Customer Reviews

Galimoto (Reading Rainbow Book)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As I prepared to visit Zambia to learn how communities are coping with the HIV/AIDS pandemic, I tried to help the children of our church understand what life is like in Africa. "You mean they are so poor nobody buys them toys?" Galimoto not only gives a realistic picture of life in a small African village, it celebrates the resourceful spirit of African children. Our young people were filled with wonder when I brought home a galimoto that I bought on a roadside in Zambia. They were eager to try their hand at creating their own galimotos.

I just attended a talk by a Peace Corps volunteer who spoke about how children in Ghana were resourceful about creating toys to play with. This book illlustrates that point. I hope that my students from Africa will enjoy this book.

This book is set in the small Southern African country of Malawi, the country in which I spent the first 19 years of my life. This book is very dear to me because of its connection to my home. However, it is a good book in its own right. I can say that the language used in the book is authentic (galimoto is, in fact, Chichewa for car). The illustrations are also accurate. The book also has several plot elements which are great discussion points for parents or teachers. For instance, the main character has to make several deals with people to get the things he needs for his project. This provides a good lesson in compromise. The main character also shows planning by setting a goal and then following through the motions to reach his goal. Although the book is intended for smaller children, I think that it is a helpful book for older kids as well. I have read this story to my 7th graders, and it has prompted many discussions on other cultures.

When I taught elementary school, I used this book constantly. I'm always reminded of Tom Sawyer as the young boy becomes very resourceful in trying to obtain the wire he needs to put together his push-toy. In the classroom, the book lends itself easily to critical thinking opportunities as kids are exposed to a unique and different world and way of life. It leaves many feeling grateful for what they have. And though the book's young hero leads a life so different from their own, children readily identify with the boy's up hill struggle to get what he wants. That, they all understand. It's a great read for home or school.

Chris Bowen
Author of, "Our Kids: Building Relationship in the Classroom"
(just a click away...check it out)

"Galimoto" is a children's book about a little boy named Kondi from the Republic of Malawi who works hard to gather metal and scraps to make his dream toy - a galimoto (truck). Using his limited resources, Kondi uses wires and scraps of metal to build his toy, showing the naysayers they were wrong to doubt him. Good, story, great illustrations, and a fun read for various ages (My kids are three and four and a half). Highly recommended!

I bought this book because it is about a little boy who makes his own toy car from recycled wire he finds lying around his african village. It is a special book because it is about this little boy who lives in a village in Malawi (the country where I was born and where I grew up). The other big plus about this book are the beautiful illustrations.

This book is a delightful glimpse into a typical boy's life in a southern African village. A galimoto is a very popular toy that is prevalent throughout most of the southern part of the continent. It is good for kids to see the toys that can be created from reusable items, a little ingenuity, and a bit of work. Kids of all ages will enjoy this book. They also like attempting to make their own wire cars!

This book gives an idea of life in a developing nation while giving due credit to a child's ability to enjoy the simple things. Not preachy but inspiring and delightful. Our grandson is reading it to his baby sister.

This is a wonderful, well illustrated book about a young boy who has an idea and finds what he needs to create it. What he needs is just a small amount of wire. It is not clear until the end what a "galimoto" is but by then we are all cheering for him to make one. I read this book to students who are studying to be elementary teachers. I think it would be an excellent book to use in the elementary classroom...it is set in Africa and has many lessons for young readers. I would love to see a whol classroom of "galimotos"!

This is a book I ordered to send to my grandson for his birthday. It was sent directly, so I haven't really read it. It got good reviews and he likes the story. It was shipped well ahead of his birthday. All was well. Thanks