Muhla, the Fair One

Laurence Steven is Chairman of the English Department at Laurentian
University and author of Dissociation and Wholeness in Patrick White’s
Fiction.

This is the story of a beautiful African village girl and her adventures
with a wicked spirit called an Izumi. The Izumi is accidentally freed
from a pot in which he has been imprisoned for many years. He causes all
sorts of trouble for Muhla: attempting to eat her sister, trading places
with Muhla and tricking everyone into thinking he is her. But in the end
he becomes the answer to a puzzling mystery (an old African folk tale),
and the unwitting answer to Muhla’s dreams. The book has a happy
ending and is well worth reading.

The book is wonderful for young children (ages five to seven), but it
can be enjoyed by all children. It is easy to read, though it involves
words that even an adult might have problems with. It provides a
pronunciation guide for the characters’ names and a glossary to help
readers with some of the tale’s more difficult vocabulary. These,
however, are only two aspects among many that make the book appealing.
Filled with magic and myth, the story includes an old African puzzle
that challenges children to use their minds as well as their
imaginations.

Benoit’s illustrations are bright and expressive. They help enhance
readers’ knowledge of the world they have entered. The colors are
traditional, giving readers a better understanding of what life may be
like in an African village. The Izumi is especially colorful, and
despite all his mischief and misdeeds, he is a fun character that
children will like. Muhla’s character is a positive example for young
readers. She is patient, loving, and true—even in the face of all the
indifference she meets. Children will enjoy indulging themselves in this
fantasy. The story is fun and evocative, while teaching only positive
lessons about life, love, and being.

This is brilliant childrens fiction. It is informative, culturally
rich, and quite fantastic.