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A Good Trade
In a small Ugandan village, Kato wakes early to start the long, barefoot trek beyond his village and along fields dotted with cattle and guarded by soldiers. His destination is the village well, where he will pump a day’s supply of water into two jerry cans. Like every day, Kato lets the water splash over his hot tired feet before carrying his heavy load back home, where his chores await him. But this is no ordinary day. The aid worker’s truck has come to the village square, and in the back is a gift so special, the little boy rushes home to look for something to repay the aid worker.
Alma Fullerton’s spare, lilting prose tells a deceptively simple story of one day in a little boy’s life. But in a place ravaged by a generation of civil war and drought, a village well brings life, a gift of shoes is a cause for celebration, and a simple flower becomes an eloquent symbol of peace and gratitude.
Alma Fullerton’s spare, lilting prose tells a deceptively simple story of one day in a little boy’s life. But in a place ravaged by a generation of civil war and drought, a village well brings life, a gift of shoes is a cause for celebration, and a simple flower becomes an eloquent symbol of peace and gratitude.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published October 15, 2012
About the author
Alma Fullerton
17 books20 followersAlma Fullerton was first known for her award-winning free-verse novels for juvenile and young-adult readers, including the Governor General's Award-nominated Libertad. Alma's picture book A Good Trade was a White Ravens Choice, a Bank Street Best Book, and a nominee for a number of awards. In a Cloud of Dust won the Rainforest of Reading Award and was a finalist for the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award. When the Rain Comes was a 2018 USBBY Outstanding International Book, among other honors, and Community Soup was a CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens Starred Selection. Alma lives in Midland, Ontario
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
January 17, 2013
A simple but powerful story on the value of a gift. I read this book with my son and we had a wonderful discussion on the lives of other children in distant lands and the value we place on material objects. I could see it made him reflect deeply.
Kato is a boy who lives in a small Ugandan village. He is a poor but happy boy who wakes at dawn to get the family their supply of daily water. When he returns to the village square he stops to peek in the aid-worker's truck where he sees something amazing—brand-new pairs of shoes! Kato does not own any shoes, but this young boy does not take things for granted and manages to find something beautiful to trade for them.
With few words and illustrations that use earth tone colors with splashes of bright, patterned ones, this book conveys a heartwarming story about a boy who, despite living in a country ravaged by a generation of civil war and drought, can find joy in the gift of shoes and likewise show gratitude. This story opened up many questions for my eight-year old son. Where does the aid-worker get the things to give to the village? Can we also send shoes to children in Africa who are barefoot?
The best discussion we had though was about materialism and appreciating what we already have without always wanting more. It's a good lesson from the book that isn't forced or thrown at the child reading it, but beautifully illustrated by Kato and his simple and touching actions. A truly beautiful book!
Kato is a boy who lives in a small Ugandan village. He is a poor but happy boy who wakes at dawn to get the family their supply of daily water. When he returns to the village square he stops to peek in the aid-worker's truck where he sees something amazing—brand-new pairs of shoes! Kato does not own any shoes, but this young boy does not take things for granted and manages to find something beautiful to trade for them.
With few words and illustrations that use earth tone colors with splashes of bright, patterned ones, this book conveys a heartwarming story about a boy who, despite living in a country ravaged by a generation of civil war and drought, can find joy in the gift of shoes and likewise show gratitude. This story opened up many questions for my eight-year old son. Where does the aid-worker get the things to give to the village? Can we also send shoes to children in Africa who are barefoot?
The best discussion we had though was about materialism and appreciating what we already have without always wanting more. It's a good lesson from the book that isn't forced or thrown at the child reading it, but beautifully illustrated by Kato and his simple and touching actions. A truly beautiful book!
July 29, 2013
Kato must travel a long distance every day to obtain water for his family's needs. But when he returns to his Ugandan village, he finds a surprise. The aid worker has brought shoes for the children, and in return, Kato finds a flower for her. While I loved the story and the colorful illustrations, I wonder if there are a couple of mistakes in the illustrations. In some pictures, Kato seems to have both legs, but in two of them, he appears to have some sort of prosthetic device instead of his whole leg. The story is inspiring, nevertheless, but I wonder about these two drawings.
May 16, 2016
A beautiful and powerful book on what life is like in a 3rd World nation when a young boy must walk a great distance everyday for fresh water. Even is this arduous routine, Kato introduces us to the idea of barter and trade, and how his ingenuity for a good trade helps both himself and the person he trades with. Many lessons could be woven around this story from social justice, the importance of clean water, bartering and the role of NGOs in these countries. A creative teacher might use it to launch a PBL on access to clean water.
June 19, 2021
A Ugandan boy must get up before dawn to collect two jerry cans of water for his family. He lives in a war-ravaged and impoverished village which features soldiers, cattle, a water pump, and aid workers.
