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    Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears
    Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears
    Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears
    Audiobook10 minutes

    Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears

    Written by Verna Aarema

    Narrated by James Earl Jones

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    A tall tale sets off a comic chain of mishaps from Mosquito to Iguana to Python to Rabbit to Owl, but all is wisely resolved by King Lion at the jungle council meeting.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherWeston Woods
    Release dateJan 1, 1984
    ISBN9780545836708
    Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears

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    Reviews for Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears

    4/5

    608 ratings75 reviews

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    • 5/5
      I love the book but we have a new account in my mind for that it doesn’t look great to you on the other end
    • 2/5
      This has fun art and loads of animals, but the story fell a bit flat with me. All of the animals, excepting the rabbit, seemed to overreact, and I just don't think the mosquito should have born the burden of the punishment for everyone's absurd behavior. The story could be used to mentor about unintended consequences and overreactions by an engaged adult though.
    • 4/5
      First up for the ‘ILS 516 Folklore/Fairy Tales’ category is this story which my feelings toward are admittedly torn. Right off the bat, I loved the art. Everything is vibrant and the sun and owl in particular look really great. Yet, I am confused as to why mosquitoes buzz. I thought the story was going to end by saying how the ruler of the animal kingdom (the lion) punishes the mosquitoes by making them only buzz so that they cannot cause any more death. But, that never happens. Though this is not entirely the fault of the author since it is a story translated and passed down through generations, I am still trying to wrap my head around it. My torn feelings aside, I still enjoyed reading Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears: A West African Tale.
    • 4/5
       I think this is a well done folktale that highlights what could happen if you fib something to someone and its consequences. The mosquito starts off the tale by fibbing in the iguana's ears, forcing the iguana to put sticks in his ears so it doesn't have to hear the mosquito's lies. This creates a snowball effect with the other animals in the forest/jungle to the point where a monkey hops off a branch that breaks and hits a tiny owlet on the head causing its death. Eventually the animals figure out that it was the mosquitos fault and the mosquito feels so guilty that it tries to tell the story to a man at the end of the text who squishes it. This would be a good folktale book for a folktale unit. It is an easy read and it would do well in a class discussion and the students could have group discussions as well to explain their understanding of the book's content.
    • 3/5
      This is West African Tale about a group of animals that wouldn't typically be seen socializing together. It all starts when a mosquito starts telling the iguana some nonsense that he does not want to hear. This causes a domino effect of fear and concern amongst the other animals that doesn't allow for the owl to call for the sun to rise; therefore, leaving the other animals in darkness. The illustrations in this book are beautiful and would be a great example if African drawings were a part of the art curriculum in school. This book could also be used in the classroom when talking about folk tales and myths about why things are they way that they are! At the end of the story we see the mosquito buzzing in someones ear before it is swatted away. This tells the reader that when a mosquito is buzzing in your ear it is really them talking!
    • 3/5
      For a folktale, this one is pretty well told. The one caveat I have is that this was Caldecott Award winner, so I feel remiss not mentioning the illustrations, which were very nice. I might give them four or five stars, but the story was kind of bare-bones for my tastes. The repetition was good. The structure was right, but I just wasn't enthralled while reading. Good book. Not quite great though.
    • 4/5
      Diane and Leo Dillon were awarded the Caldecott Medal for their woodcut illustrations of this African folk tale. When the mosquito tells the iguana what he saw, the iguana gets annoyed. Not wanting to listen to such nonsense, he plugs his ears. As a result, he doesn’t hear the python’s greeting, and the snake believes iguana is angry with him and plotting some sort of revenge. So, python looks for a hole to hide in, which frightens the rabbit …. Etc It’s a fun, repetitive story that children will enjoy listening to, and which explores the unintended consequences of our actions.
    • 4/5
