Children's Book Review: Animal Stories Daddy Told Us by Innocent Emechete

Animal Stories Daddy Told Us
Author:  Innocent Emechete
Copyright:  2010
Publisher:  AuthorHouse
Pages:  81
Genre:  Children's
ISBN 978-1-4520-8189-2
Includes:  Table of Contents (16 Chapters), Introduction, Dedication and Acknowledgements, About the Book, Explanation of Foreign Words, About the Author
Source:  A complimentary copy was provided by the author and Bostick Communications in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.  I was not compensated for this review.

http://emechetebooks.com/animal-stories-daddy-told-us_270.html

About the book (as excerpted from the introduction):  "Animal Stories Daddy Told Us" is a sixteen chapter collection of African animal stories for children describing day to day activities in animal kingdoms. These animals think, talk and manage their affairs. Like humans they have governments and political intrigues; argue their cases and settle their disputes.

This children's book covers a whole spectrum of betrayal and deceit; shows the face of evil, pride, arrogance and ungratefulness, which feature in human societies too. It also brings about fun and restoration of peace; demonstrates love, tolerance, mercy, justice, cooperation and prudence in these animals. Children could use this too.

"Animal Stories Daddy Told Us" is an all round entertainer and moral teacher for children and young at heart. It affords children the opportunity to look at real life experience through interactions with animals they already love and trust. Like cartoon stories, children of all ages will have fun with this set of African animal stories with animals interacting in their kingdoms far, far away.

My Review:  For generations the elders, parents and relatives in the African nation told stories to the young ones, the next generation, without pen and paper but by mouth.  These stories told of the animal kingdom but gave them human traits, for good or bad, so the children could liken them unto their own lives.  Now Innocent Emechete, a Catholic priest born in Nigeria, West Africa, has collated a written selection of these stories in Animal Stories Daddy Told Us to be shared in other nations, with the children and youth.  Each story shares a valuable moral lesson followed up by a few short questions for parents/teachers to use as an aid in delivering the message provided.  Stories range in theme from deceit to theft, to vanity and are best suited for children ages 11 and up, depending on their level of comprehension and maturity.  

As a tool to help reiterate those lessons of morals and honour, Animal Stories Daddy Told Us is a welcome addition to the home or library.

Rated 4/5