Chike the Invincible by Dr. Ogo Okoye-Johnson is a beautiful story for young readers with an excellent message. Chike lived with his parents, Chief Ike and Chi-Chi, in the village of Awor. Chief Ike was powerful and he always won the biggest yam and archery competition held every year during the annual New Yam Festival. The idea of this festival was to bring the previously warring villages together. It was a grand festival and the highlight of the festival was the archery competition. Chike learned archery and started competing. He loses his father to a trap laid by his uncle Obi during an archery competition. After his father’s death, he moves with his mother to her village while Obi declares himself to be the chief of Awor. It’s a story of perseverance, valor, and determination and sees the emergence of Chike again as a true warrior.

The story has an excellent concept and conveys a good message to readers. Chike’s perseverance and determination are inspiring and his comeback from the setbacks in his life is admirable. All the characters in the story are sketched well and they complement the plot and Chike effectively. It’s a good bedtime storybook and parents and grandparents can read it out to their kids and grandkids. It’s also a good book for read aloud sessions in classrooms and school libraries.

The illustrations are vibrant and they give pace and movement to the scenes and the story. The characters also come alive via the pictures and help children connect in a better way with the plot. The strong messages of perseverance, determination, and valor make it an excellent storybook for children.