      I liked this book. the vivid illustrations really are what make the book great. I would use this book as a case and effect lesson for third grade students. When they tel lie, it may effect others around them. I would also use this book for a "call back" activity. I don't remember exactly what the correct term for this is, but I would have students be able to tell me what would happen next because it has sequencing elements in it as well. I think students anywhere from 2nd to 5th grade would like this book because of the illustrations and the fact that it is about animals.
    • 4/5
      Cumulative folk tale showing a cause and effect relationship. Mosquito tells a lie, resulting in a jungle disaster!
    • 4/5
      This would be a good book to read when talking about myths and folklore. I think children would enjoy it because of the rhythmic pattern that is used throughout.
    • 5/5
      This book follows a nice sequence of events for kids to read. It follows the animals and an unfortunate set of events that eventually the animals must find out who caused a death in its animal kingdom. Eventually the mosquito tries to find out if the situation is still talked about and eventually faces severe consequences. This book can really help kids find a cause and effect. The kids can also help demonstrate an order of events.
    • 5/5
      I really enjoyed this book! I loved the illustrations. I thought that they were unique and very interesting. Besides being unique and interesting, they were very bold, colorful, and big! I liked the use of onomatopoeia throughout the story. For example, the author wrote, “She turned her head toward the east and hooted: ‘Hoo! Hoooooo! Hooooooo!’” I think that this literary device really enhanced the story because the sounds of the different animals were being introduced. I think that the main idea is to introduce the topic of cause and effect. The story was centered on a chain reaction of events and their consequences. This is a very interesting story, and a must read!
    • 4/5
      This is a great story to teach cause and effect, especially the effect ones actions have on the entire community, beyond simply the ones who are initially involved.
    • 4/5
      This book is based on an African fable and includes stunning, bright, and expressive illustrations. It is a morality story about lies and consequences. This fable could be enjoyed by children in early education through elementary school. It would be a great choice to spark discussion of cause and effect and/or consequences.Art medium used: watercolor airbrush, pastels, India ink, cut shapes
    • 4/5
      Overall, I really enjoyed this story. I loved the illustrations. I thought that they were unique and very interesting. For example, there was a scene in the story where all the animals were gathered at a meeting. I had to look closely in order to find all the animals, which definitely made me pay attention to all of the illustrations. With that being said, I thought that the illustrator did a really great job. Also, I liked the onomatopoeia throughout the story. For example, the author wrote, “[The crow] flew into the forest crying kaa, kaa, kaa!” I definitely thought that it enhanced the story because the sounds of different animals were being introduced. After reading this story, I think that the big idea is to introduce the topic of cause and effect. The story was centered on a chain reaction and its consequences. An example of a chain reaction that was mentioned in the story would be, “So, it was the rabbit who startled the crow, who alarmed the monkey, who killed the owlet-- and now Mother Owl won’t wake the sun so that the day can come.” This is a very interesting story and one that I enjoyed a lot.
    • 4/5
      Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears a West African TaleThis audio book starts out with an iguana and a mosquito talking about the yams the farmer was digging.Snake then approaches the iguana, then goes into the rabbit hole. Love the animals and their sounds as the parade of animals continues.Lion calls a meeting and he gets down to the problems....I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
    • 4/5
      A funny story of how telling stories one ear to another ear can twist things.
    • 3/5
      Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears is an African folktale based on the realistic consequences of telling a lie and the harmful effects it may have to others. Author, Verna Aardema, retells this tale in a playful tone, jerking the audience between dramatic and humorous aspects. The unique illustrations add spunk to the storyline; specfically due to the white outlines of the abstract animal illustrations. I adored the author’s efforts to recreate an entertaining story from a life lesson almost every individual will encounter. To reader’s warning, a child does pass away; making this not a choice of text for a sensitive audience. However, overall this is a great read for younger children, in presenting a serious lesson with a cheerful tone.
    • 4/5
