The Wise Boy

In an African village lives a little boy that is so wise he is made chief of his village. Chief Wusuri walks around his territory daily, listening to the plights of his people and solving their problems. He always listens very carefully to their disagreements and then offers a sound solution that is for the good of all involved. He dispenses just, fair advice and he has a great heart for the well-being of everyone in his tribe.

One such incident involves a chicken. Everyone claims that the chicken belongs to them and fights break out because each person says that the chicken is theirs. Chief Wusuri intervenes and comes up with a great solution. He says why not kill the chicken, cook the chicken and then everyone involved in the dispute can eat the chicken. One villager begins to cry and protest, saying he does not want the chicken to be killed. The wise boy then knows who the true owner of the hen is...the crying man...because he did not want to see his beloved pet destroyed.

One man lost his cornbread and came running to the chief for help in finding it. The wise boy says they would not find the bread thief because he was hungry and wanted something to eat. Chief Wusuri takes the full blame saying it is his fault because no one in his village should ever be hungry. He orders his men to fetch cornmeal out of his own storehouse and "Make enough bread for everyone." That night there is a huge, happy celebration and no one in the village goes to bed hungry.

All this hard work and problem solving makes the little boy very tired after a long day, after all he is still a little boy. He goes home and crawls up into his mother's arms and wrapped in a snuggly hug, he falls fast asleep.

The book has a portion in the back to give you information about how to be a good leader. There is a Reader's Theatre edition of the book where you can scan the QR code on the book for ideas and activities or visit their website at:

http://norwoodhousepress.com/wiseboy.aspx

I loved this book and I know our children and teachers will as well. Thank you for sharing this title on NetGalley. NetGalley has become an important tool for helping me find new materials for our library.

This book is much like a fable. I didn't think I would like it at first. But it is a great book to teach children about placing others' needs first.

I really liked it. My godson is Nigerian and I am always looking for books in which he can see himself. This one was a real treat.

What do you look for in a child's picture book? For the story, you want something that is simple and direct with a message that is easy to understand but morally straight. For the art, you want something that is bright and bold. Something that children can look at and see things that are recognizable and fun. The Wise Boy, by JiYu Kim, has all of this.

"In an African village," the book begins, giving it just a slice of exciting adventure because Africa is a faraway land, "there lived a boy so wise that he was made a chief. His name was Wusuri." A boy, probably not much older than the child listening to the story, who is so wise he's made chief! Again, in this simple first sentence we've set up an exotic location and we've hit upon a child's desire to be recognized as something special.

Through the course of the book, Wusuri listens to the problems in the village and, mostly through common sense, comes up with an acceptable answer for solving the problems. With one particular problem (villagers fighting over claim to a chicken), I was not happy with Wusuri's solution, but as I turned the page, I realized that his solution was really a 'trick' to finding the real owner.

The story ends with a reminder that Wusuri, great chief though he may be, is still a child who relishes his mother's love.

The artwork is really beautiful with a hint of native African styles and designs, but somehow managing to be modern as well. I could stare at this artwork for a very long time and I expect most youngsters listening to the book could as well.

I am a little sad, however, that everyone in this little village seems so angry (in appearance and in manner). It is too bad that he couldn't solve at least one problem that didn't have to do with quarrelsome villagers but fixing, perhaps, a problem of nature. In any event, this is definitely a book that I would read to children and one that I am confident would want to be heard/seen again and again (the real measure of a good children's book).

Looking for a good book? The Wise Boy is a wise choice for anyone looking for a good, new picture book for children.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

A boy who listens and makes good choices along with excellent, colorful illustrations makes for a good story to use in a classroom - either for free reading, circle time, or as an element of character education.