Galimoto

by Karen Lynn Williams, Catherine Stock (Illustrator)

“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 African nation of Malawi, one of the world's least-developed nations. Karen Lynn Williams, the award-winning author of such books as  Baseball and Butterflies  and  Painted Dreams (also illustrated by Catherine Stock) delivers a heartwarming tale of perseverance that is sure to delight children everywhere.

Genres: Picture Books, Africa, Childrens, Engineering, Cultural, Realistic Fiction, Fiction

32 pages, Paperback

First published March 21, 1990

About the author

Karen was born in Connecticut, and received her Master’s degree in deaf education. She has lived in Africa and in Haiti. Karen had an early dream to be one of the youngest published authors, starting a writing club at ten. However, Karen's published works came later in life, after extensive travels and family experience. Karen's ability to draw from personal experience and adapt into writing forms for all ages and interests expresses her true gift.

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young boy in an East African village opens his treasure box and takes out some wire, deciding to build a galimoto (Malawi word for a vehicle). But he doesn't have enough wire so he sets about finding some throughout the village. Will he find enough to make his special toy and, if so, what form will his imagination take with a few twists of the wire?

I appreciate the sense of joy, freedom and imagination the young boy experiences in the story. I was not as thrilled with the many grown-ups who seemed suspicious of his motives for looking around shops and junk yards. There was a bit of a disconnect there from the child going about on his own, so carefree, and then the adults seeming annoyed or upset at his ramblings until he told them what he was doing. It seemed that, in a village as small as this, he would be well-known and they would not think he was up to no good. Oh well, it was a minor quibble for an otherwise charming little story. The illustrations are very nice and evocative of place.

Best of all, I was struck with how the boy is so happy with so little--how his small box of treasures combines with his imagination to fill his days in a way that is just as good as a shopping spree to Toys R Us--even better, some would say! It seems that the fewer possessions one has, the dearer they become. Yet I think it's also true of children that they will choose a favorite toy or two no matter how many they have; it just seems to be in a child's nature to hug to something special and I think this universal feeling is displayed very nicely in this book.

[siriusedward · Rating 5 out of 5]

A darling book with the story of a boy named Kondi ❤ on a quest to acquire wires to make his own Galimoto... and through his journey we see little glimpses of life in Galimoto's village and meet some people .
It is a story of persistence and creativity and upcycling and being happy with what one has.

The writing is lovely.
The watercolor illustrations enriches the lovely narration.
The ending is poignant.

[Kathy Grimm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose to develop an art lesson plan based upon this popular children's book,"Galimoto." Kondi learns to use his ingenuity and everyday resources to craft a toy from discarded junk! A concept that is also important when demonstrating to young people that recycling can be fun! Below is a quote from the extended lesson.

"It is important for American students to draw analogies between themselves and students of different countries and communities of different ethnic/cultural diversity. This helps them to comprehend that they live in a global community where they must adapt to the differences between themselves and others in order to peacefully occupy the same planet and indeed the very same neighborhoods. This simple lesson in culture teaches students that they have similar interests to children of their own age in a country far away. It develops in students a greater understanding of a common identity and purpose." Kathy Grimm

Reading a story aloud to a young, captive audience is a great way to begin a new art project. I recommend this volume for art teachers developing lessons for third through fifth graders.

[Luisa Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

This tale shows one little boys determination to make a galimoto (a toy made of wires). I really enjoyed the pictures as they were bright and animated scenes around the village.

Ages: 4 - 8

#geography #africa #malawi

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[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's not a very emotional tale, but it has a powerful simplicity, and is very vivid in its depiction of some aspects of life in Malawi, Africa. It seems like something children can relate to, because it is all about trying to make something to entertain and be proud of, and about navigating the social worlds of children and adults to achieve your goals.

[Season Neal · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute story about a little boy in an African village who is determined to make a toy out of a few materials even though his friends and family make fun of him. A great story to teach perseverance and believing in yoruself.

[What April's Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes it really is just the small things...

This book made me smile. I have a teen who loves anything with an engine, motor, gears, and it made me think of him, as a small child, tinkering and gathering things to make whatever it was that filled his imagination. He still tinkers.

Kondi is a little boy who goes through a lot of effort to collect wire to make a "galimoto." We should all work so hard, and never give up, on the things that we want in life that make us smile.

[Kayla Pleasants · Rating 5 out of 5]

Galimoto is a story about a young boy in a village in Africa who really goes after his dreams. I loved this book because it showed the perseverance of the young man as he worked to achieve his dreams. The young boy sets out to make a Galimoto, a wire toy, for himself. He starts out with a few pieces of wire and trades, works, and finds what he needs to accomplish his goals. This book speaks to making a goal and the hard work it takes to reach that goal. It also lets students see into the life of a child in Africa. I would use this book in reference to goal setting and discussion on similarities and differences across the world.

[Marcy Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Galimoto
Written by Karen Lynn Williams
Illustrated by Catherine Stock
1990 Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books
ISBN: 0688087892
Genre: Picture book-Fiction
Level: K-3

With his African village as his backdrop, Kondi is determined to make himself a galimoto, a sort of push car toy. Kondi's possessions are few: an old shoe box filled with a ball made of plastic bags, a knife he had made, and a dancing man he had made from cornstalks. Kondi must be creative to trade and find pieces of wire to fashion his very own, galimoto.

