Published: Feb. 26, 2012
Words: 32,564 (approximate)
Language: English
ISBN: 9781466094291

Short description

Kubuka is a monkey with a mission! Set in Africa at a time of drought, this is the tale of Kubuka’s quest to find the magic calabash — a task given to him by Amanzi the rain spirit, who is held captive in the depths of a baobab tree. This beautifully illustrated story weaves fact with myth in a wondrous adventure that will enthral children aged six to 12. After reading please review this book!

Extended description

A Review from Bookchat.co.za:
"This is unexpectedly delightful. It’s a quest story with the need for a magic calabash to bring an end to the drought – but the hero Kubuka is a monkey. He’s as cheeky, mischievous and swollen-headed as all monkeys (or all small boys) and he teams up with a hyena. Together, they venture through a number of African magical testing grounds, for which the author has used fragments of local myths and legendary creatures. The bright bold pictures interweave with the text and add to the mystery as well as the fun. A splendidly African adventure for primary readers."

This book is ideal for kids aged 6 to 12 with good reading skills, and contains many colourful illustrations. Or read it to your kids - each chapter is around 10 pages long - perfect for a bedtime story session.
The story follows the little vervet monkey Kubuka who, after being tossed out of his tribe for misbehaving, makes a startling discovery while foraging inside a huge baobab. Living.. (Read more) A Review from Bookchat.co.za:
"This is unexpectedly delightful. It’s a quest story with the need for a magic calabash to bring an end to the drought – but the hero Kubuka is a monkey. He’s as cheeky, mischievous and swollen-headed as all monkeys (or all small boys) and he teams up with a hyena. Together, they venture through a number of African magical testing grounds, for which the author has used fragments of local myths and legendary creatures. The bright bold pictures interweave with the text and add to the mystery as well as the fun. A splendidly African adventure for primary readers."

This book is ideal for kids aged 6 to 12 with good reading skills, and contains many colourful illustrations. Or read it to your kids - each chapter is around 10 pages long - perfect for a bedtime story session.
The story follows the little vervet monkey Kubuka who, after being tossed out of his tribe for misbehaving, makes a startling discovery while foraging inside a huge baobab. Living in the tree is the water spirit Amanzi, who tricks Kubuka into accepting a dangerous mission - to retrieve a magic calabash from Zaka the evil magician. The vessel is the key to Amanzi's freedom and the return of the rains.
On his journey Kubuka encounters friends (a hyena, a mystical black eagle, an aardvark), foes (enchanted baboons, an angry human) and mythical beings (the Umlimo oracle, the eagle goddess Shirichena... The story borrows from real African mythology, and includes accurate bushlore and wildlife behaviour. The reader is transported through wild landscapes to real places such as Lake Kariba, the Matobo Hills and the ancient stone fortress at Great Zimbabwe.
"With lots of laughs and thrills aplenty,'Kubuka and the Magic Calabash' will no doubt soon grow into a legend of its own," said a reviewer.
Many childrens-book connoisseurs of the grownup variety will enjoy this story, too, especially anyone who has been to Africa or who enjoys African wildlife stories and traditions.
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Tags

magic, africa, monkeys, zimbabwe, african mythology, wildlife fantasy, childrens book fiction, childrens animal fiction, magical creatures, quest adventure, magic and adventure, mythology and folklore, hyaenas

Available ebook reading formats

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Epub (Apple iPad/iBooks, Nook, Sony Reader, Kobo, and most e-reading apps including Stanza, Aldiko, Adobe Digital Editions, others)	Buy	Download sample
LRF (Use only for older model Sony Readers that don't support .epub)	Buy	Download sample
Palm Doc (PDB) (for Palm reading devices)	Buy	Download sample

Reviews

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Review by: Kitty Honeybrook on June 23, 2012 :
Combine a cheeky young monkey, a heroic quest, a little African magic, lots of funny bits, gorgeous illustrations, and you have the perfect children’s story. Adults will also enjoy it (as I did!) One of the things I most like about Janet Keegan’s writing is her faithful depiction of the African landscape and it’s creatures. Whilst anthropomorphised, her animals nevertheless stay true to their natural character. Kubuka, for instance, loves fruit and is not above stealing some bananas from an African village! I thoroughly enjoyed this gem of a book, which I originally bought for my nieces. Not to be missed.
(reviewed the day of purchase)

Review by: Brent Green on June 18, 2012 :
Very good...I'm sure it will delight any one who reads it. I had the pleasure of enjoying it whilst on safari in Africa; and couldn't help imagining the personality of each novel character in the real animals I saw!
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

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