Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters

by John Steptoe

*****

This book was inspired by old African folktale collected in the late 1800's from people living near the Zimbabwe ruins. It is the story of two very different sisters. Although both are extremely beautiful, one is kind and selfless while the other is bad-tempered and prideful to a fault. After a series of unknown tests, the girls' true characters are revealed and rewarded accordingly. The illustrations are beautiful, and are based on actual ruins and vegetation in Zimbabwe.

Road Trip

by Roger Eschbacher
pictures by Thor Wickstrom

****

I really enjoyed reading this fun book of "road trip" poetry aloud with my kids. I really like how this compilation of poems tells one larger story and how each poem leads into the next. Although told in a series of poems, it documents one family's two day trip across country to Grandma's house. It honestly made me want to pack up the car with my family and head east for a on-the-road adventure!