Full-color motifs illustrate this Congolese tale in which an ugly, unloved twin leaves home and discovers a Magic Tree, which gives him beauty, strength, and love--if he keeps its secret. By the author of Zomo the Rabbit. Reissue.

This book is confusing. There seem to be two separate plots and neither of them get resolved in any way. There's the story line about how the main character's mother doesn't love him, which is about a page long. Then there's the story line about how he finds and marries the princess, and how she asks him not to tell anyone, which goes on for many pages. That one ends abruptly after he tells some people. Nothing happens; the books just ends. If a twenty-two year old finds it confusing, how is a seven-year-old going to follow it? ( )