For children who enjoy whimsical quests and learning about different cultures, this Mpongwe tale explores how a community works together to fulfill an unusual royal request.
A parent might reach for this book when looking for a fun, culturally rich story that celebrates cleverness over size or strength. Based on a folktale from the Mpongwe people of Gabon, this story follows a series of animal suitors trying to win the hand of Princess Gorilla. Her father, the King, has set a seemingly impossible task: they must bring him “a new kind of water.” After several large, strong animals fail, a tiny, observant chameleon figures out the riddle. This whimsical tale is perfect for ages 4 to 8, highlighting themes of creative problem-solving, perseverance, and community in a lighthearted, engaging way.
The central premise involves the princess being offered as a marital prize, a common trope in classic folklore that may feel dated to a modern audience. The resolution is portrayed as a happy one. The “new water” is palm wine, an alcoholic beverage. The book handles this in a very child-appropriate, metaphorical way by having the prize be a sapling, focusing on the potential and growth rather than the final product.
Ideal Reader
A 5 to 7-year-old who loves animal stories, riddles, and tales where the small, clever character wins the day. It’s an excellent fit for a child who might feel overlooked and would be empowered by a story that values observation and ingenuity over brute force.
Parent Prep
The book can be read cold. A parent might want to be ready to discuss the folktale tradition of winning a princess's hand in a contest. If a child asks, they can explain that a palm tree can be used to make a special drink for grown-ups, keeping the focus on the story's cleverness. A parent is looking for a joyful, beautifully illustrated book to introduce their child to world folklore. They might also be seeking a story to encourage creative thinking when their child feels stuck on a problem, showing that the most obvious answer isn't always the right one.
Age Experience
A younger child (4-5) will delight in the parade of animals and the rhythmic, repetitive text. They'll enjoy the simple humor of the big animals failing. An older child (6-8) will better appreciate the cleverness of the riddle, the chameleon's resourcefulness, and the cultural context of the story. They will more deeply grasp the “brains over brawn” theme.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many princess tales rooted in European traditions, this book provides a vibrant entry point into West African (specifically Mpongwe) oral storytelling. Its unique elements are the all-animal cast, the cultural specificity, and a resolution that is grounded in agriculture and nature (a sapling for a palm wine tree) rather than magic or wealth.
Read plot summary
King Gorilla of the Mpongwe people offers his daughter, Princess Gorilla, in marriage to any animal who can bring him “a new kind of water.” A warthog, an elephant, and a leopard all fail, bringing water from various conventional sources. A small chameleon, however, overhears the princess muse that the answer is a palm sapling, which will one day produce palm wine. The clever chameleon retrieves a sapling, presents it to the king, and wins the princess’s hand.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
King Gorilla asked for ‘a new kind of water.’ Why do you think the warthog, elephant, and leopard all brought him regular water from a puddle or river?
2
The chameleon was much smaller than the other animals. How did being a good listener help him solve the King’s riddle when the bigger animals could not?
3
Princess Gorilla seemed to know the answer to the riddle all along. What do you think she thought about her father's silly contest?
4
At the end, the chameleon brings a tiny tree sapling. Why was this a better and more clever answer than a bucket full of water?
