Author Study - Tololwa Mollel

Author Study by Grade 2 students at Victoria School

Tololwa Mollel

We were very privileged to have Tololwa Mollel visit our class and share with us his story telling expertise. We joined him in a lively feast of delicious words.

1. Meet the Author

Tolowa is a talented storyteller who uses traditional folktales as the basis for his books. Tololwa Mollel grew up in Arusha, Tanzania. When he was a little boy the oral tradition of storytelling was alive and well. This oral tradition is the basis for Tololwa’s work.

“Tololwa Mollel has never forgotten the evenings of his early youth, when he returned to his grandfather's coffee farm in northern Tanzania to share the things he had read at school.

Mollel's grandfather would listen intently, probing for details. These were wonderful moments for both, which stirred within Mollel a love of storytelling that has never left him. The Maasai call the art of the spoken word and conversation 'eating words' or 'feasting on words' and the storytelling sessions were feasts of their own.

Today, after three decades of writing, Mollel has invited many thousands of children to share in the feast. He has written 16 children's books in English and three in Swahili. He has produced several plays. And he has published short stories in magazines around the world.

The common thread running through these works, he says, is the element that gives them universal appeal: they are based on folktales told in Africa and around the world. "All children love folktales because of the larger-than-life characters in them," said Mollel, who is working towards a combined PhD in English and Drama. (www. Report.ualberat.ca/stories/arts/tellme.htm)

2. Book List

n To dinner, For dinner.

n Subira, Subira.

n My Rows and Piles of Coins.

n Shadow Dance.

n Kitoto the Mighty.

n Dume's Roar.

n Ananse's Feast.

n Kele's Secret

n Big Boy.

n The Flying Tortoise.

n The King: and the Tortoise.

n The Princess Who Lost her Hair.

n A Promise to the Sun.

n Rhinos for Lunch and Elephants for Supper.

n The Orphan Boy

2. The class idol
“After reading all of Tolowa’s books the children suggested we have a mini version of Canadian Idol- a Tolo Book idol contest. The beginning, middle and ending of each book was read, examined and discussed and compared. Over a period of several days and much discussion about what makes a great book, votes were tallied and an idol was chosen. The Flying Tortoise was proclaimed as the story that had the most interesting beginning – one that invites you in to the story, an eventful middle section with delightful characters and a grand ending- the turtle gets his just due!
3.Student Responses
	To Dinner for Dinner “In this story there is a rabbit and there is a leopard. My favorite part was that rabbit said he would grow to be as big as the pumpkin. Tololwa Mollel is my favorite writer.” “ In this story there is a rabbit and a mole and there is a leopard. My favorite part of this story is when the rabbit teaches the hippos to dance. This book is by Tololwa Mollel and the wonderful paintings are by Synthia Saint James.”
	My Rows and Piles of Coins “My favorite part was when Saruni got his bicycle and when he tried to ride the bicycle.”
	The Princess Who Lost her Hair “My favorite part was when mama planted the tree that grew hair.” “ When the princess loses her hair it reminds me of when I lose a toy. One time I lost my favorite stuffie. I wish I could remember where it is. I searched everywhere in the house. I felt cranky.”
	Dume’s Roar “At the start of the book it made me think of going camping. I like Dume’s Roar it was my favorite book.” “ Dumes Roar made me think of my brother when he makes pterodactyl noises. I think Kobe’s idea was so wise to pretend that Dume lost his voice so the hunters would be scared and run away.”
	Ananse’s Feast “I like the book Anase’s Feast.” “I like when Ananse and Akye tricked each other. It reminded me of my brother because he didn’t want to share food.”
	Big Boy “Big Boy is a story about a boy who wants to be big just like his big brother. He sure gets his wish! Find out just what adventures, Oli, the little boy has.
	Kele’s Secret “I like when Kele lays eggs everywhere. It reminded me of Easter hunts.” “ I like when Kele keeps on laying eggs everywhere it makes me think of Easter. When a bat comes out of the cave like hole and the boy jumps back frightened it make me think of when my brother scares me. “
	The Orphan Boy “I like the Orphan boy because the man learned his lesson.” “ I liked the Orphan Boy because it makes me feel like it’s a moonlit story. The way that the old man discovers that one star is missing and then instantly the boy comes out of nowhere.”
	Subira Subira “My favorite part is when tatu sang that beautiful song. It was beautiful.” “I like the part when the girl goes to the lion. I think of when I fight with my sister. I feel sad when I go to my mom and figure out the problem with my sister.”
	Kitoto the Mighty “ I like Kitoto the mighty because its all about adventure and a little mouse. The mouse is on an adventure to find someone that can protect him. Wait till he finds out that the thing that can protect him is a mouse. What a surprise!”
	Song Bird “Song bird makes me think of my favorite bird, the robin. My favorite part is when the the bird sings “kwa sem di mol”. I like song bird because I love the words and the pictures.”
	A Promise to the Sun “My favorite part was when the birds had a harvest celebration with dancing and feasting. I think the birds should have kept their promise. It was sad when the sun got disappointed.” “I like when the bat was asking the moon and the stars and the clouds and the winds and the sun if they could make rain. I also like when the birds had a celebration. My favorite part was when it started to rain.”
	The Flying Tortoise: An igboo Tale “This is our class’ favorite book”