Big Trouble for Rick-a-chee
From SPARK
One-sentence summary
A story of a Nigerian boy who learns the value of telling the truth.
Description
This book is one of a series of six. The main character is a small Nigerian boy named Rick-a-chee. In this story his small puppy is accused of causing problems with a neighbor's chickens. Rick knows his puppy was tied up properly, but tells the truth, that after school ended, he found the pup was loose.
His mother speaks of how proud she is that he told the truth to the neighbor. She reminds him of the Bible verse that says, “Even a child is known by his doings.” What does it mean? asks Rick-a-chee. “It means that even children soon become known by the way they act. His mother tells him that truth should always be told.
A number of solutions are tried to make sure the dog can't get loose but these don't work and the dog still gets loose. Rick-a-chee's friend Sooley suggests that they hide the truth but Rick-a-chee remembers the verse, “even a child is known by his doings”, and he refused to tell a lie even to save his puppy.
When Gomby the goatherd brings home his sheep, he asks what the trouble is. After being told, Gomby offers to find the guilty one who is setting the puppy free.
By now the neighbor is really angry since her eggs are disappearing. She gives two more days to catch the thief. Gomby watches, and catches a small,thin boy who is a stranger to the village. The boys find that he was using the dog to distract the chickens, while he stole eggs. Those eggs were feeding his sick grandmother.
The small boy is taken to the chief who will provide both medicine and food for the boy and his grandmother. The neighbor admits she was doubtful about Rick-a-chee's dog but never about him since she could see he was telling the truth.
The two boys are delighted and go off chanting “even a child is known by his doings” and “we must tell the truth every single time".
Considerations
- The story teaches Christian truths and the action could take place in many cultures.
- The black and white drawings follow the story accurately.
- The drawings are easy to understand and are fully shown without any odd angles or missing body parts.
Limitations
Guidelines for Use
- Permission is given to reproduce the illustrations in the book when used as teaching aids.
- This story could be adapted by an oral story-teller.
- A flipchart could be used to show the drawings.
- 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)This is the cost in 2006.
Producer/Owners
Author/Artist/Producer
Author Edna O. Menzies; Illustrated by Ann Douglas
Current copyright owner
Copyright owner/Resource Holder SIM International 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.
Other Information
I do not have access to the sixth book in this series. It is titled, Rick-a-chee and the Naughty Monkeys. I believe it would also be useful, and of the same high quality story for young children.
