The Magic Bojabi Tree

by Dianne Hofmeyr, Piet Grobler (Illustrations)

Python has wrapped himself around the melon/mango/pomegranate tree with its delicious fruit, and he won't share the fruit unless the animals can tell him the correct name of the tree. Elephant, Monkey and Zebra each in turn visit Lion, who alone knows the name of the tree. But every time, the animals forget the name on the journey back to the tree. Then Tortoise, the slowest, smallest animal goes to Lion - and sings a special song to remind him of the name. It is the Bojabi Tree! Python unwraps himself from the trunk, and all the animals share a feast.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Africa, Childrens, Food, Folk Tales, Folklore

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 24, 2013

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

An elephant, giraffe, zebra, monkey and tortoise all want to enjoy delicious fruit from a tree. A large python guarding the tree tells the animals they can have the fruit once the can tell him the name of the tree. Only the King of the Jungle knows the name and each animal sets off to visit the lion. Each animal forgets the name and the lion becomes more and more irate as each animal bothers him. Finally the slow and steady tortoise remember the name by chanting "Bojabi for you. Bojabi for me. What will bring down the fruit of the tree? Bojabi! Bojabi! Bojabi!" Students are sure to enjoy the lion's frustration and the tortoise's chant. Recommended for grades 1 - 3.

[Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favourites - this is a lovely re-telling from South Africa - Canadian readers might know Celia Lottridge's telling, The Name of the Tree, with splendid illustrations by Ian Wallace - this version is very sprightly and I adored the pictures - a fabulous folktale!

[Bambi Pea · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tale of remembering. A magic tree is wrapped up by a snake. The animals can only have access to the tree if they know the name if it. The lion is the only animal that knows the name of the tree so the animals continue to ask him until they remember it. I wonderful tale. Kids will love it!

[Amanda Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book to read to older students when teaching about memorizing facts like the times tables, fifty states, or sections of poems. It illustrates how memorizing a poem or mnemonic device helps on a test.

[Saviour · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely book perfect for reading out loud. Read my full review at http://pirottablog.com

[Benjamin Kinzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome kids book that tells the tale of sharing through a funny re-interpretation of the rabbit vs. the turtle.

Even has a song that we love to sing from time to time.

[Rebecca Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this picture book. It would be so great for a story time with its fun repetition and crazy cool artwork.

[Phillip Hofmeyr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book. The children seems to want to read it over and over again!

[Ellie L · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this traditional African story, with a lovely balance between being humorous and having a strong moral. Drought has hit the plains of Africa, and, with little vegetation, the animals are becoming more and more desperate to eat. It appears that their worries may finally be resolved when they at last discover a single fruitful tree, but only if they can meet Python’s demand to recall the name of the magical tree. A challenge which might be more difficult (and hilarious) that it first seems…
What I loved about this tale was the connections that are made between the running theme of a flaw in character and the inability to complete such a simple task. In the efforts to bring home the answer that the fellow animals so urgently need, each character reveals a slight excessive pride in their own abilities. It is clear that arrogance is not always required to achieve, which is an excellent message to take away from a story at any point in life.

[Christina Reid · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked this up in the local library and enjoyed it a lot. The story follows various animals trying to remember the name of a particular tree and failing miserably. Unless they can remember the name, python won't unwrap himself from around it to allow them to eat the delicious fruit. The repeated language and the inability of the animals to remember the name could encourage some call and response from a group of children if you're reading it together, almost like being at the pantomime.

[Mari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhat like the tortoise and the hare, where everyone says they can remember what the lion king says but forget on their way back (because of coming in a rush) but the turtle takes his time and isn't arrogant and repeats the name all the way back.

[Mikey Golczynski · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I wouldn't recommend it for storytime, I used it as a base for a puppet/prop story that's much better.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A preschool and up book where animals want to eat from a tree but the snake guarding it won't let them until the say a magic password which no one can seem to remember.

[Tracie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations in this story are fabulous.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

An appealing, vibrantly illustrated version of a lesser known African folktale.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute book, my kids thought it was a silly story, it was fun to read.

[Laurel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is good-would be a fun read aloud for my folktales unit-but the illustrations are what get me. I love the pen & ink (I think) patterns with the watercolor.

[Noelle Boc · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the story of being careful to remember something (and repeating it to remember), but I didn't love the illustrations. This would be a good one to storytell.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

Python has wrapped himself around the tree with its delicious fruit, and he won't share the fruit unless the animals can tell him the correct name of the tree.
WCCPBA 2015

[Monica Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

A game of telephone anyone? This is a cute version of the message getting mangled.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

fable

[Sondra Eklund · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://www.sonderbooks.com/Picture_Bo...

[Amanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

Way to change a classic story "The Name of the Tree is Ungali" but not give any credit whatsoever. Totally horrid.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and the message it delivers to children. Now if only I could get the kids I work with to learn these lessons lol

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, but not for use in a Storytime.

[Barb Simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read aloud, appealed to both my preschool aged son & my first grader!

[Ayoayox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book taught small children how to memorize! The Lion is so cute!