KANYINSOLA Balogun-Kuku’s children’s book, ‘The Boy Who Grew Backwards,’ focuses on what children forever desire from their parents — attention.
The book tells the story of Jimi, who is about to clock six years old, but is not happy that he is no longer a baby and is no longer being given attention like his younger brother who gets pampered all the time.
Jimi’s concerns become aggravated after his mother scolded him for his little brother spilling powder all over the place while playing with it. With this, he wished he were a baby again so he could be like his little brother.
That night, he goes to bed, only to wake up to find himself in a bright little cave, leading to a forest filled with different mysteries like unusual birds, a shiny pony, among others.
While he is in the forest, the pony reveals to him that he got there as a result of his wish. The pony then tells him to make a wish after he gives him a cup filled with shiny liquid portion, with a condition that he must not cry, and if he does, the portion will wear off and he will return to normal.
The pony tells Jimi that he had till evening to decide if he will still change his mind, but Jimi hesitated, noting that he wants to remain a baby.
When Jimi drinks the portion, it started work immediately, as he started shrinking. With time, he noticed he can no longer talk.
He becomes sad as a result of this but remembered the condition with which he took the portion. Also, when they are supposed to have a luncheon at the forest square, the pony wanted him to be there, but because he had shrinked, he could not keep up with the pace with the bird and the pony; he started crawling, as he could not walk again. This also made him really sad and teary but he controlled his tears, while remembering the portion.
At the end, he could not make the luncheon as he slept off on his way. To make matters worse, he pooed in his pants; so, this made him really sad. He started crying, while realising that to be a baby can make one so helpless and it’s a lot of work.
He then said he is no longer interested. The pony then gives him another portion to return to his normal self. Immediately he drinks it, he wakes up in his bedroom and quickly run to hug his mother. He apologises to his mother for what happened the day before and promised to be more responsible, noting that he now knows what it feels like to be a baby.
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