      Full of imagination, colorful illustrations and word sounds, this book illustrates an African folktale come to life. The domino effect from one iguana's being upset to the sun not even coming up shows human nature through the actions of African animals. It is eventually resolved and everything is back to normal, but all the animals have learned a lesson. The mosquito, who started everything by telling a tall tale ends up whining and complaining by buzzing in people's ears. Of course, people respond by swatting the mosquito!I really liked the word sounds like mek mek, krik krik, kaa kaa, pem pem, purup purup,Zeee and KPAO! It might be fun to brainstorm with children about how letter sounds reflect sounds we hear in nature or even around us in our classroom.This book lends itself to doing some kind of art project with either watercolor or maybe with paper shapes.
    • 5/5
       Summary: The Mosquito tells a bad joke to Iguana who is so upset she put sticks in her ears so that she doesn't hear mosquito. Iguana also doesn't hear Snake when she says good morning. Snake concludes that Iguana must not like her and is plotting against her so she hides a rabbits den causing Rabbit to run out of the den alarming the Crow, who sets of an alarm for the whole jungle which ultimately results in the death of a baby owl. In this imaginay world Mama owl is responsible for hooting so that the sun will come up. However she is so upset about her baby's death that she refuses to wake the sun. The animals then call to a meeting to figure out who's fault it was that the baby owl was dead. Eventually they figure out that the mosquito started the chain reaction. Mosquito is so upset he doesn't dare talk to any of the animals so he whispers in people's ears to see if the animals ares still mad at him. Since the person usually swats at him when he does this,he comcludes that the animals are still mad at him. Review:I gave this book five stars becasue i think it is a great cultural story. The story is imaginative and the children can connect it to their own lives as well as to onother culture. I also really like the illustrations on this book they were simple but put against the white background they really stand out and they are different in that they resemble African arts and Drawings.
    • 4/5
      Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears is a delightful folktale about why mosquitoes are annoying. Verna Aardema, the author, employs different animals found in West Africa to weave an entricate tale about not jumping to conclusions. The Mosquito wants to gossip and tell ridiculous stories to Iguana. Iguana, however, is so upset by the lie Mosquito tells that he ignores Mosquito, leading to a whole chain of events that results in a baby owl being killed!This book is great for teaching lessons about not jumping to conclusions, and hearing everyone's point of view.
    • 5/5
      Tags: Multicultural, Flies, Tall TalesSummary: A book about someone telling stories to everyone they can really get them to listen too. Almost like in todays society one person tells a story about someone or something and then by the end of the day, that story is now ten times worse then it was when the story was first told in the early morning. In this book begins when a mosquito tell the iguana a tall tale then its get said another way to the next thing, etc. Personal Reactions: Its a very funny and down to earth book of just how far a tall tale can go and how far will one let it go before stopping the next person and it getting out of control. Extension Ideas: You can really teach little people the difference in a 'tall tale' and an out right 'lie'.
    • 5/5
      “Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears” is a Caldecott Award winning folktale from Africa about the consequences of lying to other people and how they affect others. Verna Aardema’s playful narrative and Leo and Diane Dillon’s colorful and vibrant illustrations make this book an instant treat for children and adults alike.
    • 5/5
      In my opinion, this is a really good book. My favorite component was the illustrations, which would make sense since this book won the Caldecott metal. The illustrations were filled with beautiful watercolors that appeared to incorporate and imitate an African art style. This is appropriate because this book is a retelling of a West African folk tale. I felt the illustrations truly enhanced the story because they encapsulated the expansive imagination this story was created with. The story was also filled with onomatopoeias, which appear to correlate with African culture and, subsequently, languages. Examples of these include: “mek, mek, mek,” when referring to an iguana traveling through reeds; “kili wili,” when describing a monkey leaping through the trees; “wasawusu, wasawusu, wasawusu,” for describing a python going into a rabbit hole. I really liked how these literary devices were dispersed throughout the story. I believe it is a good way to incorporate African culture. The story also possessed a lot of repetition, which enhanced the apprehension of the story line. When each animal explained to the Lion their reasons for committing