort Myers, Florida. (source: Wikipedia)
- Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- New Era, Michigan, USA
- Places of residence
- Michigan, USA
- Place of death
- Fort Myers, Florida, USA
- Burial location
- Norton Cemetery, Norton Shores, Muskegon, Michigan, USA
- Map Location
- USA
Members
Reviews
Two years before the publication of her classic picture book, the Caldecott Medal-winning Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears, Verna Aardema came out with Behind the Back of the Mountain, a collection of ten folktales from southern Africa. Readers familiar with her work will undoubtedly recognize some of the stories here, as Aardema has recycled a number of them in recent years, adapting them as picture books. But whether the tales are familiar or unknown, young folklore enthusiasts will be show more glad to read them. Included are:
Little Hen Eagle, a Zulu tale in which a chief's daughter is sent to stay with her married older sister, after she kills her brother's leopard. The plot in which Little Hen Eagle's maidservant steals her clothing and takes her place, is a widespread one in world folklore, although the punishment meted out to the wrongdoer is refreshingly benign.
The Trick on the Trek, a "Bushman" (AKA San?) tale in which crocodile negotiates a short-lived peace treaty between the animals of the water and the animals of the land, in order to assure her people safe passage to another river.
Tshinyama's Heavenly Maidens, a Tshindao tale in which a young man with unsightly sores wins two unlikely wives for himself, when he observes two beautiful winged maidens descending to the watering hole from heaven.
How Blue Crane Taught Jackal to Fly, a "Hottentot" tale in which Blue Crane tricks Jackal into thinking he can learn to fly, in retaliation for the trick he has played on Mother Dove. Aardema retold this tale in her 1995 picture book, Jackal's Flying Lesson, where she describes it as a "Khoikhoi" tale.
The Winning of Kwelanga, a Zulu tale in which a poor young man named Zamo sets out to win the beautiful Kwelanga, daughter of a powerful chief. With its three "impossible" tasks, each overcome by the hero with outside assistance, this is another tale with many variants worldwide.
Sebgugugu the Glutton, a Bantu tale in which a poor man loses every blessing given to him by Imana the Creator, through his heedless ingratitude. Aardema retold this tale in a 1993 picture book of the same name, illustrated by Nancy L. Clouse.
This for That, a Thonga tale in which a trickster Rabbit makes a series of exchanges, hoping eventually to obtain some water. This is another story adapted by Aardema elsewhere, in a 1997 picture book of the same name.
Tusi and the Great Beast, a Zulu tale in which a beautiful chief's daughter is abducted by the giant beast Mapundu, encounters the half-people known as the Lungulebe, and eventually marries another chief.
Saso and Gogwana the Witch, a Tshindao tale in which a young boy and his faithful dog outwit the terrible witch intent on killing them, and free an entire village from her evil.
And finally, The House in the Middle of the Road, a Zulu tale in which a widow named Unanana must rescue her children from the elephant who has devoured them.
I enjoyed Behind the Back of the Mountain, and was fascinated to see the ways in which Aardema has adapted the same tales in different contexts. The evolution of the names used for African peoples, in the post-colonial context, was also very interesting. How Blue Crane Taught Jackal to Fly is described as a "Hottentot" tale in this 1973 book, but by the 1995 publication of Jackal's Flying Lesson, "Khoikhoi" was being used. Parents and educators will want to be aware of this, so children don't come away with the wrong terminology.
On a final note, the black and white illustrations by Leo and Diane Dillon, who went on to collaborate with Aardema on Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears and Who's In Rabbit's House?, are simply gorgeous! This is well worth seeking out, for the artwork alone! show less
Little Hen Eagle, a Zulu tale in which a chief's daughter is sent to stay with her married older sister, after she kills her brother's leopard. The plot in which Little Hen Eagle's maidservant steals her clothing and takes her place, is a widespread one in world folklore, although the punishment meted out to the wrongdoer is refreshingly benign.
The Trick on the Trek, a "Bushman" (AKA San?) tale in which crocodile negotiates a short-lived peace treaty between the animals of the water and the animals of the land, in order to assure her people safe passage to another river.
Tshinyama's Heavenly Maidens, a Tshindao tale in which a young man with unsightly sores wins two unlikely wives for himself, when he observes two beautiful winged maidens descending to the watering hole from heaven.
