Galimoto

by Karen Lynn Williams

Book Overview

"A joy to read aloud." --New York Times Book Review

Kondi is determined to make a galimoto--a toy vehicle made of wires. His brother laughs at the idea, but all day Kondi goes about gathering up the wire he needs. By nightfall, his wonderful galimoto is ready for the village children to play with in the light of the moon.

This Reading Rainbow book is a school and library favorite that offers a view of life in the southeast...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0688109918
• ISBN13: 9780688109912
• Release Date: August 1991
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.31 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 7.9" x 9.9"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

Simple Dreams Become Profound

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

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

It doesn't take a lot of "stuff" to be creative

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"!

Celebrates the resourceful spirit of African children

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.

Great book for African culture!

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.