Rick-a-chee Takes a Journey
From SPARK
One-sentence summary
Little Nigerian boy disobeys family members and goes riding in a truck.
Description
This eighteen page book for young children is part of a six book series. The story is printed on every other page. The facing pages have black and white drawings that help illustrate the story. A young boy named Rick-a-chee is the main character. He lives in a rural Nigerian village. In this story he wants a ride in a big passenger lorry (truck).
He begins asking permission. His mother is making a hot spicy gravy over an open fireplace. His mother tells him “no, he has no need to go far away.” But Rick-a-chee does not listen!
His father is talking to village elders and says “no, lorry rides cost too much!” But Rick-a-chee does not listen!
He runs to the house of his grandmother. She is dozing but he wakes her and asks permission to take a ride. She says “no, he wouldn't like it. Lorrys are crowded and uncomfortable, hot and miserable.” But Rick-a-chee does not listen!
He hurries to the home of his older brother who is working in his peanut patch near the house. Rick-a-chee speaks of his desire to ride in the lorry. His brother says “Where would you go?” I don't know is the answer. Oldest brother says “You cannot get into a lorry until you tell the driver where you want to go.” But Rick-a-chee does not listen!
He goes to look at the lorry. No one is nearby. He climbs the tall wooden sides. He jumps into the back of the lorry and hides among the bundles beneath the plank seats. He waits. Finally the passengers return and crowd into the back. The lorry gives a roar and lurches away. It is very hot and uncomfortable for the hiding boy.
Rich-a-chee is discovered by the other passengers. He is frightened and miserable and far from home. But at the next village he is dropped off at the school where the teacher lifts him down from the lorry. It is his uncle.
After his aunt gives him a bowl of sweet yams and gravy, his uncle brings his bike. He lifts Rick-a-chee up in front of him and they set off down the shorter bush trail. As the weary journey continues Rick-a-chee wishes he had listened to his family.
Then he remembers a verse he had learned in Sunday School. It said, “Children obey your parents.” The verse was from God's book. “Oh my”, thought Rick-a-chee, “I did not obey my parents and I did not obey God.”
It is cold and dark by the time they arrive in his village. The whole village had been searching for him. Rick-a-chee says he is sorry for not listening. He is told he is forgiven but must never do such a thing again.
Rick-a-chee's father says he did not listen with his ears and he did not listen with his heart. The boy asks Jesus to forgive him and then curls up in his warm blanket and falls asleep.
Considerations
- The illustrations give a glimpse of life in a Nigerian village.
- Most illustrations accurately follow the story line. The one exception is on page 13. The book states that the uncle took Rick-a-chee home on his bicycle. The illustration pictures a motorcycle. Children will notice the discrepancy.
- Most illustrations are easy to understand with full frontal views of the situations. Pages nine and eleven have partial views of two people.
- Permission has been given for the black and white drawings to be used as take home coloring papers.
- The situation has just enough tension to hold a young child's attention but has a happy ending, with a lesson learned.
Limitations
Guidelines for Use
- This story could be adapted by an oral story-teller. A flipchart could be used for the illustrations. A coloring book would help the listener remember the story.
- This story could also be made into an audio book or a filmstrip.
- It could also be used as a radio story.
Where to Obtain
Link to Producer or Source Organization
Cost
$2.25 (US) in 2006.
Producer/Owners
Author/Artist/Producer
Author: Edna O. Menzies Illustrated by Ann Douglas
Current copyright owner
Other Information
If you are interested in translating this book for a minority language, contact SIM International. Working together you will make a Creative Commons License agreement.