Despite these harsh conditions there is beauty to be found--both in nature, and in the kindness of strangers.
This bittersweet and beautiful story is far from the experience of W. MI students. Look up Uganda on a world map, learn a bit about the history of war in African countries, try to imagine how heavy two jerry cans of water would be. Appreciate the blessings and comforts enjoyed in our city by contrast.
Tie-in with learning about continents, Thanksgiving, kindness.
Despite these harsh conditions there is beauty to be found--both in nature, and in the kindness of strangers.
This bittersweet and beautiful story is far from the experience of W. MI students. Look up Uganda on a world map, learn a bit about the history of war in African countries, try to imagine how heavy two jerry cans of water would be. Appreciate the blessings and comforts enjoyed in our city by contrast.
Tie-in with learning about continents, Thanksgiving, kindness.
September 4, 2021
Having lived two years in Uganda, I can say this book rings true in its description of some of the daily experiences of an average child in a Ugandan village. The illustrations do a good job setting scene. The disappointment for me is that I wish there were a more developed story here. It is very much a slice-of-life story that left me with many unanswered questions.
March 2, 2018
A beautifully illustrated and simple picture book about a young boy in a Ugandan community. The boy lovingly tends his garden and takes the one white poppy to the aid worker who arrives with new shoes for everyone. A touching story that will provoke discussion for many age levels.
June 13, 2023
Kato lives in a small Ugandan village. He goes to the well to get water. On the way back, he notices a lovely white flower. He gives it to an aid worker in trade for a pair of shoes. This is a beautifully illustrated and simply written story for small children.
March 21, 2018
This is an inspiring story about a boy from Uganda who must walk each morning with two jerry cans just to obtain his family's daily supply of water. It also shows the importance of a gift.
July 26, 2023
There’s a lot going on in this simple story that requires additional context.
June 28, 2017
Kato lives in a Ugandan village and makes a trade. This book can help kids see how children in other parts of the world live.
September 22, 2016
Sweet story about a young boy showing appreciation for the gift he received from the relief organization by presenting a worker with a special present from his garden.
The fact that he has to travel long distances each day in order to obtain water for his family is a stark reminder of how difficult life can be in a third-world nation. The illustrations are colorful and nicely detailed.
The fact that he has to travel long distances each day in order to obtain water for his family is a stark reminder of how difficult life can be in a third-world nation. The illustrations are colorful and nicely detailed.
September 26, 2013
This quiet story follows a Ugandan boy as he pumps a day's supply of water at the village well. Although the day starts ordinarily enough, this day is special. The aid workers' truck has come with a gift.
THEMES/TOPICS: culture, gratitude, geographic
WHY I LIKE THIS BOOK: Patkau's bright illustrations originally caught my eye. I grabbed this lyrical book to teach my children about a corner of the world they have no other way to experience. Fullerton shows life in this war-torn part of the world in an age-appropriate way.
RESOURCES/ACTIVITIES:
I think the best activity would be to grab a nonfiction book about the county to learn more. There were plenty on my library's shelves. You could also go online to learn more at sites like TIME for Kids, which depicts a day in the life of another Ugandan child, Racheal.
Using Kato's day and Racheal's day, map your day. Draw a picture or write what you do in the morning, afternoon and evening. How is your day the same as Racheal's and Kato's? How is your day different?
Play a Ugandan children's game. Send A Cow has a list .... here.
THEMES/TOPICS: culture, gratitude, geographic
WHY I LIKE THIS BOOK: Patkau's bright illustrations originally caught my eye. I grabbed this lyrical book to teach my children about a corner of the world they have no other way to experience. Fullerton shows life in this war-torn part of the world in an age-appropriate way.
RESOURCES/ACTIVITIES:
I think the best activity would be to grab a nonfiction book about the county to learn more. There were plenty on my library's shelves. You could also go online to learn more at sites like TIME for Kids, which depicts a day in the life of another Ugandan child, Racheal.
Using Kato's day and Racheal's day, map your day. Draw a picture or write what you do in the morning, afternoon and evening. How is your day the same as Racheal's and Kato's? How is your day different?
Play a Ugandan children's game. Send A Cow has a list .... here.
November 13, 2013
I like the illustrations, but was unimpressed by the story. I think the language is good, even though there are some words the young reader won't have in his/her vocabulary. (That's okay because they can understand the words in context). My problem is - SPOILER alert - that the story starts off with a single white poppy growing in a field, then the story moves in an entirely different direction and we don't see the poppy again until the end of the book. There is also no indication throughout that there is going to be a trade at the end. We then wonder what the book title is all about until we get to the last couple of pages. And then we're thinking, 'Don't pick the poppy! Don't pick the poppy! It's the only one there!'
