Meet the Tweedles: Papa, Mama, daughter Frances and her brother, Francis. It’s the dawn of a new century—the twentieth century!—and the Tweedles have decided to buy a car. But no gas-guzzler for this modern family. Only an electric car will do for them. Frances is the only member of her eccentric family who is not delighted when Papa decides they need an electric car. She would rather read a book. Frances knows that cars go fast, which can only lead to trouble. She is even less impressed when the family takes possession of the car and faces ridicule from more conventional citizens with their noisy, dirty, gas-fueled machines. But when Mr. Hamm is unable to get to the hospital because his car has run out of gas, Frances saves the day—and falls in love with automobile travel at the same time. With humorous allusions to the twenty-first century—which is better? Gas or electric?
Picture Book
Imani’s Music
Imani, an African grasshopper, brings music to the new world when he travels aboard a slave ship.
Under The Same Sun
It is Grandmother Bibi’s ninetieth birthday and when she travels to Tanzania from America to visit her son and grandchildren they surprise her with a birthday safari.
My Painted House, My Friendly Chicken, and Me
A South African girl describes her pet chicken, painting special designs on her house, dressing up for school, and her mischievous brother.
Only A Pigeon
Ondu-ahlem carefully trains his pigeons and prepares them for the day when he and other Ethiopian boys test the homing instinct and loyalty of their precious birds.
Kofi and His Magic
A young Ashanti boy describes some of the wonders of his life in and around the West African village of Bonwire.
Osa’s Pride
Osa’s grandmother tells her a tale about the sins of pride and helps Osa gain a better perspective on what things are important.
The Village Of Round And Square Houses
A grandmother explains to her listeners why in their village on the side of a volcano the men live in square houses and the women in round ones.
Seeker of Knowledge: The Man Who Deciphered Egyptian Hieroglyphs
A biography of the French scholar whose decipherment of the Egyptian hieroglyphic language made the study of ancient Egypt possible.
A South African Night
The inhabitants of South Africa divide their activities by day and night, as the animals in Kruger National Park go about their business while the people of Johannesburg sleep and then lie down in the shade as the people wake up.