Summary
Chibi was a quiet, shy boy who came to the village school from the other side of the mountain. He looked different and was often teased and ignored by other children. He didn’t talk much, but he loved nature and noticed small things others missed. For six years, he came to school every day, even in rain, with the same lunch. When a kind teacher named Mr. Isobe arrived, he saw Chibi’s talents—his drawings, his knowledge of flowers, and his perfect attendance. At the school talent show, Chibi amazed everyone by imitating the sounds of crows. The whole school finally understood how special he was. From that day on, they stopped calling him “Chibi” and lovingly called him “Crow Boy.”
Notes:
- Chibi was a small, quiet boy.
- He came from the other side of the mountain.
- He walked to school every day, even in rain.
- Chibi was scared of the teacher and other children.
- He didn’t talk or play with anyone.
- He sat at the back of the class.
- He was called “Chibi,” meaning tiny boy.
- Children teased him and called him “slowpoke.”
- Chibi brought the same lunch every day.
- He liked watching insects and listening to sounds.
- He looked at shirts, windows, and ceilings.
- He wore a raincoat made of zebra grass.
- A new teacher, Mr. Isobe, came in sixth grade.
- Mr. Isobe was kind and friendly.
- He noticed Chibi’s drawings and handwriting.
- Chibi knew about flowers and wild plants.
- Mr. Isobe talked to Chibi often.
- Chibi joined the school talent show.
- He imitated the sounds of crows.
- Everyone was surprised and amazed.
- Mr. Isobe explained Chibi’s long walks to school.
- The class felt sorry for teasing him.
- Chibi was honoured for perfect attendance.
- People stopped calling him Chibi.
- He was proudly called “Crow Boy.”
Opening Questions
- Where did the missing boy hide?
The missing boy hid in the cellar of the schoolhouse. - What was the missing boy’s nickname?
The missing boy’s nickname was Chibi. - Why was Chibi scared at school?
Chibi was scared at school because of the teacher. - How did Chibi spend his time in class?
Chibi spent his time in class staring at the ceiling and his desk. - What did Chibi like to do during playtime?
Chibi liked to close his eyes and listen to sounds during playtime. - How did Chibi react to insects in the playground?
Chibi reacted to insects in the playground by holding and watching them closely. - How did other children treat Chibi at school?
Other children treated Chibi at school by calling him slowpoke. - What food did Chibi bring for lunch every day?
Chibi brought a ball of rice wrapped in a radish leaf for lunch every day. - How did Chibi travel to school during storms?
Chibi traveled to school during storms wearing a raincoat made of zebra grass. - Who was the teacher that changed Chibi’s life?
The teacher that changed Chibi’s life was Mr. Isobe. - What did Mr. Isobe discover about Chibi in the classroom?
Mr. Isobe discovered that Chibi knew about wild grapes and flowers in the classroom. - How did Mr. Isobe showcase Chibi’s talent in school?
Mr. Isobe showcased Chibi’s talent in school by putting his drawings on the classroom wall. - Why was Chibi’s handwriting special in the classroom?
Chibi’s handwriting was special in the classroom because only he could read it. - What performance did Chibi give during the talent show?
Chibi gave a performance during the talent show by imitating the cries of crows. - How did Chibi learn the cries of crows on his way to school?
Chibi learned the cries of crows on his way to school during his daily journey. - What was the audience’s reaction to Chibi’s crow calls at the talent show?
The audience’s reaction to Chibi’s crow calls at the talent show was tears of regret and admiration. - What award did Chibi receive for his school attendance?
Chibi received an award for his school attendance because he was present every day for six years. - What new name did Chibi get after his crow performance?
Chibi got a new name after his crow performance, and he was called Crow Boy. - Where did Chibi live before coming to school?
Chibi lived in the far mountains before coming to school. - What did Chibi sell in the village after finishing school?
Chibi sold charcoal in the village after finishing school.
