From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 3. A traditional Malawian trickster tale. The first and last double-page spreads show a storyteller visiting a classroom filled with eager listeners. "Don't play a trick on someone unless you want an even bigger trick played on you," she says at the end. And such is the lesson, learned by Fisi the hyena as he plays a trick on Kamba the tortoise that leaves the poor creature stuck in a tree. But Kamba is clever, and after a night of pondering he devises a plan to get revenge by offering to paint beautiful new coats for all of the animals. While the zebra gets new stripes and the leopard spots, Fisi gets his just reward with a sticky, patchy coat. Sierra's humorous yet lyrical text coupled with Bryant's bold watercolor illustrations of the animals of the African savanna make this retelling a natural for reading aloud and storytelling sessions. A must for all folktale collections.?Marilyn Iarusso, New York Public LibraryCopyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews
How the hyena got his laugh, how the zebra got his stripes, and how the leopard got his spots are revealed in this African folktale. After Fisi, a hyena, tricks Kamba, a tortoise, and leaves him stuck in the crook of a tree, the tortoise plots a slow, steady revenge. He chews on bark to make a paint brush and calls over animals to decorate their coats. Kamba gives the zebra stripes and the leopard spots, lavish enough to make Fisi jealous. When the hyena comes to have his coat painted, the tortoise gives him a coat of sticky gum, making the hyena the laughing stock of the jungle. The story starts and endsabruptly and unnecessarilywithin the frame of a storyteller speaking to a class, and although Bryant's animals are vastly appealing, his palette can appear muddy. The book is nevertheless a useful addition to folklore collections. (Picture book/folklore. 5-8) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Book Description
In this popular trickster tale from Malawi, Judy Sierra retells the story of how Kamba the tortoise gets his revenge when Fisi, the mean hyena, sticks him between two branches of a tree. Kamba's solution? Of course, paint all the animals new coats! Along they come: first Mbanda the zebra, who gets a coat of long, flowing stripes; then Nyalugwe the leopard, who stretches out on a branch for his spots. Many other animals follow. Finally, Fisi demands his beauty, and what does he get? Tree gum, which makes his fur stand up in patches so that the villagers laugh at him. If you see him, he will laugh right back, Ha, ha, ha! Judy Sierra is in great form with her latest retelling, and Michael Bryant's deep-hued watercolors pulsate with the texture and life of the savanna. Judy Sierra, a professional puppeteer and storyteller, is now a full-time writer and lecturer. Her two previous titles for Lodestar are The Elephant's Wrestling Match and Wiley and the Hairy Man.Michael Bryant, a children's book illustrator, has been described by Publishers Weekly as an impressive accomplished artist.

Card catalog description
After suffering as a victim of one of Fisi the hyena's nasty tricks, Kamba the tortoise offers to paint new coats for all the animals as a way of getting revenge on Fisi.

ANNOTATION

After suffering as a victim of one of Fisi the hyena's nasty tricks, Kamba the tortoise offers to paint new coats for all the animals as a way of getting revenge on Fisi.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

In this popular trickster tale from Malawi, Judy Sierra retells the story of how Kamba the tortoise gets his revenge when Fisi, the mean hyena, sticks him between two branches of a tree. Kamba's solution? Of course, paint all the animals new coats! Along they come: first Mbanda the zebra, who gets a coat of long, flowing stripes; then Nyalugwe the leopard, who stretches out on a branch for his spots. Many other animals follow. Finally, Fisi demands his beauty, and what does he get? Tree gum, which makes his fur stand up in patches so that the villagers laugh at him. If you see him, he will laugh right back, Ha, ha, ha! Judy Sierra is in great form with her latest retelling, and Michael Bryant's deep-hued watercolors pulsate with the texture and life of the savanna. Judy Sierra, a professional puppeteer and storyteller, is now a full-time writer and lecturer. Her two previous titles for Lodestar are The Elephant's Wrestling Match and Wiley and the Hairy Man.Michael Bryant, a children's book illustrator, has been described by Publishers Weekly as an impressive accomplished artist.

FROM THE CRITICS

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 3A traditional Malawian trickster tale. The first and last double-page spreads show a storyteller visiting a classroom filled with eager listeners. "Don't play a trick on someone unless you want an even bigger trick played on you," she says at the end. And such is the lesson, learned by Fisi the hyena as he plays a trick on Kamba the tortoise that leaves the poor creature stuck in a tree. But Kamba is clever, and after a night of pondering he devises a plan to get revenge by offering to paint beautiful new coats for all of the animals. While the zebra gets new stripes and the leopard spots, Fisi gets his just reward with a sticky, patchy coat. Sierra's humorous yet lyrical text coupled with Bryant's bold watercolor illustrations of the animals of the African savanna make this retelling a natural for reading aloud and storytelling sessions. A must for all folktale collections.Marilyn Iarusso, New York Public Library

Kirkus Reviews

How the hyena got his laugh, how the zebra got his stripes, and how the leopard got his spots are revealed in this African folktale. After Fisi, a hyena, tricks Kamba, a tortoise, and leaves him stuck in the crook of a tree, the tortoise plots a slow, steady revenge. He chews on bark to make a paint brush and calls over animals to decorate their coats. Kamba gives the zebra stripes and the leopard spots, lavish enough to make Fisi jealous. When the hyena comes to have his coat painted, the tortoise gives him a coat of sticky gum, making the hyena the laughing stock of the jungle. The story starts and endsabruptly and unnecessarilywithin the frame of a storyteller speaking to a class, and although Bryant's animals are vastly appealing, his palette can appear muddy. The book is nevertheless a useful addition to folklore collections.