July 30, 2013
Kato, a young Ugandan boy, lives a life filling jerry cans with water for his family and walking past fields guarded by soldiers. When he finds a single, beautiful white poppy, he trades it with an aid worker for a pair of shoes. The village children are joyful, jumping around in their colorful shoes; one child has an artificial leg.
The story is very simple and appropriate for all elementary-aged children. The story is sure to provoke interesting conversation with children of all ages. I do wish, however, that the author had included a note describing life in a rural Ugandan village, international aid, or what events led her to write the story.
The story is very simple and appropriate for all elementary-aged children. The story is sure to provoke interesting conversation with children of all ages. I do wish, however, that the author had included a note describing life in a rural Ugandan village, international aid, or what events led her to write the story.
August 7, 2013
Young Kato's family lives a long way from fresh water. Everyday Kato makes the journey to obtain the day's supply of fresh water. Beautiful illustrations accompany the text and portray what life in Uganda is like for Kato and his family. There is something amiss with the illustrations though-in two of the pictures Kato is pictured with a prosthetic device on his leg and yet in others he is pictured with two legs. Not sure what happened with this??
January 25, 2014
Setting: Uganda (text begins, "In a small Ugandan garden . . .)
Author lives in Midland, Ontario. Illustrator Karen Patkau lives in Toronto, Ontario.
Kato lives in a village in Uganda. On his way to gather water at dawn, Kato walks past fields guarded by soldiers. When an aid worker arrives with shoes, Kato trades a beautiful flower, a single white poppy.
Bright colors and patterns, simple & moving story.
Author lives in Midland, Ontario. Illustrator Karen Patkau lives in Toronto, Ontario.
Kato lives in a village in Uganda. On his way to gather water at dawn, Kato walks past fields guarded by soldiers. When an aid worker arrives with shoes, Kato trades a beautiful flower, a single white poppy.
Bright colors and patterns, simple & moving story.
April 13, 2013
Very simple story, yet it says a lot. This story could be used at any level depending on the purpose of the reading. For older readers, it is a significant topic that could lead to great discussion. Younger readers could see how other cultures live. Illustrations fill the page and can tell a story on their own.
August 15, 2014
What beautiful art! I hadn't come across this title before, but now that I did it is a lovely read. It could be used as a lovely introduction to a classroom about how things are in other parts of the world, especially those in war-torn nations. (Something I fear is going to be a growing problem!) Also those were some pretty awesome shoes!
November 13, 2014
I read this book with two classes today, and it needs a lot of scaffolding for students to understand what is happening in this book. It does bring up some good discussion points and raises issues for young readers, but I was not overly impressed with the illustrations and the way that they interacted with the text.
February 16, 2017
This is a short, quick read with lyrical language.
The story takes place in a remote village in Uganda. The illustrations are lovely.
The title is a little misleading. I thought at first that the boy was going to trade the poppy flower for something; however, the flower is merely to say "Thank you" to an aid worker who brings the children of the village supplies (and shoes).
The story takes place in a remote village in Uganda. The illustrations are lovely.
The title is a little misleading. I thought at first that the boy was going to trade the poppy flower for something; however, the flower is merely to say "Thank you" to an aid worker who brings the children of the village supplies (and shoes).
January 2, 2017
A Good Trade’s title is somewhat misleading as it implies that there’s a real trade between two people. However, in reality, Kato gives an aid worker a poppy to thank her for giving him a pair of shoes. Overall, I liked A Good Trade, and believe that it can be used to launch a discussion about gratitude and what it’s like to live in a third world country.
May 10, 2013
A simple, day-in-the-life story about a boy in a Ugandan village. I think children will be amazed when they see how different life in other parts of the world can be. With any luck, they will also be touched by the boy's excitement over the gift he receives in the end.
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May 26, 2013"Early morning in Uganda see a small boy struggle with jerry cans filled with the day's supply of water. At the village square he spies an aid truck fill with something amazing, what can a such a small barefoot boy to earn the treasure inside that truck?"
March 1, 2015
Bright colors and wonderful, world-building details in the illustrations, but the text felt a bit too simplistic for the situation. Still, the daily life of children in Africa is an area rarely explored, (or explored so joyfully) in children's books, so this is a welcome addition.
December 12, 2012
I'm not sure because it is so subtle. This picture book has a strong message and I'm going to share it with my students and ask them. I didn't notice the leg until the third reading.
March 11, 2013
Simple, subtle, and beautifully crafted.
April 1, 2013
Realistic illustrations of a topic many don't realize is today and tomorrow, not 20, 30, 50 years ago. Lovely book.
September 10, 2014
Wow...what an impact this made. I am going to make an activity around it.
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August 20, 2013An exquisite account of a Ugandan village exchange.
~Monty K.
~Monty K.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews