Summary
Interest Level: Ages 4-8
Guided Reading Level: I
Lexile Level: 510L
Book ISBN: 978-0-874838-02-2
This timeless story from India is about a poor boy's dream of having his own drum. His mother is very poor and cannot afford to buy her son the one thing in the world that he really wants. The poor boy's dream takes him on one of the most unlikely journeys and ultimately leads to attaining his dream. The folktale begins with his mother bringing home a magical stick that was given to her by a strange, little old man. The boy takes the stick with him on his journey and along the way he finds people in need of help. He offers them what little he has and they of course repay him with whatever they have in return. By the end of the story, his series of good deeds leads him to a traditional wedding ceremony where he saves the wedding day for the bride and groom when he presents them with a horse. In return, for his good deed, he receives a drum like the one he was dreaming of at the beginning of the story.
Analysis
Rob Cleveland adapts this traditional story from India to show how a poor, young boy’s generosity to share his good fortune can eventually lead to unexpected happiness. This folktale provides valuable life lessons in character values about taking responsibility, sharing with others, and caring about other people. The boy is genuinely grateful for what little he has and he continues to make sacrifices and share his belongings to help others. Throughout the story, he consistently places the needs of others before his own desires and in the end his good deeds bring him his own good fortune. This lesson in generosity, caring for other people, and sharing our good fortune with those around us has universal appeal, so it can be understood and celebrated by any culture.
Illustrations
Questions
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FAQs
Rob Cleveland, Tom Wrenn (Illustrator) A little bit of generosity goes a long way. This timeless story from India is about a poor boy's dream of having his own drum. His mother is very poor and cannot afford to buy her son the one thing in the world that he really wants.
What is the story the boy who wanted a drum about? ›
Synopsis: A mother wants to buy a drum for her son, but is unable to afford one. Being both cooperative and generous, the son finds ways to help others with what little he has. In the end, he is rewarded with the thing he originally wanted – a drum.
What is the summary of the boy and the drum? ›
The story is a folktale retold in a wonderful manner about a little boy who is very poor but wants to have a drum. His mother gives him a piece of wood instead, which he takes with happiness and decides to take it around. Then he meets an old man who is in need of wood to cook his food. And then the cycle starts.
Where did the drum originate? ›
The first drums made from natural objects such as alligator skin appeared during 5500 BC. They first came about in Neolithic cultures originating from China but later spread to all of Asia.
What is the moral of the drum story? ›
The moral of the story is 'Only the brave succeed in life' as we see in the story. Gomaya got over his fear of the peculiar sound emitting from the drums and was rewarded with what he wanted the most, food! Gomaya got over his fear of the sound of the drums and gathered up his courage to approach the drum.
Why was the drum banned? ›
as being part of inciting revolt through its sheer power. Laws against the drum can be found as far as the Carolinas, describing the use of drums as 'wicked' in the Negro Act of 1740, inspired by Barbados's Slave Code and enacted out of fear from a recent rebellion.
Is The Drummer Boy Based on a true story? ›
Either way, there's no evidence to suggest that the star of "The Little Drummer Boy" is based in reality. Biblically speaking, daily devotional Our Daily Bread even relayed that "there isn't any reference to a drummer boy in the Christmas story in Matthew 1–2 and Luke 2."
What is the moral of the little drummer boy? ›
The lesson in The Little Drummer Boy is simple and timeless. As he learned, the gold, frankincense, and myrrh from one person are just as precious as music played from the heart of someone else. It's not the gift itself that's important.
What is the controversy with the little drummer boy? ›
The Little Drummer Boy, a beloved Christmas special, faced accusations of offensive content due to its villainous portrayal of Arab characters. The controversy against the special has been ongoing since the '90s, with some viewers calling out the racist portrayal and stereotypical charges against Arab people.
What is the summary of drum? ›
drum, Musical instrument, the sound of which is produced by the vibration of a stretched membrane. Drums are usually either cylindrical or bowl-shaped. The drum is a universal instrument and very ancient; a drum dating to 6000 bc has been found in Moravia. Drums have been important ritually in cultures worldwide.
Whiplash is a 2014 American psychological drama film written and directed by Damien Chazelle, starring Miles Teller, J. K. Simmons, Paul Reiser, and Melissa Benoist.
What is the theme of the drum? ›
Answer and Explanation:
The Drum is a short poem written by American poet Nikki Giovanni. The theme is one of finding one's own path and independence of spirit and action in a world which can be challenging and hard.
What is the main idea of the drum dream girl? ›
The main theme of the poem is how Millo transformed gender roles in Cuban music. Specifically, Millo paved the way for female drummers in a society that previously only accepted male drummers. Engle explores how this transformative process moves between private spaces and public spaces, as well as on an island.
What is the drum poem about? ›
In this poem, Scott conveys his hatred of the military bands that performed in the eighteenth century. To him, the supposedly celebratory and triumphant sound of the military drum represented all of the lives that were ended and ruined by war.
