Dear Pete Seeger, How's Your Banjo? Let Me Know. Thank You.

The kids in my summer group are enchanted by the story Abiyoyo, as read by Pete Seeger. We also have the book in class, but if we try to read it ourselves, they criticize our performance. For example, Pete says that Abiyoyo is coming "nearah, and nearah" and the children require that we do it in the same old-timey accent.

Their favorite part is when Abiyoyo is described as having "stinkin' old feet, 'cause he never washed 'em." Never has a group of shrieking 5 year-olds been so quiet as they are in anticipation of this line.

From what my co-teacher tells me, this group has been in love with Abiyoyo since they were 2 (note: more than half their lives). Many kids I've taught have been afraid of Abiyoyo, so I thought it was pretty awesome that they've enjoyed it since they were so little. I brought in a picture of Pete Seeger to show them and they were floored. It had never occurred to them that an actual person was involved with this song. This CD didn't just fall from the heavens?



Pete (who is 91) was immediately declared "really old", and one boy exclaimed, "Is he ALIVE?" I suggested that we could send him a letter and some drawings of the things they like about Abiyoyo. This is a friendly version of Abiyoyo (from a girl who might be just a little bit scared of him):




Other than this smiling giant, and of course the letter pictured above wondering how Pete's banjo is doing, Mr. Seeger will be receiving a lot of pictures of "stinkin' feet" and questions like, "Do YOU have stinkin' old feet?" I like to think he'll get a kick out of it.

I'm not sure Abiyoyo would appreciate the kids giving out his phone number, though.