Conversations
1. Chibi and Mr. Isobe
- Chibi: Sir, why do you talk to me when others don’t?
- Mr. Isobe: Because I see something special in you, Chibi.
- Chibi: But I’m slow and quiet.
- Mr. Isobe: That’s okay. You notice things others miss.
- Chibi: I like flowers and insects.
- Mr. Isobe: And you know them well. That’s a gift.
- Chibi: I feel happy when I draw.
- Mr. Isobe: Your drawings are beautiful. I’ll show them to the class.
- Chibi: Thank you, sir. I feel brave now.
2. Two classmates after the talent show
- Boy 1: Did you see Chibi on stage?
- Boy 2: I couldn’t believe it! He sounded just like a crow.
- Boy 1: Even baby crows and sad crows!
- Boy 2: I felt like I was in the mountains.
- Boy 1: We were wrong to call him slowpoke.
- Boy 2: Yes. He’s smart in his own way.
- Boy 1: Mr. Isobe helped us see that.
- Boy 2: From now on, I’ll call him Crow Boy.
3. Chibi and his mother
- Mother: Did you eat your rice ball today?
- Chibi: Yes, Amma. It was tasty.
- Mother: Did the children talk to you?
- Chibi: Not much. But Mr. Isobe smiled at me.
- Mother: That’s good. He sounds kind.
- Chibi: He liked my drawings.
- Mother: You’ve always drawn well.
- Chibi: He asked me about flowers too.
- Mother: I’m proud of you, Chibi.
4. Mr. Isobe and the class
- Mr. Isobe: Class, let’s go to the hilltop today.
- Student: Sir, why do we go there often?
- Mr. Isobe: Nature teaches us many things.
- Student: Chibi knows all the plants!
- Mr. Isobe: Yes, he’s very observant.
- Student: He showed us wild grapes.
- Mr. Isobe: That’s why we must respect everyone.
- Student: Even quiet children know a lot.
- Mr. Isobe: Exactly. Everyone has a gift.
5. Chibi and a younger student
- Younger boy: Hi, Crow Boy! Can you teach me crow sounds?
- Chibi: Sure. First, listen carefully.
- Younger boy: Like this? Caw!
- Chibi: That’s a morning crow. Try softer for baby crow.
- Younger boy: Caw-caw?
- Chibi: Good! Now sad crow.
- Younger boy: Caaaw…
- Chibi: Perfect. You’re learning fast.
- Younger boy: You’re amazing, Crow Boy!
Diaries
Diary Entry 1 – Chibi’s Diary
Today was a big day. I stood on the stage and made crow sounds. I was scared, but Mr. Isobe smiled at me. That made me feel brave. I made sounds like baby crows, mother crows, and sad crows. Everyone listened. Then they clapped. Some people cried. Mr. Isobe told them how I walk to school every day from far away. Now they call me Crow Boy. I feel happy. Before, no one talked to me. Now they see me. I still like my rice ball lunch and watching insects. I still like looking at flowers and drawing. But now I feel proud. I will keep coming to school. I will keep learning. I am not afraid anymore.
Diary Entry 2 – Classmate’s Diary
Today I saw Chibi on stage. He made crow sounds. They were so real! I felt like I was in the forest. I used to call him slowpoke. That was wrong. He walks to school every day, even in rain. He knows about flowers and insects. His drawings are nice. Mr. Isobe helped us see how smart Chibi is. I cried when I heard his story. Everyone did. Now we call him Crow Boy. I want to say sorry to him. I want to be his friend. I learned something today. Quiet children can be strong and smart. I will never forget this day.
Diary Entry 3 – Mr. Isobe’s Diary
Today was special. Chibi stood on stage and made crow sounds. He was amazing. The class was quiet. Then they clapped. Some cried. I told them how Chibi walks to school every day for six years. He never missed a day. He knows about nature. He draws well. He listens and learns in his own way. Now the children call him Crow Boy. I am proud of him. He showed everyone that being quiet is okay. Every child is special. We just need to look and listen. I hope Chibi keeps learning and growing. Today, he made us all smile.
