Books › Why the Sky Is Far Away
Why the Sky Is Far Away
First published 1974 · 32 pages
A beautifully textured, mythic cautionary tale that gently reminds us to cherish and protect the natural world.
What it feels like
Reading this Nigerian folktale feels like sitting around a communal fire, listening to a timeless story passed down through generations. The narrative unfolds with a steady, rhythmic grace, drawing readers into a lush, utopian past where the earth and sky lived in intimate harmony. As the mood shifts from sun-warmed abundance to a wistful, cautionary atmosphere, the prose remains lyrical and deeply grounded in the oral storytelling tradition. It is a gentle but resonant experience, weaving themes of environmental stewardship and the consequences of greed into a simple, unforgettable myth. Perfect for young readers and mindful adults alike, this beautifully textured tale delights those who appreciate culturally rich origin stories that teach us to respect the world we inhabit.
- Mood
- mythic
- earthy
- wistful
- atmospheric
- Tone
- earnest
- cautionary
- reverent
- gentle
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- environmental stewardship · consequences of greed · harmony with nature · origin myths · gratitude
- The writing
- Lyrical, rhythmic, and direct, echoing the timeless cadence of the oral storytelling tradition.
- The arc
- Moves from a state of utopian abundance to a sobering, grounding realization about the necessity of respecting nature.
- Who it's for
- Young readers and mindful adults seeking culturally rich folktales that introduce concepts of ecology and gratitude.
About the book
The sky was once so close to the Earth that people cut parts of it to eat but their waste and greed caused the sky to move far away.
Description from Open Library.
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