
Reach for this book when your child feels small or discouraged by their physical size compared to older peers or more athletic friends. This Liberian folktale centers on a royal challenge to find a new king: animals must throw a spear and count to ten before it lands. While the elephant and lion rely on brute strength, they fail because they cannot speak fast enough. It is the clever antelope who succeeds by using skip counting. It is a wonderful choice for ages 4 to 8 to reinforce that intelligence and creative problem-solving are just as valuable as physical prowess. The story provides a gentle introduction to math concepts while celebrating African oral traditions and the power of thinking outside the box.
The book is entirely secular and metaphorical. It deals with the transition of power and the limitations of physical might. There is no violence or death; the 'failure' of the larger animals is handled with humor and dignity.
Your experience helps other parents find the right book.
Sign in to write a reviewA first or second grader who is starting to learn multiplication or skip counting but feels 'behind' in gym class or sports. It is perfect for the 'thinker' child who needs validation that their brain is a powerful tool.
This book can be read cold. Parents may want to practice their 'counting voices' to emphasize the speed difference between the lion and the antelope. A parent might choose this after hearing their child say, 'I'm not strong enough' or 'I can't do it because I'm too little.'
Younger children (4-5) will enjoy the animal repetition and the 'race' aspect. Older children (6-8) will have the 'aha!' moment when they realize the math trick used by the antelope.
Unlike many folktales that focus purely on morality, this one bridges the gap between folklore and STEM by making a mathematical concept the key to the protagonist's success.
King Leopard is aging and seeks a successor. He proclaims that whoever can throw his heavy spear and count to ten before it hits the earth will be king. Powerful animals like the Elephant, Bush Buffalo, and Lion attempt the feat, but counting to ten takes too long. Finally, the slender Antelope tries. Instead of counting by ones, he counts by twos (2, 4, 6, 8, 10). He finishes his count just as the spear touches the ground and is crowned the new king.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.