Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale by John Steptoe. 1987

Any MFA in Children's Writing must have this book on it's required reading list -- such an important tale. Uniquely South African and full of stunning, authentic illustrations. This morality story is much like an Aesop’s fable. The kind girl is favored over the nasty one. The plotting is tight, the storytelling clear with a voice like a classic folktale. A favorite.