Letters
1. From Chibi to Mr. Isobe
Dear Mr. Isobe,
Thank you for being kind to me. Before you came, I felt lonely and scared. I didn’t talk to anyone. But you saw my drawings and liked my handwriting. You even talked to me when no one else did. That made me feel special. I was nervous at the talent show, but you helped me feel brave. I’m happy that the class clapped for me. Now they call me Crow Boy. I will never forget your smile and your kind words. I will keep drawing and learning about nature. Thank you for helping me find my voice.
Yours truly,
Crow Boy
2. From a classmate to Chibi
Dear Crow Boy,
I want to say sorry. We didn’t treat you well before. We called you names and didn’t talk to you. But at the talent show, you showed us something amazing. Your crow sounds were so real. I felt like I was in the mountains. I didn’t know you were so talented. Mr. Isobe helped us see how special you are. I liked your drawings too. You taught me that being quiet doesn’t mean being slow. You are strong and smart.
I hope we can be friends now.
Your classmate,
Kenji
3. From Mr. Isobe to Chibi’s parents
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Chibi,
I want to tell you how proud I am of your son. He is quiet, but he sees and hears things that others miss. He knows about flowers, insects, and nature. His drawings are beautiful. At our school talent show, he amazed everyone by imitating crow sounds. It was like magic. The whole class was moved. Your son has perfect attendance and a kind heart. I’m happy to have him in my class. Thank you for raising such a wonderful boy.
Warm regards,
Mr. Isobe
4. From Chibi to his mother
Dear Mother,
Today was a special day. I stood on stage and made crow sounds. Everyone listened. They clapped and smiled. Mr. Isobe helped me feel brave. He told the class how I learned the sounds while walking to school. I saw some children cry. They called me Crow Boy now. I feel happy. I’m not scared anymore. I will keep going to school and learning. Thank you for packing my rice ball every day. I love you.
Love,
Chibi
5. From a villager to the school
Dear Sir,
I attended the school talent show and saw something wonderful. A boy named Chibi imitated crow sounds so well that I felt I was in the forest. I had tears in my eyes. I heard he walked to school every day for six years. That is true dedication. I also saw his drawings and heard about his knowledge of nature. I hope the school continues to support children like him. Thank you for helping him shine.
Sincerely,
A village elder
Live Reporting (180 words)
Good evening from the village school talent show! The crowd is buzzing with excitement after an unforgettable performance by a quiet sixth-grade student known as Chibi. For years, Chibi was seen as shy and slow. But today, he amazed everyone by imitating the cries of crows—baby crows, mother crows, and even sad crows. The audience was stunned into silence, then burst into applause. Mr. Isobe, the new teacher, explained how Chibi learned these sounds during his long walks to school over six years. Many in the crowd were moved to tears. Chibi’s drawings and nature knowledge were also praised. He is now lovingly called “Crow Boy” by classmates and villagers alike. A truly heartwarming moment!
News Report
Village Boy Wins Hearts at School Talent Show
In a touching moment at the village school’s annual talent show, a quiet boy named Chibi stunned the audience with his imitation of crow calls. Known for being shy and different, Chibi had long been ignored by classmates. But under the guidance of new teacher Mr. Isobe, his hidden talents came to light. Chibi’s performance included the cries of baby crows, parent crows, and even emotional crow sounds. The audience was deeply moved, with many shedding tears. Mr. Isobe shared how Chibi learned these sounds during his daily walks from the mountainside. Chibi was also honoured for perfect attendance over six years. His drawings and nature knowledge were displayed in class. From that day, Chibi was no longer called “slowpoke”—he became “Crow Boy,” a symbol of quiet strength and beauty.
Vocabulary
- Cellar – A room or storage space below ground level.
- Nicknamed – Given an informal or affectionate name.
- Trudging – Walking slowly and with effort.
