The Magic Tree: A Folktale from Nigeria

Mbi is an orphan boy who lives in a Nigerian village with many unkind relatives. When there is work to do, everyone calls his name. But when it's time to eat, all Mbi gets are scraps and bones to chew.

Then one day, while everyone else is eating dinner and Mbi is sitting under an udara tree near the compound, a magical fruit falls from the tree. When he plants a seed from the fruit, a huge udara tree suddenly grows just for Mbi. Now he will never go hungry.

But when the meanest boy in the village tries to steal some of the fruit, Mbi makes the tree grow taller and taller, until its branches-with the boy on top of them-are lost in the clouds. And, using his wits, Mbi teaches all the villagers a lesson they'll never forget.

E. B. Lewis's evocative watercolor paintings and Nigerian-born author I Obinkaram Echewa's accomplished storytelling give this engaging tale timeless appeal.

Although Mbi, an orphan boy, is constantly asked to "do this" and "do that" by his many unkind relatives until a special tree grows, just for him.