Thursday, October 22, 2009

Dhegdheer, A Scary Somali Folktale - Marian A. Hassan

Illustrated by Betsy Bowen
Minnesota Humanities Commission/ Somali Bilingual Book Project
2007
Rating: 4
Endpapers: dark purple

The illustrations are painted with gouache on black, with dark color covering the entire page. Mmmmmm. They go perfectly with this scary story.

"Once upon a time, a fierce cannibal named Dhegdheer roamed the Hargega Valley in Somalia. Her horrific ways cursed a land once green and lush, turning it into a desert, a crumbling dust. The animals grew thin and the rain went away for a very long time."

A scary "boogeyman" tale with a satisfying ending. Dhegdheer is a female with a daughter - and her daughter is as good as Dhegdheer is evil. Very evil. A cannibal.

Told in the right way, compared to tales from America including urban legends, this story is a great starting point for questions (what is the habitat and location of Somalia?) and discussion. I do, however, wish there was a pronounciation guide!

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