Babu's Song [School & Library Binding]

Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen (Author), Aaron Boyd (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Bernardi lives with his grandfather, Babu, who supports them by making toys. Bernardi wishes he could go to school, but they can't afford it. When a tourist offers a handsome price for the music box Babu gave him as a present, Bernardi regretfully sells it, giving the money to Babu. Babu uses the money to pay for his grandson's school, and he starts working on a new music box. The book's sensitive text and endearing illustrations capture the tender relationship between a child and his grandfather. Stephanie Stuve-Bodsen is an award-winning author.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2-A warm, heartrending story set in Tanzania. Bernardi loves to play soccer and to hum a song that his grandfather taught him before the man lost his voice. Babu fashions toys out of bits of tin and scraps of wood that the boy collects and then sells them at market. Together they make enough to live on but not to pay the fees required to send Bernardi to school. One evening Babu surprises his grandson with a music box he has made that plays their favorite tune. A tourist in the market is intent on buying it even though Bernardi insists that it is not for sale. Finally, the amount she offers is enough to buy a coveted soccer ball and the temptation is too great to resist. He has second thoughts, however, and tearfully hands over the money to Babu, who uses it to enroll Bernardi in school. The man has also fashioned a homemade soccer ball from string and a gunnysack and begins to work on a new music box. The tale is told with economy of language but with heaps of feeling. The characters come to life and their loving relationship and lean lifestyle are described with dignity and respect. Boyd's impressionistic watercolors capture the rich colors of the countryside and the market and effectively convey the story's emotions. Babu's Song will resonate with a wide range of readers.
Luann Toth, School Library Journal
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

PreS-Gr. 2. Bernardi lives in a Tanzanian village with his grandfather, Babu, a mute toymaker. Bernardi loves to play soccer with the local schoolboys, but he doesn't have enough money to attend class. When Babu presents Bernardi with a music box that plays a special melody Babu once sang, the boy is joyful and cherishes his gift, until he's offered a large sum for it at a street market and sells the box. Guilt-ridden, he's unable to buy a coveted soccer ball, as he had planned. At home, he confesses to Babu, who comforts him with a handmade soccer ball and then spends the money on a wonderful surprise: a uniform and school tuition. Stuve-Bodeen skillfully avoids sprinkling too much sweetener on her nicely paced story of wish fulfillment. Children will easily recognize Bernardi's struggle between his own desires and pleasing his family, and Boyd makes a striking picture-book debut with appealing, color-saturated watercolor spreads that capture the contemporary village setting and the affection between the boy and his grandfather. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• School & Library Binding: 32 pages
• Publisher: Lee & Low Books; First Edition edition (March 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1584300582
• ISBN-13: 978-1584300588
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 8.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,376,333 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars nice story, accurate depiction of life in Tanzania, November 18, 2007

By 

C. K. Childs (Rochester NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Babu's Song (School & Library Binding)

I lived in Tanzania for two years as a Peace Corps Volunteer. Now that I have children I want to read stories to them about life there. This is the best children's story I have found that accurately depicts life in Tanzania and also tells an engaging story.

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully Illustrated, Sweet Story, July 7, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Babu's Song (School & Library Binding)

This moving story is enhanced by the beautiful illustrations. My five year-old daughter and I both enjoyed this book very much.