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Abiyoyo

From Reading Rainbow · 1986

Abiyoyo
28 minK1st2ndReading & Writing (ELA)MusicSocial Studies
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Summary

Pete Seeger's retelling of a South African folktale features a boy and his father — a magician — who use music and magic to save their town from the giant Abiyoyo. LeVar Burton explores how storytelling and song unite communities.

Viewer safety

All ages
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Teaching resources

Discussion questions

Discussion

A town outcasts a boy and his father — but when a giant appears, only they can help.

  1. Why were the boy and his father banned from the village?
  2. How did the boy use his ukulele to defeat the giant?
  3. What does this story teach about judging people who seem different?
  4. Can you hum or sing the "Abiyoyo" song? What words repeat?

Quick work-a-long

Vocabulary: folktale, outcast, ukulele, giant, community.

Try it: Retell the story of Abiyoyo in 4 sentences: beginning, problem, solution, ending. Then write one sentence about what this story teaches.