Abiyoyo

Based on a South African folktale, a young boy and his father manage to outwit a giant (who reminded me rather a lot of Golem) who has risen from the setting sun. The boy has always been clever, and the father, a magician, has a knack for playing tricks on people and making things *poof* into thin air! The tale is told through a song, “Abiyoyo”, which has a lighthearted, almost goofy, lilting rhythm. The illustrations are vivid and feel folksy, with slightly cartoonish features.

Now I'm the one who's always going on about 'Don't underestimate the insights & wisdom of children' but I still think this would only be OK with them. It's only OK with me, too. The metaphors that reviewers are seeing in it are in their own minds, I believe.

Otoh, the art is wonderful. I love Michael Hayes' emphasis on diversity - bringing every culture, ethnicity, religion, into this small village... apparently to emphasize that if we all learned the lessons that folklore like this can teach us, we'd live in a more harmonious world. But again, will kids pick up on that?

I didn't have time to listen to the whole CD, but I did find a youtube reading of the book, re' Reading Rainbow, and the song didn't do anything for me.

I do appreciate show more that there are two author's notes, and two recordings - the 'original' and a more recent one of each. And I like the silly monster... and agree with Seeger that kids should be encouraged to draw their own versions of the monster. show less

There was a boy who overplayed his ukulele and whose father had a magic wand he overused. His father made glasses, chairs, and saws disappear as people were trying to use them. The people made them leave town. One day, a giant named Abiyoyo, only a legend until that day, came to town. He terrorized the town until the boy played a song on his ukulele for Abiyoyo, who danced until he fell down. The father then made Abiyoyo disappear with his wand and the grateful town let the boy and father come back to the town.

I love folk tales or stories told in song because I know thousands, maybe millions, of people have heard the stories before me. The father character was annoying, even after he was the hero. It makes you wonder if when he was show more allowed back in the town, he still continued to misuse his wand. The mood changes from annoyed, to scared, to joyful and it’s a smooth transition each time. There is also sheet music in the book, which I thought was neat to expose kids to.

In a class setting, we could write a story about what happens once the boy and his father return to town. Were they still annoying? Did the townspeople treat them differently/honor them for destroying Abiyoyo? Or were they again ostracized? We could compose a song for something that is a giant in our life (homework, chores) and learn the basics of sheet music. show less

American folk singer Pete Seeger retells a South African folktale about a boy and his father who, after being banished from town for making mischief, are welcomed back when they find a way to make the dreaded giant, Abiyoyo, disappear

An Americanized version of a South African lullaby and folk story, Abiyoyo tells the story of an ostracized father and son who win the town's affection through the defeat of Abiyoyo, a mythical and destructive giant. The book is based on the song by Pete Seeger, which would be a great supplemental activity to go along with this read aloud. Michael Hays' acrylic paintings are dynamic and colorful, with his interpretation of Abiyoyo being the perfect amount of "scary." The characters living in the fictional town are from all different cultures, which I thought was an interesting artistic choice.

No one wants to hear the little boy play his ukelele anymore...Clink, clunk, clonk. And no one wants to watch his father make things disappear...Zoop! Zoop! Until the day the fearsome giant Abiyoyo suddenly appears in town, and all the townspeople run for their lives and the lives of their children! Nothing can stop the terrible giant Abiyoyo, nothing, that is, except the enchanting sound of the ukelele and the mysterious power of the magic wand.

This is a favorite book written by an amazing man. The outcasts prove to have worth too in this kind tale. The annoying magic and music that get them kicked out of town, ostracized, end up being valuable in saving the town from the giant beast, Abiyoyo.