Highlights include Grace Reilly Tierney’s comic morality tale of a jewelry store robbery and a boastful beaver (“Benny and the Bag of Gold Chains: A Fable”); Kelly Cunane’s “Tea in Africa” (a warm, meandering story of an American child’s experiences one afternoon in a village in Kenya [a Swahili/English glossary is provided for parents and teachers]); and Lisa Cowman’s retelling of “Anansi and the Turtle” (in which the famous spider tries to trick his slow-paced friend out of a meal). We welcome back one of our favorite musical groups, Uncle John & Mikey, who perform five very unique tunes, including the hygiene anthem “Don’t Put Your Finger in Your Nose.”

Edited and produced by Arlene Furman and Jack Nestor

1997 Shoofly, Inc.

The Shoofly Players: Martha Brown, Constance Conover, Sarah Froeber, Solomon Gibson III, Greg Hohn, Sheila Kerrigan, Thomas King, Tom Marriott, Darlyne McLeod, Kevin Poole, Mary Ruth, Karim Sadik, Stephen B. Schilling, and Amy Laird Webb

Shoofly Theme: T. Sherman Tate (lead vocal); Tommy Hartley (guitar & vocal)

Cover Concept & Design: Kathleen Nestor

Cover Art: Wesley Jamison (age 10, Phoenix, MD)

Recorded by: Randy Friel, SoundWave Audio, Chapel Hill
Incidental music composed and arranged by Randy Friel and Greg Decker

Special Guest: Uncle John & Mikey
If you're already a Shoofly listener, you probably have at least a couple Uncle John & Mikey songs committed to memory.  Now with the release of their second recording, Are We There Yet?, we're pleased to feature this kid-pleasing ensemble (John Vettel, Mike McCrae, and Greg O'Rear) once again. Are We There Yet? features 12 brand-new songs.  These tracks include "Sand in My Bikini," a delightful duet between Uncle John and his 10-year-old daughter Katie; "The Last Reindeer in Line (Blitzen's Song)," a Christmas song fun enough to enjoy during any season; and the title track, a concert favorite finally available on this cassette.  This is music the whole family can enjoy listening to together.

Swahili/English Translations
The following glossary is provided for “Tea in Africa” by Kelly Cunnane.

Asante: (ah-SAHN-tee) “Thank you” in the Kiswahili language of East Africa.

Chai: (chi) Tea.

Furahi: (foo-RAH-hee) Happy.

Hapana: (ha-PAH-nah) No or not.

Kiswahili: The national language of Kenya. The numerous tribes within the country each have their own language. Most people also speak their tribal language as well as Kiswahili (also known as Swahili), and many times another tribal language. They are also taught English, the international language, in school.

Kenya: A country of East Africa on the equator. Kenya has very tall mountains, deep valleys, coast, and desert. The tribes and cultures of Kenya are also very diverse.

Keti: (kay-TEE) A command to “sit.”

Maziwa lala: (mah-ZEE-wah lah lah) Soured milk, which is called sleeping milk and is often sweetened with a bit of crushed charcoal which gives the milk a purple hue and a smoked taste. Maziwa means milk; lala means sleep.

Mimi: (mee-MEE) The word for “me.”

Mzuri: (mm-ZZRR-ree) Good.

Pia: (pee-AH) Too.

 
           
Parents’ Choice Silver Honor Winner, 1996
EdPress Distinquished Achievement Award Winner, 1996
Parents’ Choice Approved, 1995