Tambo
The Boy With The Magic Thumb
by
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Tambo is the story of a young boy born with an extra thumb. He has not seen himself as different till he started school, where he experiences bullying, name calling and rejection. So he had no friends. However, Tambo could understand the language of animals and communicate with them. One day he stumbles across a mongoose and they become good friends. They embark on a series of adventures which include scrumping for mangoes, getting stung by bees, catching rats and learning to fly. Soon, he becomes popular with the locals and gains new friends. As the story unfolds, Tambo and his friends meet a strange rare bird, thought to be extinct. Impressed by this bird’s determination to survive, Tambo and friends hatch out a plan to help the bird escape from the island. Throughout the story, the little boy grapples with the values of friendship, respect, trust, courage and the importance of keeping one’s word. This book will entice young readers and adults alike and draw them into a web of childhood adventures, that see Tambo blossom from a shy, lonely, reticent child to a resilient, confident and popular schoolboy.
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About the Book
Bullying, name calling, reconciliation and belonging to a group are part and parcel of every school child’s life. Faced with adversity, a young child, who is perceived as different because he has an extra thumb, enters the world of animals to find true friendship, dedication and commitment to a cause. One day he stumbles across a strange bird, thought to be extinct. With his newly acquired friends, he hatches out a plan to help the bird escape from the island. Will they succeed?
About the Author
Vasso Vydelingum has lived in Hampshire, UK for three decades. He has worked for the public sector both as a nurse and as an educator. He has published widely in academic journals and also co-authored many text-book chapters. This is his first novel. He was born on the island of Mauritius, which serves as a backdrop for the story. His childhood experiences provide the inspiration for the story of Tambo: the Boy with the Magic Thumb. The joys of reading bedtime stories to his grandchildren gave him the impetus to write this book.