Pete Seeger
A Conversation with Pete Seeger
Author of Abiyoyo Returns
When and where did you first learn the tale of Abiyoyo?
In 1952. I found the song in a book of African songs. There were chapters on warrior songs and wedding songs. They even have circumcision songs. It was fascinating. This story actually came out of a chapter on lullabies. At the foot of the page, the book said, "This lullaby is part of an ancient tale about a monster who eats people. The parents get it dancing, and when it falls down in a fit, it is dispatched by the parents." I built the whole story on that footnote.
What first attracted you to the story?
I adapted this story. Once, while putting my children to sleep, I tried to sing them a lullaby I'd just learned out of a book. But when children get to be three or four years old, they realize that lullabies are propaganda songs. They didn't want a lullaby. "No! No! We want a story, a long one." So I started improvising.
What inspired you now to bring Abiyoyo back to life in Abiyoyo Returns?
I made up this story for my long-time singing partner, Lee Hays, who told me, "Pete, you have to have a sequel. Poor Abiyoyo! You can't just leave him out in limbo."
Do you feel any connection between this story and your own life?
Undoubtedly. But it would be presumptuous to say exactly what.
What do you feel Abiyoyo teaches children? What have you learned from performing/reading Abiyoyo?
Abiyoyo teaches children old world values: Courage is important. Ingenuity is important. Abiyoyo Returns has more modern teachings: The world needs more trees, and to beware of uncontrolled growth.
What sort of legacy would you like Abiyoyo to leave?
The same legacy as any of my songs. I want to leave people with the idea, "Hey I could make up a story like that."
What compelled you to write children's books?
I like to sing for children. It gives me hope for the future. It's easy to get cynical and pessimistic in one's older years. But, going to schools and seeing their little faces, you can't help but have hope.
Do you have any plans for any future children's books?
I have hundreds of ideas. But they don't all have publishers yet.
This interview has been provided by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing and can be reprinted in its entirety or excerpted for publication.
To learn more about Pete Seeger, click here.
Reviews
Abiyoyo
Pete Seeger
Illustrations by Michael Hays
Abiyoyo is a terrible giant who threatens to eat livestock and people in one gulp. A boy with his ukulele sings to him. He gets the giant dancing and spinning so fast he falls down. Then the boy's magician father uses his magic wand to dispatch the monster. The illustrations depict a town populated with a multicultural melange of people and Abiyoyo is cast as an abstraction of everyone's fears. Reissue of 1986 book. 1994 (orig. 1986), Aladdin, $5.95. Ages 4 up. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0689718101
Abiyoyo Returns
Pete Seeger
Illustrations by Michael Hays
A once small town is growing by leaps and bounds. But there are terrible droughts and the people of the town decided they must build a dam. This work goes along very nicely until they hit a boulder. It is huge. No matter what they do, they cannot move that boulder. Then someone suggests, "Bring back Abiyoyo!" Abiyoyo is the giant with long fingernails and slobbering teeth who eats people. Everyone fears him, but certainly he can move that enormous boulder. The townspeople decide that feeding Abiyoyo will make him happy. Soon, he even learns to brush his teeth. So with Abiyoyo's help the village gets its dam and the people learn that sharing will tame the monstrous Abiyoyo. Michael Hays brilliant full-page illustrations bring to life the characters in this marvelous tall tale and add dimension to the text. Readers will enjoy this story by master storyteller and singer Pete Seeger.
Reviewer: Sue Reichard
ISBN: 0-689-83271-0
Added 2004
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If you're interested in reviewing children's and young adult books, then send a resume and writing sample to marilyn@childrenslit.com.