Abiyoyo

Illustarations excellent..story in the book and on dvd are a favortie of my grandchildren...must confess, even though I am 67, I enjoyed it too.

Every summer, the library in which I work has daily storytimes. And when 3:30 rolls around, the librarian who's supposed to be doing the reading (that would be me) inevitably starts searching the shelves for some sure-fire storytime hits. It isn't easy. You have to gauge how old your audience is going to be, sight unseen, and come up with a variety of different reading levels just in case. You need books that sound good on the tongue, are interesting, sport amusing pictures, and yet have just enough creativity to enliven a half-hour of tale telling. With all this in mind, thank God for "Abiyoyo". It fulfills a storyteller's every need and keeps 'em coming back for more. Little wonder it's as popular as it is. In a town populated by people of every race, persuasion, and creed, a boy and his father live. They're not the most popular people in town. The boy plucks his ukelele everywhere to the distraction of his neighbors and his father, a yuckster, likes to make things disappear for no good reason. Unsurprisingly, they're chucked out of town when the boy's pa makes one thing too many go "zoop!". On the edge of town one day, they spot a fearsome sight. A giant by the name of Abiyoyo has appeared and he has a ravenous appetite for sheep, cows, and people. Fortunately, the boy and the father have a plan and it isn't long before their ukelele and magic wand have some very practical uses indeed. Now I know this book is called a "storysong" and that it certainly couldn't hurt to sing it aloud during the reading, but I tell you here and now that a musical ear is not a requirement for this tale. Admittedly, I'd recommend that you purchase a version of this book that comes with a recording by Pete Seeger. Obviously. But if you're reading it on your own to a large group of dumb-struck five-year-olds, just read the song "Abiyoyo" that appears in this book with a whole lot of verve and pep. The story is relatively short (it takes less than 5 minutes to read it) but the words are catchy with plenty of "zoops", "clinks" "clunks" and "clonks" to jangle with the ear. The illustrations are a source of contention. Why this is, I do not know. Illustrator Michael Hays (also responsible for Mildred D. Taylor's, "Gold Cadillac") has chosen to place this tale in a particularly fanciful village. The people here are of all kinds of races and identities. This is the world as a village in a particularly straightforward way. Abiyoyo himself, when he appears, is a suitable threat. Initially silhouetted against a "blood red" sky, he looks like nothing so much as an escapee from a Cubism painting. All sharp shiny surfaces, of which there are too many. Few kids can resist hearing a tale of magic, giants, and a clever child hero. "Abiyoyo" shall undoubtedly remain a staple of the storytelling community for years and years to come as well. If you have a list of picture book must-reads, be sure to place this one somewhere in the vicinity of the top.

Chrildren at my nursery school beg to hear this book over and over,I also love it and readily comply. We have the audio recording by Pete Seegar to accompany this story, he is a joy to listen to.

My boys discovered this book at their preschool - both my two year old and the four year old adore the story and love the song that goes along with it (it's a Pete Seeger classic)! We now have a copy at home and it gets read aloud at least once a day. I highly recommend this book to anyone with young children - I just wish you carried the version with the audio tape and song. We can't seem to find it anywhere.