Childrens Literature
Book Reviews

Verna Aardema (1911-2000)

aardeemaVerna Aardema was born in New Era, Michigan on June 6, 1911. She was a classroom teacher for close to 40 years. She published her first collection of stories in 1960. She is known for her retelling of traditional African folktales. Her book, Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears, received the Caldecott Medal in 1976. She died on May 11, 2000. She is the author of Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears; Who's in Rabbit's House?; Oh Kojo! How Could You!; Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain; Anansi Does the Impossible; and This for That: A Tongi Tale

Key: profile Articles Photos Images Video Video Audio Audio Interactives Interactives Lesson Plans Teaching Resources

Websites

Folktale Tradition Lives On; Verna Aardema profile Lesson Plans
Aardema was a teacher for close to 40 years. This site has biographical information as well as a booklist and links to activities.
Source: School Library Media Activities Monthly Intended Audience: Educators Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: N/A Searchable: No

Verna Aardema: Chronicler Of African Folklore profile
This obituary for the author gives details of her life and work.
Source: NY Times Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No

Verna Aardema profile Photos
Verna Aardema began writing for children when her daughter refused to eat without a story. Learn more at this site featuring a brief biographical sketch of the author. Source: University of Southern Mississippi Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No

Verna Aardema Birthday Bio profile Photos
Verna Aardema was born on June 6, 1911. This site has a brief biographical sketch of the author. Source: Children's Literature Network Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No

Africana Collection: Verna Aardema profile
Most of Aardema's stories are retelling of traditional African tales. This site has a brief biography and a listing of Aardema's works. Source: George A. Smathers Libraries at the  University of Florida Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No

Spotlight on Verna Aardema profile
A cedar swamp behind her house served a a writing retreat and a source of inspiration. You'll find a brief biographical sketch of Aardema along with one of illustrator Petra Mathers who illustrated Borreguita and the Coyote. Source: Random House Intended Audience: Teachers Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: N/A Searchable: Yes

Borreguita and the Coyote Quiz - Grade 3
How well do you know the story Borreguita and the Coyote? Find out with this quiz! Source: Quia

Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain Vocabulary Quiz
Test your vocabulary skills with this fill-in-the-blank vocabulary game. Source: Quia

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Online Video

Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears
Animated and narrated version of the book. With PDF Teacher's Guide. Source: NHPTV

Borreguita and the Coyote
Product page for the Reading Rainbow episode featuring Borreguita and the Coyote. You can view a 5-minute clip from the episode. Source: GPN

Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain
Product page for the Reading Rainbow episode featuring Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain. You can view a 5-minute clip from the episode. Source: GPN

Lesson Plans

Author Studies
Verna Aardema
This site has a series of questions about the author for students as well as book overviews, activities, and vocabulary. Source: Florida Coast College of Education

Verna Aardema
This author study focuses on African Tales retold by Verna Aardema. Source:The Reading Lady

Borreguita and the Coyote
CyberGuide
In this cyberguide, students use the Internet to explore trickster folk tales from several different cultures. Source: San Diego County Office of Education

Quiz - Grade 3
A series of comprehension questions for this story. Source: Quia

Discussion Guide Pre-K-3
Discussion ideas and an extension activity. Source: Scholastic

Tricking the Trickster: Borreguita and the Coyote
Podcast about the book. Source: Just One More Book

Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain

Making Rain Gr. K-4
In this lesson, students experience rain through a hands-on auditory activity, a science experiment, an award-winning children’s picture book, poetry reading and writing, song and chant, and an instrument-making activity. Source: Kennedy Center Arts Edge

A Readers' Theatre for Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain
Students will examine text through fluent reading and participation in a dramatic presentation of prose. Students will discuss ways in which climate/weather affect animals. Students will discuss the interdependence of plants and animals. Source: Alabama Learning Exchange

Vocabulary
Fill-in-the-blank vocabulary game. Source: Quia

Discussion Guide - Grades K-2
Discussion guide and geography and creative writing lesson plan focusing on climate and weather. Source: Scholastic

African Plains - Grades 1-2
In this lesson plan, students identify the African Plains and the plants and animals that are found there and listen to the story and actively participate in a choral reading of Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain. Part of larger collection of lessons on Africa. Source: Utah State University TeacherLink

Africa: Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain
Students learn more about Africa, especially Kenya. Part of larger collection of lessons on Africa. Source: Teacherlink

 Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain - Grade 1
A collection of cross-curriculum activities. Source: Keppel Union School District

Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears
Caldecott Newberry Series
Animated and narrated version of the book. With PDF Teacher's Guide. Source: NHPTV

Discussion Guide
Discussion ideas and an extension activity. Source: Scholastic

K-3 African Folklore Lesson Plan
In this 2-3 day lesson, students use various subjects from this book by Verna Aardema to learn about science, communication arts, and social studies.
Source: SuccessLink

Folktales: A Cultural Teaching Tool - K-3
In this lesson students learn how folktales carry underlying themes through writing sentences explaining some of the themes presented in several folktales. Source: Utah State University

 Making Inferences, Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears - K-3
In this lesson, students draw on their prior knowledge and use the information from the text to make inferences. Source: TeacherVision

Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears - Gr. 2
Part of a unit on folktales, this lesson looks at the African folktale Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears.  Students read the book by Verna Aardema and then complete a sequencing activity. Source: Melissa  DiVincenzo

Wigglers, Tumblers, & Bloodsuckers
Students explore the life cycle of the mosquito after reading Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears Source: Center for Insect Science, University of Arizona