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a little African boy trading things to get the materials he needs to make his "Galimoto", a toy vehicle made with wire. Remember those? What a contrast for our kids here in America with all the toys we have here. I remember a favorite toy of the African kids where I lived was an old tire and a stick to roll it with. Did you ever roll down a hill in a tire? It's lots of fun but probably a little dangerous!

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of a boy who wants to build a wire toy that he shapes like a car. It's called a galimoto and apparently it's a common practice in some African cultures. This story includes an endnote describing the hobby or custom or whatever you'd like to call it. It's interesting though I can't see this practice being common among American children who largely get their toys premade. It's too bad though because this probably does more to develop their motor skills and imaginations. Oh well.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of a little boy who lives in a poverty-stricken community in Africa. All he wants is a Galimoto (a toy), and he works tirelessly to make himself one out of wires. He goes all over town collecting the wires that he needs, and eventually he creates the toy of his dreams. The best part is that the next day, he can take it apart and create any other kind of toy! This is a longer story with lovely pictures and was featured on Reading Rainbow.

[Kayla · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this book has a great message: never give up. Kondi is determined to make a galimoto. Everyone from his village doesn't believe he will get enough wire to do it. After traveling everywhere to find some spare wire he finally made his galimoto. Everyone was shocked when he showed them what he had made. I think my students would enjoy this book. They might even get inspired to make a toy of their own after reading this book.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so well-written. The illustrations are wonderful and such an amazing addition to the story. I loved the ingenuity and determination of this young man as he goes about looking for the needed materials to make his "Galimoto". I loved how the Karen Lynn Williams kept me wondering until the end just what a Galimoto is. If you want to know, you will have to read it to find out just like I did. I want this book to add to my own library. A wonderful, wonderful book.

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful story set in Malawi that tells the story of Kondi, an ambitious young boy determined to gather all the materials to make a treasured, "galimoto," or toy vehicle made of wires.

The pictures illustrate village scenes and children's activities. This would be a great story to teach children about perseverance and determination.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet story about a young boy in Africa who collects wire from various places in order to build himself a toy car. While the book has much to teach, geography, different cultures and economic circumstances, perseverance, creativity, it does not address any of them in depth and for that I only gave it 3 stars.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This children's book would be excellent inspiration to the class that treasures can be made out of the simplest (and cheapest) materials. It would be fun to have the kids make their own galimotos afterwards!

[Megan Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book tells the story of Kondi, a little boy in an African village, searching for materials to make something called a Galimoto. In the end he finally collects enough wire to erect his toy car or galimoto. this would be a good book to ask students to infer what he is trying to make.

[Betsey Brannen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I enjoyed the story of this book, I wish it had included some information about the culture of the galimoto, as well as the area in which the children live (the book jacket will tell you that it was in Malawi which both the author and illustrator based the story).

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of a little boy in an East African village who wants to build a toy car. The book portrays his social interactions and eventual success. Wonderful watercolor illustrations.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful book with a lovely storyline. I liked that he didn't let obstacles stand in his way and searched out what he needed to make something fun to share.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story about an inventive and resourceful young boy in a village in Malawi.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young boy in Malawi goes in search of materials for the "galimoto," or toy car that he wants to make. A great book to teach about recycling and repurposing materials.

[Barb Struwe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our world could use more Kondis with galimotos.

[Jess Heimbaugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an inspirational read -- hidden on the bookshelf, this book served as the perfect pick for the culture/world theme week at our library.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perseverence!

[Alma Angulo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Galimoto is a book that defines determination and persistence. It illustrates a child who brought a community together through the use of bare minimum materials. The same community laughed at him, and were angry with him, but at the end of the book he had every child of the community right along side with him. He demonstrated a great deal of perseverance and I feel as the children in my classroom can learn a lot from Galimoto. Galimoto teaches us to enjoy the simplicity of life and I think that is an experience my students should learn to appreciate. I can have them create their own galimoto by using plastic bottles, pipe cleaners, tape, and other every day materials.

[Katheryn McNicholas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story of effort childhood and innocence. Galimoto tells the story of a young boy's mission in his village as he uses what he can to build a Galimotot, a toy. The story is beautifully illustrated with colors and characters and outdoor scenery throughout the village. Readers see in the background and throughout his adventure a way of life and the shops roles and foods of an African community.

Play
Kindness
Childhood

[Hannah Dull · Rating 3 out of 5]

Genre: Historical Fiction
Grade Level: 3-5

I liked the perspective this brook brought. I think it's important to see other cultures. And sometimes although we can't see them in person, books can bring us into that culture. I loved that the main character was a child essentially trying to make a toy car. This is a lot different way of acquiring a toy car in America. And if it isn't, then my students can say that too. I think it is a great book to compare and contrast cultures.

[Johannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

WWW - Set in Africa (the book is not specific, red flag number 1) this story tells the tale of Kondi as he tries to make a special toy, a galimoto. The creativity and perseverance are impressive. Painting a picture of Africa as a) a giant place where all are the same and b) a foreign, crazy place where life is only mud floor huts and grinding grain by hand, is not. Interesting idea to have kids predict what a galimoto is along the way with clues.