From the vibrant patterned endpapers to the rich, warm watercolor paintings in which dark-skinned villagers appear throughout, this is a beautifully designed volume. In an introductory note, Unobagha explains her desire to create a series of simple rhymes to portray West African culture in a way similar to the Mother Goose rhymes' presentation of European tradition. Although the author successfully incorporates numerous children and adults, animals, objects, and customs into her verses, the poems do not always scan or rhyme and are not always easy to read or recite. The selections in Virginia Kroll's Jaha and Jamil Went Down the Hill: An African Mother Goose (Charlesbridge, 1994) deliberately imitate specific Mother Goose rhymes, while Unobagha's are more original and strive to capture the spirit of the nursery verses rather than their exact style. Unfortunately, many of her poems begin with vivid imagery but fail to maintain their imagistic quality to the end and sometimes fizzle out inconclusively. A few terms, such as "ging-gong," are not included in the glossary and may leave readers wondering if they are African terms or just nonsense words created to carry out the rhymes. This book will be useful for libraries building large collections of materials on African heritage, but not for those looking for a storyhour resource. Ginny Gustin, Sonoma County Library System, Santa Rosa, CA Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.