How Blue Crane Taught Jackal to Fly, a "Hottentot" tale in which Blue Crane tricks Jackal into thinking he can learn to fly, in retaliation for the trick he has played on Mother Dove. Aardema retold this tale in her 1995 picture book, Jackal's Flying Lesson, where she describes it as a "Khoikhoi" tale.
The Winning of Kwelanga, a Zulu tale in which a poor young man named Zamo sets out to win the beautiful Kwelanga, daughter of a powerful chief. With its three "impossible" tasks, each overcome by the hero with outside assistance, this is another tale with many variants worldwide.
Sebgugugu the Glutton, a Bantu tale in which a poor man loses every blessing given to him by Imana the Creator, through his heedless ingratitude. Aardema retold this tale in a 1993 picture book of the same name, illustrated by Nancy L. Clouse.
This for That, a Thonga tale in which a trickster Rabbit makes a series of exchanges, hoping eventually to obtain some water. This is another story adapted by Aardema elsewhere, in a 1997 picture book of the same name.
Tusi and the Great Beast, a Zulu tale in which a beautiful chief's daughter is abducted by the giant beast Mapundu, encounters the half-people known as the Lungulebe, and eventually marries another chief.
Saso and Gogwana the Witch, a Tshindao tale in which a young boy and his faithful dog outwit the terrible witch intent on killing them, and free an entire village from her evil.
And finally, The House in the Middle of the Road, a Zulu tale in which a widow named Unanana must rescue her children from the elephant who has devoured them.
I enjoyed Behind the Back of the Mountain, and was fascinated to see the ways in which Aardema has adapted the same tales in different contexts. The evolution of the names used for African peoples, in the post-colonial context, was also very interesting. How Blue Crane Taught Jackal to Fly is described as a "Hottentot" tale in this 1973 book, but by the 1995 publication of Jackal's Flying Lesson, "Khoikhoi" was being used. Parents and educators will want to be aware of this, so children don't come away with the wrong terminology.
On a final note, the black and white illustrations by Leo and Diane Dillon, who went on to collaborate with Aardema on Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears and Who's In Rabbit's House?, are simply gorgeous! This is well worth seeking out, for the artwork alone! show less
A collection of twelve African tales from Verna Aardema, celebrated for her many excellent folktale adaptations, Misoso introduces young readers to a diverse range of African traditions, from the Temne people of Sierra Leone to the Zulu of South Africa. The title itself is taken from the Mbundu people of Angola, and is a word used to indicate stories which are primarily intended as entertainment. The selections here certainly fit the bill, although the inclusion of a glossary and brief show more afterword for each tale, makes them educational as well. Here the reader will encounter:
Leelee Goro, a Temne tales from Sierra Leone, in which a series of animals must fight a young girl - aided by her Mammy's magical song - for fire. A porquoi tale, this selection explains the existence of a number of phenomena, including: the antelope's cough, the leopard's spots, the elephant's tusks, the spider's eight legs, the snail's shell, the existence of crying, and of hugging.
Anansi and the Phantom Food, a tale of West Africa's famed trickster, who sets out to find food for his starving people, coming upon a village of cassava, a village of plantains, and a village of rice, only to reject each food source in his search for something better.
The Boogey Man's Wife, a Mano tale from Liberia, in which a father agrees to give his beautiful daughter to the ugly Boogey Man in exchange for a night's lodging. Atypically, given the importance of female obedience in Mano culture, Goma proves to be a difficult wife, eventually convincing her husband to release her.
Half-A-Ball-Of-Kenki, an Ashanti tale from Ghana, in which Leopard and Fly set out to find wives for themselves, only to fall out when Fly is welcomed and Leopard is not. When Leopard ties his erstwhile friend to a tree, it is Half-A-Ball-Of-Kenki who frees him, and fights Leopard. Aardema here recycles a story she has used before, in a picture book of the same name, published in 1979.
The Hen and the Dove, an Ashanti fable in which two birds find very different homes, one in the wild, the other with people. This is a tale meant to teach the value of freedom - something more valuable even than prosperity and a full belly.
The Sloogey Dog and the Stolen Aroma, a Fang tale from Gabon, in which a wealthy miser brings a starving dog to court, for "stealing" the delightful odor of his (plentiful) food. This tale of greed and justice , in which the punishment is made to fit the "crime," is a variant of a tale seen in many traditions.
The Cock and the Jackal, a Khoikhoi fable from South Africa, in which a clever cock tricks the kackal into releasing him, by getting him to pray. I was interested to read, in the afterword, that this tale may have traveled to southern Africa with European missionaries, and is most likely an adaptation of a Reynard tale.
