Why the Sky is Far Away: A Nigerian Folktale

This understated narrative, adapted from a Nigerian pourquoi story, informs readers that the preservation of the earth's limited resources lies firmly in human hands. Dazzling, boldly hued illustrations--verdant flora, jet-black figures garbed in pinks and yellows--strikingly capture the carefree spirit of an Africa when an edible, delicious sky was a source of sustenance: ``Men and women did not have to sow crops and harvest them. Anybody who was hungry just reached up, took a piece of sky, and ate it.'' Such luxury led to waste, however, and an angry sky threatened to withdraw its gift. For a time the people were ``very, very careful,'' until one day a woman's greed brought an end to this idyllic life. Gerson's informative text may strike some as a bit prosaic, but it is aided by a wondrous premise--and by the intriguing fact that this timely message springs from a 500-year-old story. Though the characters in Golembe's primitive artwork possess the somewhat static look of etchings, they nonetheless exude intense emotion and vitality. Brightly painted textual borders, alive with native symbols, provide an additional enticing touch. Ages 4-8. (Sept.)