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echo_finished_cake's review against another edition
4.0
Great book for a lesson on culture and myths!
mat_tobin's review against another edition
4.0
I thought this a lovely book about the life of a young girl from the village of Tos which resides within the remote hills of the Cameroons in Central Africa. It tells the tale of how the tribe ended up having men and women living in different houses. With the looming presence of a resting volcano, the young girl speaks of her family life in the village which I thought was beautifully illustrated AND written by Grifalconi. Books that capture the life of a different culture (especially in Africa) accurately are rare - this is, I feel, one of them.
mjfmjfmjf's review against another edition
4.0
A Caldecott Honor story book. This one is quite a bit longer than a typical Caldecott, but still a quick read. Basically the retelling of a village folktale. But with pretty good art and well written text. And it captures a time and a place and a different way of living, all of which I particularly like to see.
calistareads's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this great tale. It is set among the Cameroon people and I had a cousin who did a peace corps assignment in the country of Cameroon. I feel like I have some stories to go with the country. I got to see pictures of her village, but I did not notice or remember that her village had round and square houses, so this could just be this village in particular and not the one she stayed in.
In this village the woman and children live in the round houses and the men live in the square houses. The men come and visit in the round house. Each enjoy the company they keep and they are happy with this arrangement. We later find out that this was done after the volcano went off one night long ago. Only two houses were left standing - a round and a square. So everything started from there and the village grew.
I thought this was a fabulous book. I enjoyed it. The artwork is fantastic and the story was engaging. This is a little gem.
The niece and nephew both thought it funny that couples don’t live together. I told them that would be a whole different mentality of living. They thought it was weird. Still, they thought it was a good story too. They both gave this 3 stars.
In this village the woman and children live in the round houses and the men live in the square houses. The men come and visit in the round house. Each enjoy the company they keep and they are happy with this arrangement. We later find out that this was done after the volcano went off one night long ago. Only two houses were left standing - a round and a square. So everything started from there and the village grew.
I thought this was a fabulous book. I enjoyed it. The artwork is fantastic and the story was engaging. This is a little gem.
The niece and nephew both thought it funny that couples don’t live together. I told them that would be a whole different mentality of living. They thought it was weird. Still, they thought it was a good story too. They both gave this 3 stars.
naughty_librarian's review against another edition
4.0
I made the mistake of reading the comments on this book, so now I need to write a review. People who are saying that this is a bad story because "separate is never equal," I say this:
You might be right, and you might not, but who are you to judge how another culture should live? Yes, this village is unique, with men in square houses and women in circular ones. This is unusual and kinda the point. I mean, it's in the title and everything. The villagers have their reasons that are meaningful to them, and it's okay if it doesn't make sense to you, THE POINT IS TO LEARN ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE DIFFERENT THAN YOU. It's a learning technique called pulling your head out of your a$$. The system of round and square houses has been working for the villagers to some degree or their village would be empty. Through what lens are you judging their society? The lens in which how you live just so happens to be "right"--oh what a coincidence!--and how anyone else lives is wrong? Do you think you know better how to live than these villagers? Why is that exactly?
(Also, I would like to point out that men and women FREQUENTLY live in separate houses in Western society for various reasons, i.e. divorce, separation, religious reasons, students, singles, etc. so I really don't see why people are getting their knickers in a twist over that element).
This book has lovely illustrations and you will recognize elements if you know anything at all about Cameroon. It's a pleasant story about families, food, customs, respect for elders, and beliefs.
I think many kids would be interested in what families in Africa are like, whether their own parents live together or not. It's a good conversation starter for kids to imagine what it would be like to live in a village of round and square houses and all the other aspects that come with that.
You might be right, and you might not, but who are you to judge how another culture should live? Yes, this village is unique, with men in square houses and women in circular ones. This is unusual and kinda the point. I mean, it's in the title and everything. The villagers have their reasons that are meaningful to them, and it's okay if it doesn't make sense to you, THE POINT IS TO LEARN ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE DIFFERENT THAN YOU. It's a learning technique called pulling your head out of your a$$. The system of round and square houses has been working for the villagers to some degree or their village would be empty. Through what lens are you judging their society? The lens in which how you live just so happens to be "right"--oh what a coincidence!--and how anyone else lives is wrong? Do you think you know better how to live than these villagers? Why is that exactly?
(Also, I would like to point out that men and women FREQUENTLY live in separate houses in Western society for various reasons, i.e. divorce, separation, religious reasons, students, singles, etc. so I really don't see why people are getting their knickers in a twist over that element).
This book has lovely illustrations and you will recognize elements if you know anything at all about Cameroon. It's a pleasant story about families, food, customs, respect for elders, and beliefs.
I think many kids would be interested in what families in Africa are like, whether their own parents live together or not. It's a good conversation starter for kids to imagine what it would be like to live in a village of round and square houses and all the other aspects that come with that.
kalira's review against another edition
informative
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
4.25
beecheralyson's review against another edition
5.0
Caldecott Honor 1987 - I am feeling nostalgic as I go through some of these books that I remember using in my classroom and haven't read in a long time.
luann's review
3.0
I loved the colors and the softness of these illustrations. This made me consider how our society might be different if men lived in square houses and women in round ones. :) I like knowing that this is about a real place, but now I want to do some research and see if the village of Tos in the remote hills of the Cameroons in Central Africa is still as it is described in the book. It's been over 20 years since this was published, so I just wonder if this village has changed at all in that time.