No, Boconono!, a Zulu tale from South Africa, in which a pint-sized young man finally obtains the spear he desires, through a series of exchanges. Apparently the dwarf-like Boconono, also sometimes known as Hlakanyana, is a well-known figure in Zulu folklore, and features in many tales from that tradition.
Toad's Trick, a brief Kanuri fable in which a toad boasts that there is something he can do, that rat cannot.
Goso the Teacher, a Swahili poem from Zanzibar, in which Goso learns that it would be best not to hold lessons under the calabash tree. This rhyming poem, adapted from a cumulative question and answer tale, "reads" very well, and would make an excellent story-hour selection.
Hapendeki and Binti the Babi, a Swahili tale, also from Zanzibar, in which a young man convinces the beautiful Binti to become his wife, only to find that she expects him to go to extraordinary lengths to find beautiful clothing for her.
And finally, Kindai and the Ape, a tale of the "Emo-Yo-Quaim" of the Ondo jungle, in which a man's kindness to an injured ape is rewarded when his child is kidnapped by the troop.
I enjoyed the tales in Misoso, and found Reynold Ruffins' colorful pencil and acrylic illustrations a pleasant accompaniment. That said, the extremely patriarchal nature of The Boogey Man's Wife, in which obedience is seen as the highest virtue in a woman, did make me feel somewhat uncomfortable. I'm a strong believer that folklore should not be "watered down," but I did wonder how the tale would read for young girls. I was also quite interested in the "Emo-Yo-Quaim" - the source given for Kindai and the Ape - described by Aardema as a Jewish tribe, descended from refugees who fled to northern Africa from Jerusalem in 70 CE, and who mixed with the Berber people there. I have done a (very) little internet investigation, and it appears that there is some controversy as to whether this claim is true. Here again, I wonder about giving this tale to children, when the factuality of the accompanying information is in serious question. show less
Leelee Goro, a Temne tales from Sierra Leone, in which a series of animals must fight a young girl - aided by her Mammy's magical song - for fire. A porquoi tale, this selection explains the existence of a number of phenomena, including: the antelope's cough, the leopard's spots, the elephant's tusks, the spider's eight legs, the snail's shell, the existence of crying, and of hugging.
Anansi and the Phantom Food, a tale of West Africa's famed trickster, who sets out to find food for his starving people, coming upon a village of cassava, a village of plantains, and a village of rice, only to reject each food source in his search for something better.
The Boogey Man's Wife, a Mano tale from Liberia, in which a father agrees to give his beautiful daughter to the ugly Boogey Man in exchange for a night's lodging. Atypically, given the importance of female obedience in Mano culture, Goma proves to be a difficult wife, eventually convincing her husband to release her.
Half-A-Ball-Of-Kenki, an Ashanti tale from Ghana, in which Leopard and Fly set out to find wives for themselves, only to fall out when Fly is welcomed and Leopard is not. When Leopard ties his erstwhile friend to a tree, it is Half-A-Ball-Of-Kenki who frees him, and fights Leopard. Aardema here recycles a story she has used before, in a picture book of the same name, published in 1979.
The Hen and the Dove, an Ashanti fable in which two birds find very different homes, one in the wild, the other with people. This is a tale meant to teach the value of freedom - something more valuable even than prosperity and a full belly.
The Sloogey Dog and the Stolen Aroma, a Fang tale from Gabon, in which a wealthy miser brings a starving dog to court, for "stealing" the delightful odor of his (plentiful) food. This tale of greed and justice , in which the punishment is made to fit the "crime," is a variant of a tale seen in many traditions.
The Cock and the Jackal, a Khoikhoi fable from South Africa, in which a clever cock tricks the kackal into releasing him, by getting him to pray. I was interested to read, in the afterword, that this tale may have traveled to southern Africa with European missionaries, and is most likely an adaptation of a Reynard tale.
No, Boconono!, a Zulu tale from South Africa, in which a pint-sized young man finally obtains the spear he desires, through a series of exchanges. Apparently the dwarf-like Boconono, also sometimes known as Hlakanyana, is a well-known figure in Zulu folklore, and features in many tales from that tradition.
Toad's Trick, a brief Kanuri fable in which a toad boasts that there is something he can do, that rat cannot.
