2 out of 4 stars
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Ugo’s Fantastic African Voyage describes one boy’s struggle against bullying. The kids in Ugo’s class make fun of his name, simply because it stands out among their own. This causes him to lash out against his parents, and wish that he was more like his classmates. That’s when Ugo meets Khalil, a boy who looks and talks just like Ugo! Khalil gives him a magic pebble that takes him on a journey to Africa. In his home country, Ugo sets off on a path of self-discovery as he learns that his heritage not only defines who he is, but is also what makes him unique and special.
From reading this story, kids will get the opportunity to learn how their words impact others. Other’s words have the ability to penetrate a person’s innermost thoughts, and can leave them feeling dejected and upset. Ugo describes how his classmate’s insults deeply affect him, even causing him to dread waking up for school everyday. Khalil enters to act as a contrast to his friend’s harsh words. Instead of bring Ugo down, Khalil uplifts him, and immediately Ugo’s spirits soar. In this way, kids will be able to see how encouraging words can have a positive impact on their friends. With Khalil’s help, Ugo learns that if he just lets his bullies’ words go in one ear and out the other, they will have no power over him.
The illustrations in Ugo’s Fantastic African Voyage are very bright and colorful; however, I wish that there were more of them among its pages. Some of the paragraphs seem rather long for a kid’s book which could discourage a young audience from reading it. That being said, I think that the pictures accurately represent the beauty of Africa as well as its culture.
While reading, I was distracted by an excessive amount of spelling, spacing, and grammatical errors. Many of the same errors were repeated several times. Because of the abundant mistakes, I feel that this book should receive 2 out of 4 stars.
Ugo’s Fantastic African Voyage highlights African heritage while emphasizing that it is okay for children to be different and stand out among their peers. Kids will not only learn how to keep their bullies’ words from having an effect on them, but may also be inspired to stand up for others as well. I believe that many young children could benefit from reading this mystical and unique story.
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Ugo’s Fantastic African Voyage
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