their actions, the Lion would add each part to the sequence. I really liked this because I felt it reinforced what happened in the story and added to the apprehension of what the final result was going to be. The lion’s final summation was, /“So, it was the mosquito/ who annoyed the iguana,/ who frightened the python, / who scared the rabbit, / who startled the crow, / who alarmed the monkey, / who killed the owlet—/ and now Mother Owl won’t wake the sun/ so that the day can come.” I also liked how the text was not put all in one line; there were distinct sections stacked on one another and this was very engaging. Overall, the big idea of this story is one should never tell lie because you never know what may come about from that and how serious the consequences may be.
    • 5/5
      I really enjoyed this book that explains a natural phenomena with a fictional from West Africa. One mosquito’s ridiculous story causes complete chaos in the jungle, so the mosquito keeps asking people if the animals are still mad at him. The story includes African animals and the illustrations incorporate an African style of art. There are also several onomatopoeias (wasawusu, badamin, kili wili) that are taken from African languages. These details add to the reader’s understanding of African culture and beliefs. I think this book is a great tool for introducing Africa to students with a fun tale that relates to something they are familiar with.
    • 4/5
      This wonderful folk tale tells a tale about why Mosquito buzzes in peoples ear. It starts with Mosquito telling a lie in iguana's ear which triggers a series of event that eventually kill a baby owlet. The mother owl is so saddened by this that she wont call the sun to rise, which in turn affects the rest of the jungle... The king of the jungle, the lion, then has to find out why the baby owlet had died, which traces all the way back to mosquito telling lies in iguana's ear. This book teaches kids the concept of cause and effect and how one little event could trigger a bigger event. It's a very interactive book that some kids could put to memory and recite it when read aloud. The illustrations are stunning and accurately portray the african culture in that area. I highly recommend this book!
    • 4/5
      This book tells the West African tale of how the mosquito began to buzz in people's ears, beginning with a long series of events that eventually lead to the sun not coming up in the morning because the owl refuses to call it. Finally, the lion calls a meeting in which all of the lies and confusion that have led to the sun not coming up are revealed, and the mosquito is found ultimately to be at fault. The award-winning illustrations are beautiful, and help to tell the story. Young children will especially like the repetition, which also makes the chain of events easier to follow. This story could be used for a lesson on cause and effect, the importance of telling the truth, and how even small lies can get blown out of proportion. Children could also create a story of their own in which one event leads to the next and the next and so on until it is completely different from how it began, as in the old game "telephone." This would also be the perfect story to supplement a multicultural unit or one on Africa in particular.
    • 5/5
      "Why Mosquitos Buzz in People's Ears" is an African story retold by Verna Aardema. A Caldecott winner, this story has very cool illustrations that seem like they are made from paper cut-outs. It tells a story about how the animals in a jungle (or somewhere in Africa) all confuse each other, starting with a mosquito. In the end, the tale tells that the reason mosquitos buzz in peoples ears is to ask if they are still angry for causing the confusion in the jungle. Students will love hearing this story at any age. The author uses repetition that makes the complicated chain of different animal stories easy to follow. This story would be great for teaching sequencing to students or even for the purpose of reading an international tale aloud.
    • 4/5
      Summary:“Why Mosquitos Buzz in People’s Ears” is a book written by Verna Aardema. It starts off with a mosquito telling a lie to iguana which the iguana does not care to hear so he puts sticks in his ears. This starts a chain of events that leads up to a baby owl being killed so the owl mother becomes upset and cannot wake the sun up in the morning with her hooting. So the nights become endless and the king lion calls a meeting and the animals trace the events back to the mosquito. The mother owl is satisfied that they found who was responsible so she calls the sun back. And the mosquito has to leave on with a guilty conscious and is forever known as a pest.Personal Reflection:This book is a great cause and effect book for children to learn the lesson of spreading rumors.Classroom Extensions:The book is helpful in class because it shows the damage of a lie, even a little one like the mosquito told. It also uses cause and effect throughout the story.
    • 4/5
      Worth it for the beautiful and unique illustrations alone.