response to Kampung Boy

The one thing that struck me about Kampung Boy was how much the life of the main character resembled the average American childhood. Granted, most children in America don't live near a tin dredge or make rubber from trees. But the overarching experiences are there. For instance, the main character admits he is afraid of the tin dredge and thinks it's a monster when he is young. When I was a child I was afraid of many things including the rotors on my family's motor boat. It looked perfectly normal when it was above water. But once it was submerged it took on a new life and appeared to me as a terrifying water-beast that could eat me in a single bite! This might be a generalization but, as I understand it, most children experience fear in some form or another. So what separates Kampung Boy from any other child in the world? Not much. He goes on family trips, he attends celebrations, he has friends, goes to school, and he lives a normal life.