Come gather 'round-I am a Lost Boy, and I have a story to share!
This powerful children's book is filled with true adventures and classic African fables that have been passed down for generations. It follows the harrowing journey of James Manyok Ayuen, a very young boy from Sudan who, like thousands of other children, had to flee from danger when war came to his village. These brave children, later called the "Lost Boys of Sudan," walked over a thousand miles across grasslands and wild country, swimming across crocodile-infested rivers, seeking safety and hoping against hope that they might find the families they had lost.
During their long journey, the children kept their spirits alive by sharing the stories they remembered-funny, wise, and magical tales once told around family fires. Now, James has brought those stories together in volume one, including favorites like The Tortoise and the Birds, The Elephant and the Sly Fox, and The Three Bulls and the Lion. Each story comes with a lesson about kindness, teamwork, honesty, and being true to yourself. You'll also learn some Monyjang (Dinka) words from James's native language and enjoy beautiful illustrations created by real middle and high school students from schools in northern Utah.
James's adventure doesn't end there. When he came to the United States as a young man, he had to learn everything from the beginning-he learned how to speak English, he went to school, and he had to build a new life and family for himself. His journey eventually took him all the way to the United Nations Assembly, where he pleaded for help for his fellow Lost Boys still stranded in refugee camps and for international influence to end the bloody civil war. He later started a nonprofit organization called African Independence Development, with a goal to help build schools and bring learning opportunities to kids in South Sudan, in underserved diverse regions throughout Africa, and even to refugee children still living in the same camps where James grew up in Kenya, Uganda, and Ethiopia. The profits from the sale of this book go directly to African Independence Development (AIDAfricans.org) to help with that mission.
This book isn't just full of stories-it's full of heart. Whether you're a young reader, a parent, a teacher, or someone who just loves a good story, you'll find hope, courage, and connection on every page. Come read, learn, and be part of something bigger.
Ayuen, James M.: - James Manyok Ayuen, born in the Bor region of South Sudan, fled civil war at age five and later became one of the 3,800 "Lost Boys and Girls" resettled in the United States. After learning English and completing high school, he pursued higher education with the goal of one day helping his homeland. He earned degrees from La Salle University and Brigham Young University, along with completing a policy fellowship at Carnegie Mellon University.James has become a dedicated advocate for the South Sudanese people, speaking at the United Nations and helping mobilize U.S. support for South Sudan's independence. He has also worked with the South Sudanese government and the World Bank to promote economic and political stability.In 2020, he founded African Independence Development (AID), a nonprofit focused on building self-sustaining schools and supporting educational, agricultural, and health initiatives in underserved African communities. He also works to preserve South Sudanese culture through children's books and serves as president of The Greater Bor Community of the United States.
