Reviewed by: Finding Stinko Deborah Stevenson de Guzman, Michael Finding Stinko. Farrar, 2007136p ISBN 0-374-32305-4$16.00 R Gr. 6-10 Beautiful and vain Mee-An is looking for the perfect husband; she will not accept a mate who has "a single scratch, scar or blemish on any part of his body." Her hopeless quest soon becomes a point of humor among the men of her village, and a powerful serpent who hears of her ridiculous standards sees an opportunity, disguising himself as a perfect, unblemished man and easily winning Mee-An's hand in marriage. After Mee-An's younger sister Assa follows custom and accompanies the newlyweds to their new home, the two sisters discover the serpent's deception and sinister plans for them ("Mee-An and her sister . . . can make a delicious meal"). Fortunately, Assa has her own powers, and she calls upon a black heron to rescue the two sisters and bring them safely home. This folktale from Mali is brought vividly to life in Diakité's rich paintings composed on ceramic tiles. Most effective is the portrayal of village life—the colors, textures, activity, flora, and fauna are captivatingly composed in lush, earthy tones bordered by thick black outlines. The smoothly turned text is well suited for a readaloud, and kids will immediately get its point; while the ending is a little overambitious (it not only concludes the plot, it provides explanations for why the heron is now white and why herons hang out on the backs of land animals), young listeners will likely consider that merely added value. Use this with a selection of African folktales or teaching tales for a rousing storytime. Copyright © 2007 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois