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 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. ( )

This book is about a kid who can't play the ukulele and his jerk dad who just goes around making people's things disappear with his wand. They get kicked out of the support group for racial stereotypes they call a town, then vanquish a monster, and then are accepted back: "Bring your darn ukelele. We don't care anymore." You'll notice they spell ukulele wrong in this book. ( )

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. ( )

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. ( )

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. ( )