- Zebra grass – A type of tall grass used for making items like raincoats.
- Friendly – Kind and pleasant in behavior.
- Amazed – Feeling great surprise or admiration.
- Ascended – Moved upward or climbed.
- Talent show – An event where people perform to showcase their skills.
- Imitate – Copy or mimic something.
- Astounded – Shocked or greatly impressed.
- Lonely – Feeling alone or isolated.
- Perfect attendance – Being present at school every single day.
- Charcoal – A black substance used for burning and cooking, made from wood.
- Cries – Sounds made by birds or animals.
- Radish leaf – A green leafy part of a radish, used for wrapping food.
- Gazing – Looking steadily at something for a long time.
- Mockery – The act of making fun of someone.
- Companions – Friends or people who spend time together.
- Recognition – Acknowledgment or praise for achievements.
- Mountain road – A path or route through the mountains.
Textual Analysis
On the first day of our village school, one of the boys was found missing.
He had hidden himself in a cellar in the schoolhouse. None of us knew him. He was dark and small. He looked different from the other students. He lived on the other side of the mountain. Because of his size, he was nicknamed Chibi, which meant ‘tiny boy’.
This strange boy was too scared of our teacher to learn anything. He was too scared to make friends with other children. So he was left alone at study time and play time. He was always at the back of a class and at the end of a line.
But Chibi found many ways to pass the time and amuse himself. He would just stare at the top of his desk for a long time. Sometimes he would lie gazing at the ceiling for hours. There were many things to interest him: the design on the shirt of a boy sitting next to him, or what he could see out of the window.
In the playground Chibi would just close his eyes and listen to the wonderful sounds that came from near and far.
And he could hold and watch insects and grubs that most of us wouldn’t touch or even look at.
Everyone called him slowpoke – even the children in the lower classes. But slowpoke or not, Chibi came trudging to school everyday. He always brought the same lunch, a ball of rice wrapped in a radish leaf. Even when it rained or stormed he still came trudging along. He would then be wrapped in a raincoat made from zebra grass.
Five years went by, and we were in the sixth grade, the last class in school. Our new teacher Mr. Isobe was a friendly man with a kind smile. It was Mr. Isobe who changed the way we looked at Chibi.
Mr. Isobe often took his class to the hilltop behind the school. He was pleased to learn that Chibi knew all the places where the wild grapes and wild potatoes grew. He was amazed to find how much Chibi knew about all the flowers in our class garden.
He liked Chibi’s black-and-white drawings and tacked them up on the wall for everyone to see. He also had no complaints about Chibi’s handwriting. Only Chibi could read it. Mr. Isobe tacked some of what Chibi wrote on the wall. And he often spent time talking to Chibi when no one was around.
When Chibi appeared on the stage at the talent show of that year, no one could believe his eyes. “Who’s that?” “What can that stupid do up there?” But they were astounded when Mr. Isobe announced that Chibi was going to imitate the cries of crows. “Cries of crows?” They had more surprises coming.
Chibi ascended the stage. First he imitated the cries of newly hatched crows. Then he imitated the cries of mother crow and father crow. He then went on to show how crows cried early in the morning. He also imitated the cries of crows which were happy or sad.
Everybody’s mind was taken to the far mountainside from which Chibi came to the school. Now they could imagine exactly the far and lonely place where Chibi lived with his family.
Then Mr. Isobe explained how Chibi had learned those calls – leaving his home for school at dawn and returning at sunset everyday for six long years.
Every one of us cried, thinking how much we had been wrong to Chibi all those long years. Even grownups wiped their eyes, saying, “Yes, yes, he is wonderful.”
Chibi was the only one in our class honoured for perfect attendance through all the six years.
Chibi still came to the village to sell the charcoal he and chis family made. But nobody called him Chibi anymore. We all called him “Crow Boy”.
Hi, Crow Boy! We still heard his imitation of a happy crow as he returned home along the mountain road.