Goso the Teacher, a Swahili poem from Zanzibar, in which Goso learns that it would be best not to hold lessons under the calabash tree. This rhyming poem, adapted from a cumulative question and answer tale, "reads" very well, and would make an excellent story-hour selection.
Hapendeki and Binti the Babi, a Swahili tale, also from Zanzibar, in which a young man convinces the beautiful Binti to become his wife, only to find that she expects him to go to extraordinary lengths to find beautiful clothing for her.
And finally, Kindai and the Ape, a tale of the "Emo-Yo-Quaim" of the Ondo jungle, in which a man's kindness to an injured ape is rewarded when his child is kidnapped by the troop.
I enjoyed the tales in Misoso, and found Reynold Ruffins' colorful pencil and acrylic illustrations a pleasant accompaniment. That said, the extremely patriarchal nature of The Boogey Man's Wife, in which obedience is seen as the highest virtue in a woman, did make me feel somewhat uncomfortable. I'm a strong believer that folklore should not be "watered down," but I did wonder how the tale would read for young girls. I was also quite interested in the "Emo-Yo-Quaim" - the source given for Kindai and the Ape - described by Aardema as a Jewish tribe, descended from refugees who fled to northern Africa from Jerusalem in 70 CE, and who mixed with the Berber people there. I have done a (very) little internet investigation, and it appears that there is some controversy as to whether this claim is true. Here again, I wonder about giving this tale to children, when the factuality of the accompanying information is in serious question. show less
When King Gorilla decides that only the strongest and bravest suitor will marry his daughter, Princess Gorilla's pleas that she be allowed to choose someone who loves her, are ignored. Luckily, the "test" fixed upon by King Gorilla proves enough to defeat everyone from the elephant to the leopard, until the "victory" of the clever talapoin presents him with an unusual problem...
A humorous folktale from the Mpongwe people of Gabon, Princess Gorilla and a New Kind of Water belongs to that show more class of tale in which ambitious parents aim too high for their marriageable daughters. These stories (the widespread Mouse Bride would be another example), which are always resolved when the daughter marries one of her "own kind," seem to be an argument for endogamy - marriage within the cultural group.
However that may be, and whatever didactic purpose the tale serves, it is also an enjoyable story, and young children will be charmed by Victoria Chess's droll illustrations, which so clearly express the emotions of each character. show less
A humorous folktale from the Mpongwe people of Gabon, Princess Gorilla and a New Kind of Water belongs to that show more class of tale in which ambitious parents aim too high for their marriageable daughters. These stories (the widespread Mouse Bride would be another example), which are always resolved when the daughter marries one of her "own kind," seem to be an argument for endogamy - marriage within the cultural group.
However that may be, and whatever didactic purpose the tale serves, it is also an enjoyable story, and young children will be charmed by Victoria Chess's droll illustrations, which so clearly express the emotions of each character. show less
When Spider and his workers - Lion, Buck Deer and Rat - are confronted by a strange hairy creature called the Vingananee, who steals their stew every day and eats it, the companions each try to defeat the thief. But the Vingananee is too strong, and each of them ends up tied to a tree. Finally, tiny Tree Frog steps in, and with a little help from heaven, has better luck...
Retold from the tale Try Your Strength in the Liberian collection, Spider and Other Stories, this tale teaches the lesson show more that sometimes it is better to be small, if you are willing to ask for help, than big and strong, but determined to do it alone. Accompanied by Ellen Weiss' charming illustrations, which portray the Vingananee as a sort of blob with limbs, The Vingananee and the Tree Toad is sure to please young folklore lovers.
I myself was charmed by the little postscript, which informs the reader that Aunt Clara (Mrs. Clara Letitia Blaine-Wilson), the original collector of this tale, and a well-known radio storyteller, was so well-regarded in Liberia, that she was given a state funeral upon her death in 1979. Now that's appreciation for story! show less
Retold from the tale Try Your Strength in the Liberian collection, Spider and Other Stories, this tale teaches the lesson show more that sometimes it is better to be small, if you are willing to ask for help, than big and strong, but determined to do it alone. Accompanied by Ellen Weiss' charming illustrations, which portray the Vingananee as a sort of blob with limbs, The Vingananee and the Tree Toad is sure to please young folklore lovers.
I myself was charmed by the little postscript, which informs the reader that Aunt Clara (Mrs. Clara Letitia Blaine-Wilson), the original collector of this tale, and a well-known radio storyteller, was so well-regarded in Liberia, that she was given a state funeral upon her death in 1979. Now that's appreciation for story! show less
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