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Abiyoyo

Abiyoyo

Illustrated by Michael Hays
LIST PRICE $19.99

About The Book

A young boy and his father save the town that ostracized them from a hungry giant in this picture book adaptation of a South African lullaby and folk story.

In a small town, one young boy loves walking around playing the ukulele, but the people get tired of the clink, clunk, clonk and beg him to stop while covering their ears! The boy’s father has a magic wand he uses to make things disappear, like a playing card or a glass of water—or a chair just as someone’s about to sit.

The townspeople have had quite enough of the boy’s noise and the father’s tricks and drive them from the town. But then the giant called Abiyoyo comes to town and starts gobbling up everything in sight. If they work together, can the magician and his son make this very big problem disappear?

About The Author

Pete Seeger is a national treasure, arguably the most influential figure in American folk music as well as an important advocate of social causes. He lives in Beacon, New York.

About The Illustrator

Michael Hays has illustrated several picture books, including the sequel to Abiyoyo, Abiyoyo Returns. He lives in Chicago, Illinois.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (October 1, 2001)
  • Length: 48 pages
  • ISBN13: 9780689846939
  • Grades: P - 3
  • Ages: 4 - 8
  • Lexile ® AD610L The Lexile reading levels have been certified by the Lexile developer, MetaMetrics®

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Raves and Reviews

New York Times Book Review Told in the familiar Seeger style, with brief musical phrases of the one-word song incorporated in the text and printed complete at the end, and with illustrations full of light and color, this rendering of a South African tale is a pleasure.

Publishers Weekly The book is a triumph of storytelling and art.

Awards and Honors

  • ILA/CBC Children's Choices
  • Reading Rainbow Book
  • CBC/NCSS Notable Children's Book in Social Studies
  • Volunteer State Book Award (TN)

Resources and Downloads

High Resolution Images

More books from this author: Pete Seeger

More books from this illustrator: Michael Hays