The plot of this book is so imaginative and different. It has a small amount of fear factor because the character Abiyoyo is said to "eat people up." When reading, I thought that some readers may be frightened upon reading that. This book uses onomatopoeia when discussing music or actions done by characters. This literary detail helps the book and story come alive. The plot of this book does a good job explaining background information that the reader needs to understand the town and the people who occupy it. The characters present within the story are believable but there is a sense of imagination when the character of Abiyoyo comes. The main message that I believe this book is trying to teach is that people can learn to live with their monsters and that fears shouldn't hold you back from accomplishing your dreams. It also presents the idea that things aren't always as bad as you think they might be. Abiyoyo was said to be this monster that would eat people up, but with some love and attention he turns out to be a very impactful member of the town. This book presents a multicultural tale about how people can live amongst those who are different from themselves and encourages children to not judge others just based on tales or stories they have heard. ( )

Abiyoyo is gone but now the town needs a dam or it will get washed away. There is also a boulder too big for anyone except Abiyoyo to move. The town has to keep the giant happy while solving their problem. I think this is a good story to discuss how things are not always as they seem with readers. I would also like to have this and Abiyoyo in my classroom to have a South African folktale in my folktale collection. ( )

The little girl's grandpa brings back Abiyoyo with his magic wand so that Abiyoyo will move a giant boulder that is preventing them from building a dam. However, the wand is broken and they have to continue making food and singing Abiyoyo's song so that he won't eat everyone - in the end Abiyoyo is practically family. ( )

When a town is threatened by constant floods in the spring and droughts in the summer, they decide to build a dam. After digging for a while, they strike a boulder that they realize is too big to move by themselves. Out of solutions, a little girl suggests that the town bring back Abiyoyo, the giant that her father and grandfather saved the town from years ago by making him disappear. Although it was a risky solution, the town decided to give it a try because Abiyoyo could be their only shot at moving the boulder to finish the dam.
The town began to prepare for the giant's return. When they were ready, Grandpa said the magic words and Abiyoyo returned.The town then fed him all they had, fearing he would feed on people. Then the young girl asked him to move the boulder. After he moved it, he grew hungry again, so the town sung to him. Abiyoyo was soothed by the music and fell right to sleep.
The town's rejoice only lasted a short while until they realized that Grandpa's wand was broken and he could no longer make Abiyoyo disappear. Luckily for them, the little girl got them out of the mess she made. She suggested they continued to feed Abiyoyo and sing to him. After the town befriends the giant, they are able to live in peace together.
This is a friendly multicultural story that encourages readers that it is possible to live amongst others who are different (including giants). Sometimes it is difficult for people to be trusting of others, but this story demonstrates how trust can go a long way. The townspeople's growth in trust allowed them to save their homes. ( )

The town once threatened by the monster Abiyoyo is overdeveloped many years later, suffering spring floods and summer droughts. The idea is to build a dam. But an enormous boulder impedes progress. The little girl whose grandfather originally saved the town from Abiyoyo suggests bringing back the monster to move the boulder. The grandfather brings him back with his magic wand and after being appeased by food and music, Abiyoyo flings away the boulder. But the boulder breaks grandfather’s wand and Abiyoyo can’t be sent back. He ends up living in the town and everyone learns to live with him. Paintings depict a traditional multicultural town.